Alliance Legislative Report 100-12

FUNDING REFORM LANGUAGE FILED
ON SENATE BILL 1
One of the hang-ups with the Senate “grand bargain” was the fact that a school funding overhaul was discussed as part of the package, but no language was filed. Senate Bill 1, the placeholder for funding reform, was given that specific language on Thursday, March 23. Even though the prospects of the “grand bargain” may be slim, recent actions of the legislature have shown that the concepts contained in the “grand bargain” are still viable. The language of SB 1, sponsored by State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill), is similar to that of House Bill 2808 which is the Evidence Based-Funding Model, supported by the Alliance and a Vision 20/20 initiative. Although the two pieces of legislation are similar, there are some differences, including the amount of per pupil funding for technology and a class size adjustments for low-income students.

The Alliance is still reviewing the details of SB 1 and we will keep you updated to any and all school funding reform bills as they move through the process.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APPROACHES DEADLINE

The House of Representatives has set a deadline to move House Bills out of committee for March 31. The deadline, while not an absolute, usually means two things, a great deal of work needs to be done in committees in the days before that deadline and a clearer picture of where things stand after that deadline. Failure to meet the self-imposed deadline often times means that a bill will not be heard in the current legislative year. We have provided a list of some of those bills that will be heard in committees this week in this report.

Click here to read the entire Alliance Legislative Report 100-12, including summaries of other education-related bills.