Updated February 16, 2001

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Eight senior lawmakers have been chosen to reach a compromise on amendments to the 2000-2002 state budget. The primary difference between the House and Senate approved spending plans is the size of the continued phase-out of the car tax (the House proposes 70%, while the Senate proposes 50%). The so-called budget conferees are as follows: Senators Chichester, Wampler, Stosch and Colgan; and Delagetes Callahan, Putney, Dillard and Dickinson. Education also will figure prominently into their discussions, primarily in the area of teacher salaries. The House proposes funding for the state share of a 3.5% teacher salary increase, effective December 1, while the Senate plan calls for a 6% pay hike, also effective December 1.

The House and Senate are at odds over disciplining students who fail to comply with a requirement to recite the Pledge of Allegiance on a daily basis. Following more than an hour of discussion on Wednesday, Senator Warren Barry withdrew SB 1331 after the House Education Committee rejected language requiring suspension of students who refuse to comply with the requirement. The committee had approved an amendment leaving the punishment to be decided by the local school board. The next day, in the Senate Education and Health Committee, Barry amended a House bill dealing with various student discipline provisions to include his original Pledge of Allegiance bill.

The Senate Education and Health Committee has indicated it will refer several of the “multiple criteria” bills to the Board of Education (BOE) for consideration. These include 2122 and HB 2394, which address additional criteria for awarding verified units of credit to students who fail an SOL test. HB 2831, which primarily codified BOE regulation and policy in this area, also was referred to the Board. The committee was slated to act on HB 2163, which requires the use of various criteria in determining school accreditation, at a special Friday meeting.

Also up for discussion on Friday in the Senate Committee was HB 1613, which requires the phrase “In God we trust” to be posted in a conspicuous place in each of their schools. The Committee has approved HB 1691, which requires filtering or blocking software on school computers with Internet capabilities.

Committee action on bills must be completed by Monday, with the remainder of the final week consisting of long House and Senate floor sessions for debate and votes on legislation.

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