Legislative Update for the Week of
JULY 10, 2006

SCHOOL AID BUDGET
Administration officials and Republican leadership announced the framework for a School Aid Budget that includes a $210 per pupil increase in the basic foundation allowance, $20 million each for declining enrollment, middle school math, and an equity payment. With only $35 million contributed from the General Fund, and millions more in costs and transfers of expenditures to the School Aid Fund, the Conference Committee has its work cut out for itself to meet the targets.

Details are not yet available on how the $60 million for declining enrollment, equity payment, and middle school math will be allocated. However, it is likely that those districts that would have received the declining enrollment dollars under the Governor's proposed Budget will receive declining enrollment dollars under the agreement (albeit at a reduced 40% amount). We also assume that the middle school math program will be limited to 6th, 7th, and 8th grades and that the majority of the dollars will go directly to the schools. The equity payment will be much more difficult to figure out prior to the Conference Report. In the Senate version, the equity payment was only available to districts with the bottom foundation allowance. The House version differed by setting a ceiling ($7,450) on schools that would be eligible for an equity payment. It is unclear which methodology will survive, but my money is on the House version because the range includes charter schools and schools within Republican leadership districts.

The Conference Committees are scheduled to meet this Wednesday.

HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE
In what was, most likely, the last House Education Committee hearing until fall, Chairman Palmer reported out two very controversial bills and the latest fingerprint clean up bill.

The two controversial bills, HB 5251 (Intelligent Design) sponsored by Representative Moolenaar(R) and HJR M sponsored by Chairman Palmer(R) (which provides constitutional authority to the Auditor General to audit school districts) received the most attention and testimony from the committee members. Although both measures passed the committee along party line votes (Republicans supporting, Democrats opposing), neither are likely to pass the full House this year. HJR M will not likely see any action on the House floor because as a constitutional amendment it requires a super majority (two-thirds) to even move it out of the Chamber. House Minority Leader Byrum's office has assured us that she will not allow enough Democratic votes (15 are needed) for the measure to pass.

As far as Moolenaar's Intelligent Design bill, there is no current appetite to move this bill because of the controversy surrounding it.

In contrast to the other two bills, the second fingerprint cleanup bill (HB 6173) was strongly supported by the Committee and passed out to the full House, which also passed it the next day. The bill is now in the Senate Education Committee where it could see action before November's election.

HOUSE
Also passing the House were the single gender school bills (HB 6247, HB 4264, and SB1296). These bills would allow a school district to offer single gender classes or schools if they were voluntary and if a class or school was offered for both sexes. The Senate clarified those last two points when it took up the package, with which the House later concurred. The bills are now on their way to the Governor for signature.

GOVERNOR
There are three additional bills now on their way to the Governor for consideration. Two bills, HB 4375 and SB 146, encourages schools to provide instruction programs regarding warning signs and risk factors of suicide and depression and encourages the State Board to incorporate suicide prevention education as part of the public school curriculum. Neither bill requires schools or the board to develop such a curriculum or provide instruction. Also, HB 6069, which fixes a quirk in the schools borrowing calendar for next year, has been enrolled and is awaiting the Governor's signature.