1. Legislative Update Legislative Update
Presented to the Board of Trustees by
Dr. Maroba Zoeller, Chief Governmental Relations Officer
March 27, 2017

2. REPORT ON COMMITTEES

3. Senate Education Committee Passes SB 3 “Voucher Bill” March 23
Committee voted 7-3 to pass legislation that would create education savings account and tax credit scholarship programs. Senate Bill 3, a priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, now heads to the full Senate, where it’s also expected to pass. Corresponding bills have not been taken up by the House Public Education Committee.
Cost Up to $330 million for next 2 years

4. Senate Education Committee Passes SB 3 March 23, 2017
The first program created in the bill, education savings accounts or ESAs, would give parents online accounts of state money to pay for private school tuition or homeschooling expenses.
The second program, tax credit scholarships, would allow businesses to receive credits against their insurance premium taxes if they contribute to approved scholarship organizations.

5. House Appropriations Committee 3/16
Marked-Up HB 1
Major Action: Reduce appropriations to the Foundation School Program contingent on legislation that delays the August 2019 FSP payment – savings is estimated $1.875 billion, but delay in payment does not change entitlements to school districts;
Continues to include $1.47 billion in additional funding for the FSP contingent on the passage of HB 21 or similar legislation and
Rider increases basic allotment to $5,350 for next biennium
Reduced instructional materials allotment by $ million, bringing the appropriation level to $1.1 billion – a small increase above the biennial level

6. House Appropriations Committee 3/16
Bill remains in the Committee
By tradition, this legislative session’s general appropriations bill will carry a Senate number, SB 1.
Once the full Senate passes SB1, it will be sent to the House Appropriations Committee, where their work will be substituted for the Senate’s version then sent to the floor of the House for adoption.
After both chambers have passed a version of the act, they will begin the conference committee process, likely in early April.

7. House Public Education Committee March 22
HB 21 School Finance Bill – more discussion 3/28
Huberty announced that more funding would be added to the bill, allocating $1.9 billion rather than $1.6 billion in additional funding to public schools
The new funds would possibly be earmarked for career and technical education and bilingual education

8. Bills Voted Out of Committee

9. Bills Voted Out of Committee
SB 826 (Larry Taylor) relates to the sequencing of required English and math courses. SB 490 (Lucio) would require districts to report number of FTE counselors on a campus SB 579 (Van Taylor) adds private schools to state law regarding EpiPens HB 1270 (Smithee) would allow a school district to excuse up to two days of absences of junior or senior students who visit a military recruitment center for a branch of the U.S. armed services for the purpose of determining the student’s interest in enlisting HB 136 (Bell, et al.) would add career and technology education and workforce training to the mission of public education in statute.

10. Bills Voted Out of Committee
HB 357 (Huberty, et al.) would extend eligibility for free pre-K programs in public schools to the children of people eligible for the Star of Texas Award, which honors peace officers, firefighters, and emergency medical first responders who are seriously injured or killed in the line of duty
HB 728 (Guerra) would require the commissioner of education to develop and implement an advanced computer science program that high school students may take to comply with the curriculum requirements for advanced mathematics or science credits. A committee substitute was adopted
HB 878 (King, Ken) would allow school districts to extend a district depository contract for three years (rather than two) and to modify the contract for any extension

11. House Public Education Committee March 22
HB 22 School Accountability Bill
Committee also discussed and heard testimony on HB 22, Huberty’s accountability bill, which would:
Reduce the five domains of achievement indicators to three;
Assign A-F grades to each of the three domains but eliminate the overall A-F grade for schools/districts;
reduce the weight of standardized tests from 55 to 50 percent;
Change the performance rating of “D” to reflect performance “in need of improvement”;
Require “what if” performance ratings to be issued in and 2018;
Delay implementation of the A-F system to August 2019.
 Intends to have a substitute bill next week. HB 22 was left pending.

12. UPCOMING COMMITTEE HEARINGS
March 28 - House Public Education Committee
HB 21 Huberty School Finance Bill (Continued from 3/21)
HB 1081 Arevalo & HB 2051 Huberty: Relating to the new instructional facility allotment under the foundation school program( new, renovated or repurposed, leased facility first time as instructional)
HB 2340 (Huberty) Relating to the use by a school district of certain undesignated funds in the district’s general fund. (general operating expenses for 90 days)

13. UPCOMING COMMITTEE HEARINGS
March 27 - House Public Education Subcommittee on Educator Quality
SB 7 passed by the Senate on March 8:
Related to improper educator-student relationships. Other related bills to be heard:
HB 460 (Dale) 
HB 1403 (Isaac)
HB 1799 (Dale, et al.)
HB 1918 (Guillen
HB 2209 (Mary González)
HB 3769 (Ken King, et al.)
SB 7 (Bettencourt, et al.)

14. IMPORTANT DATES January 10 - First Day of Session
March 10 – Last day to file bills
May 29 – Sine die – Last day of Session
June 18 – Deadline for governor veto
March – Collin County Days in Austin

15. Dr. Maroba Zoeller Chief Governmental Relations Officer (P) 972-236-0618 maroba_zoeller@allenisd.org