Updated January 11, 2002

The Schedule

The 2002 General Assembly session began Wednesday, January 9, 2002. The session runs 60 days and is scheduled to end on March 9, 2002. “Cross-over day,” the last day for each house to act on its own bills, is February 12.

The House Education Committee is scheduled to meet on Mondays at 8:30 a.m. in House Room C and Wednesdays at 8 a.m. in the Appropriations Room. The Senate Education and Health Committee will meet on Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. in Senate Room B. Sub-committees will meet periodically throughout the session. Click here for a schedule of weekly meetings.

The Issues

Discussion of proposed amendments to the FY2002 state budget (the “caboose” budget) and formation of the 2002-2004 budget will dominate this session. The legislature faces the task of closing a $1.2 billion dollar shortfall in the final six months of the current fiscal year, and a projected $2 billion shortfall in the next biennial budget. Under the Governor’s proposed budget, there is a projected drop in direct aid to public education of approximately $17 million for the remainder of the current fiscal year, driven largely by declines in sales tax revenues. There is a net increase in education funding for public education proposed in the 2002-2004 budget, and direct aid to education is exempted from across-the-board cuts proposed in the budget. However, while an additional $400 million is included for updating the Standards of Quality (SOQ), there are significant reductions proposed. This includes eliminating the School Construction Grants and lottery hold harmless programs, shifting part of the cost of the retired teacher health care credit to localities, and taking over $160 million from the Literary Fund to pay for teacher benefits. Click here for information on the FY02 and 2002-2004 budgets as Proposed by Governor Gilmore.

http://141.104.22.210/VDOE/suptsmemos/2001/inf186.html

http://141.104.22.210/VDOE/suptsmemos/2001/inf187.html

Education bills of interest likely to be proposed during this session include the following: (1) bills to prohibit using the Standards of Learning (SOL)assessments as the sole criteria for graduation, promotion, retention or school accreditation, (2) expansion of the state’s charter school law, and (3) legislation to establish a Professional Standards Board for teachers. We also expect to see measures addressing school safety and security in light of the September 11th attacks. Finally, CEPI is seeking legislation to establish a legislative study committee to review, study and reform educational leadership.

Please contact CEPI if you have any questions or need additional information about the 2002 General Assembly.

E-mail Response

Questions or More Information? Please contact CEPI if you have any questions or need additional information about the 2002 General Assembly. A final summary of legislative action from the 2002 General Assembly is posted on this Web site.

Back to 2002 General Assembly

Click here to see archived 2001 General Assembly Updates.

Back to top