The 2007 General Assembly is now in session
Week 2 Update—January 19, 2007
The deadline for introduction of bills is 5 p.m., Friday, January 19. Budget amendments proposed by delegates and senators have been submitted. “Cross-over day,” the last day for each house to act on its own bills, is February 8. House and Senate amendments to the current two-year budget will be released on February 6.
The House Education Committee is scheduled to meet 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 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 (Meetings)
Budget Issues
Lawmakers have received news that revenue projections for the first half of the current fiscal year are running short of the 6.5% annual growth on which the current budget is built. For the final half of 2006 (the first half of the state fiscal year that ends June 30, 2007), general fund revenue grew 4.2%. Tax collections for December were 2.6% lower than the same month a year ago. Individual income taxes grew only slightly, while corporate income and recordation tax receipts fell.
Republican leaders on Thursday announced a proposed transportation funding package that includes an annual transfer of $250 million in general fund dollars to transportation. Some legislators are expressing concern that these dollars will be taken from the likes of public education and law enforcement. Next year, the General Assembly will have to grapple with “rebenchmarking” of state costs for public education; the last two rebenchmarkings have exceeded $1 billion.
House of Delegates members submitted hundreds of proposals to amend the current two-year state budget (budget amendments submitted by senators will be published next week). About 30 of them propose changes to public education funding in the next fiscal year. Here are some of the highlights:
- Double state funding for the school construction grants program from the current $27.5 million to $55 million.
- Provide $1 million for a Center for Teacher Quality and Educational Leadership Center.
- Direct $15 million in both the current and next fiscal year for teacher retirement payments in order to free up Literary Fund dollars for school construction loans.
- Provides $15.5 million for the Virginia Preschool Initiative to increase the per pupil amounts and to fund full participation.
- Provides $2.3 million for a pilot program to provide grants for internet-accessed programs for at-risk students.
- Provides $2.5 million for additional at-risk funding.
- $58.4 million for an additional 1% salary increase, effective July 1, 2007, for school instructional and support personnel. Recall that the amendments to the current two-year budget proposed by Governor Kaine last month recommend a 3% salary increase for teachers, effective December 1, 2007.
Click here for additional information about Governor Kaine's proposed changes to the budget (State Budget).
Education Legislation
This past week, HB 1727, which would require students to have written permission from their parents to participate in non-curricular school clubs, failed on a tie vote (HB 3047 is a similar bill yet to be considered). HB 2166, which requires each local school division to allocate 67% of its operating budget to instructional spending, was recommended to be tabled by a House Education subcommittee.
Here are more education-related bills that have been submitted:
HB 2497 requires each school to have a school nurse and to serve no more than 750 students.
HB 2542 and SB 1212 require the Board of Education (BOE) to request a waivers from NCLB provisions not an integral part of the state’s accountability and if such waivers are not received, it directs the state to withdraw from NCLB.
HB 2556 requires schools to have enough textbooks available to provide each student a copy that may be used at home.
HB 2837 requires that George Washington's birthday be observed in schools through a lesson, program or materials about the first president of the United States (reported from House Education).
HB 2847 requires that the state average teacher salary be not less than the national average annual teacher salary.
HB 2903 requires seatbelts on school buses after January 1, 2008.
HB 2932 requires proof of citizenship or immigration status when enrolling a child in school for the first time.
SB 974 requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Health Commissioner to work together to combat childhood obesity.
SB 1148 requires local school boards to include in their annual report to the BOE, the number of career and technical education completers that graduated.
SB 1213 and SB 1338 require schools to identify and enroll qualified students in gifted education programs.
Please contact CEPI if you have any questions or need additional information about the 2007 General Assembly.
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