The 2005 General Assembly is now in session

Week 5 Update—February 11, 2005

House and Senate budget negotiators will be appointed by the middle of next week and have until February 22 to reach a compromise spending plan for the remainder of the 2004-2006 budget.

The House Education Committee meets on Mondays at 9:00 a.m. in House Room C and Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m. in the Appropriations Room.  The Senate Education and Health Committee meets 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 (Meetings)

Budget:

The House and Senate money committees released their respective amendments to the introduced 2004-2006 budget this past week. Each chamber subsequently approved its budget on Thursday. A conference committee of senior legislators will meet to hammer out a compromise spending plan before the session adjourns on February 26.

Here is a rundown of the major proposals from the House and Senate:

Payraises: The House provides the state share of a 2.5% salary increase ($45.7 million) for teachers, effective December 1, 2005, at a state savings of $9.1 million (the introduced budget included a 3% salary increase).

The Senate changes the effective date of the 3% salary increase (as introduced) from December 1 to January 1 for a state savings of $7.7 million. The Senate subcommittee report notes that as of FY04, the average Virginia teacher salary lagged 6.25% behind the national average, the smallest difference in a dozen years. It also states that discussion will continue about what the state’s goal should be regarding teacher salaries both from a policy and budget perspective.

School Construction: The Senate adds $15 million to the Literary Fund, so that its proceeds can again be used to address the waiting list for school construction loans, rather than for SOQ retirement costs. The subcommittee notes that replenishing the Literary Fund will be a multi-year effort as the state’s fiscal health recovers.

Retiree Health Care Credit: The House provides $8.3 million in FY06 to increase the teacher retiree health care credit from $2.50 per month to $4.00 per month for each year of service. The initiative also would require about $12 million in local funding.

At-Risk Funding: The Senate adds $4.6 million to restore the 8% reduction taken in 2002 to the at-risk add-on funding.

Lottery Profits: The Senate decreases the distribution of some additional lottery revenues in FY05. The introduced budget proposed to distribute an additional $19.8 million in FY05 and $15.4 million in FY06 in lottery profits to school divisions. The Senate amendment cuts the FY05 distribution to $11 million.

School Breakfast Program: Both budgets eliminate the $1.6 million contained in the introduced budget for the school breakfast initiative.

School Nurses: Both budgets contain language requiring that basic aid funding attributable to school nurse funding only be used to fund school nursing services.

Turnaround Specialists: The House reduces funding for the turnaround specialist initiative by nearly $960,000 and the Senate by just over $500,000.

Vocational Education: The House plan provides $800,000 for vocational-technical education equipment; each school division would receive a base allocation of $2,000 with the remainder based on student enrollment in secondary vocational-technical courses.

Efficiency Review Program: The House reduces funding contained in the introduced budget to expand the school efficiency review program, to provide the same amount of funding for FY06 as in the current year.

Click here for access to specific information about the proposed House and Senate budget amendments (Budget proposals) 

Legislation:

Here’s an update on education-related bills that are being considered in the opposite chamber:

HB 1523, which increases the health care credit for retired teachers from $2.50 to $4/month for each full year of creditable service, is in the Senate Finance Committee.

HB 1589, which permits local school boards to provide pupil transportation for nonpublic school students, has been narrowly recommended for defeat by Senate subcommittee.

HB 1762 and SB 779 make various amendments to the Standards of Quality; they heavily emphasize data collection and analysis, and use of such results in instructional program evaluation. HB 1762 is on the Senate floor; SB 779 will be heard in the House Education Committee next week.

HB 1912, which requires the BOE to include provisions in guidelines for reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to address parental notification for minor students who decline to stand for or recite the Pledge, has been narrowly recommended for approval by a Senate subcommittee.

HB 1942 creates a pilot program, known as the Children at Risk in Education Tuition Assistance Grants program, for providing tax credits (for business entities) to promote educational opportunities for at-risk children, with grants to be awarded for student tuition at public and nonpublic schools. The bill is in the Senate Finance Committee.

HB 2266, which addresses bullying, harassment and intimidation in the BOE and local school division codes of student conduct, is on the Senate floor. HB 2267, which establishes immunity from civil damages for any school employee or volunteer who reports incidents of bullying, intimidation and harassment, is in the Senate Courts of Justice Committee.

HB 2535, which allows a person with a concealed handgun permit to possesses a handgun while in a vehicle in a parking lot, traffic circle or other vehicular entrance or exit to a school, is in the House Courts of Justice Committee.

HJR 537 is a proposed Constitutional amendment that would state a person’s right to pray and to recognize their religious beliefs, heritage and traditions on public property, including public schools. It is in the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee.

SB 880, which incorporates the concept of chronic tardiness into the reporting, recordkeeping and enforcement provisions of the compulsory school attendance law, is in the House Education Committee.

Please contact CEPI if you have any questions or need additional information about the 2005 General Assembly.

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