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****Legislative Alert****
UPDATED 2/28/2010
Below are some of the bills still "alive" at this point in the Indiana General Assembly. If you feel strongly about an issue, NOW IS THE TIME TO CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR!
Active Bills
SB309: School Corporation fund transfers. Allows the governing body of a school corporation to adopt a resolution to transfer money for 2010 and 2011 among funds maintained by a school corporation, except to or from the debt service fund, and certifying that no employees of the school corporation will receive a compensation increase for the 2010-2011 school year. The school corporations will be limited to transfers of 5% of their Capital Projects Fund to their General Operating Fund. Permits transfers only in 2010 and 2011.
Current Status: SB 309 passed off of second reading with new amendments
In addition to the provisions allowing districts to transfer money among various funds to help offset their share of the $300 million cuts to K-12 education, SB 309 now includes the following provisions:
(1) allows districts to determine whether to stay with calendar year budgeting or go to fiscal year budgeting (currently, districts are scheduled to be required to go to fiscal year budgeting after July 1, 2010, and there could be one-time, up-front costs to going to fiscal year budgeting -- so enabling districts to choose can save districts some money);
2) allows districts to bargain different provisions for retirees in order to go to the state employee health plan (current law requires that active and retired employees have the same provisions and that the district cannot pay more than what the state pays for state employees) -- this is not a mandate;
(3) during the next school year, prohibits a school district from paying any part of a school board member's health insurance premium (some school districts provide health insurance to its school board members);
(4) temporarily suspends the scheduled increase in the employer contribution rate for the post-1996 teacher retirement fund (the employer contribution rate is scheduled to increase from 7 percent to 7.5 percent of employee compensation on July 1, 2010)--the effect of this to temporarily disregard the actuarial projections and enable districts to "hold onto" the additional 0.5 percent in order to help offset their share of the $300 million cuts to K-12 education -- ISTA opposed this amendment -- it passed on a voice vote of the chamber;
(5) requires a study of the effects of Indiana's instructional time debate (days versus hours);
(6) Makes some changes to Indiana's current Youth Advisory Council;
(7) creates a supplemental tuition support appropriation up to a maximum amount of $150 million to K-12 school districts (excludes charter schools) in the event that the state's actual revenue collected at the end of each of the next three fiscal years exceeds the preceding December revenue forecast--in effect saying that the first $150 million collected over revenue projections goes to K-12 public school corporations to increase their per student foundation levels;
(8) creates a new $50 "negative political advertising" fee payable for each instance of negative political campaign ads (print or air)---the fees then being earmarked in a special account to pay for K-2 reading remediation.
SB 309 will be offered today on 3rd reading for passage out of the House -- making it eligible for conference committee debate next week.
HB1367: Education Matters. House bill version of SB309.
Current Status: In Conference Committee
HB1135: Advanced placement exams. Requires state educational institutions to grant postsecondary level academic credit that counts toward meeting the student's graduation requirements to students who receive a satisfactory score on an advanced placement examination.
Current Status: In Conference Committee
HB1365: Dual enrollment costs and fees. Provides that a student may be charged tuition or fees for a college course or test that the student completes in order to obtain a core 40 diploma. Requires state educational institutions that offer dual credit courses in liberal arts, professional, or career and technical disciplines to be accredited by the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships or approved by the commission for higher education. (Current law requires the state educational institutions that offer dual credit courses in liberal arts, professional, or career and technical disciplines to be accredited by the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships.)
Current Status: Out of Committee – 2nd House
Property Tax Cap Referendum: Our State Legislative Body is attempting to add a cap to property tax and have placed in our State Constitution. In order to add, the cap will need to be added to the ballot in November and voters will need to vote yes or no for the cap. If the referendum passes, many of our local services including our public schools will lose funds.
****Legislative Alert****
6/30/2010
URGE YOUR SENATORS TO ACT ON CHILD NUTRITION BILL
TAKE ACTION ON S. 3307 NOW!!!
5/28/2010
We are asking for your assistance in mobilizing your members in support of the Family Engagement in Education Act (H.R. 5211) during PTA’s 2010 National Convention in Memphis, Tennessee. Please continue to contact your Representative and urge them to co-sponsor The Family Engagement in Education Act.
Rep. Peter Visclosky (D-1st) 3rd District Office Rep. Dan Burton (R-5th) Rep. Andre Carson (D-7th) Rep. Baron Hill (D-9th) |
Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-2nd) Rep. Steve Buyer (R-4th) Rep. Mike Pence (R-6th) Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-8th) |
The Family Engagement in Education Act (H.R. 5211) is the first PTA bill in our recent history. It was introduced with bipartisan support in the House of Representatives on May 5, 2010 by Congresswoman McCarthy (D-NY) and Congressman Platts (R-PA). This important legislation provides resources and incentives to engage parents in the education of their children, an issue that PTA has championed since its founding in 1897. This bill provides a golden opportunity for PTA members to ensure all students are successful in school and in life. As the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer child advocacy association, we must show our members of Congress our strong devotion to family engagement by asking them to cosponsor H.R. 5211. To find out more, click HERE...
Please note the Representatives the following co-sponsors of H.R. 5211 introduced by Congresswoman McCarthy [D-NY]
Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1]
Rep Brown, Corrine [FL-3]
Rep Cao, Anh "Joseph" [LA-2]
Rep Castle, Michael N. [DE]
Rep Clarke, Yvette D. [NY-11]
Rep Etheridge, Bob [NC-2]
Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC]
Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19]*
Rep Polis, Jared [CO-2]
Rep Stark, Fortney Pete [CA-13]
Rep Tonko, Paul [NY-21]
*original cosponsor
5/24/2010
The Keep Our Educators Working Act (S. 3206) has recently been introduced in the United States Senate by Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa. This Act, if passed, would provide more than $400 million in federal dollars to Indiana, to allow Indiana's schools districts to preserve jobs through the creation of an educational job fund.
It is clear that there are signs of economic recovery, but in Indiana, there remains unprecedented challenges to return public school funding to a steady financial state. Economic experts agree that it will be some time before we see a full recovery, so the funding provided through this important bill would allow us to preserve the current level of support for public education in Indiana.
We ask that everyone contact U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar and Sen. Evan Bayh to encourage them to sign on as co-sponsors of S.3206.
CONTACT YOUR SENATORS TODAY
Attached you will find sample letters for your use when corresponding with Legislators, but please make the message personal. Tell how this issue affects your child, school and district, Do your homework. The more you know about the specifics of your school/district the more personal and significant the letter becomes. Click to download: Letter to Sen. Lugar (MS Word), Letter to Sen. Bayh (MS Word).
Senator Lugar
Email: lugar.senate.gov
hone: 202-224-2814
Fax: 202-228-0360
Senator Bayh
Email: bayh.senate.gov
Phone: 202-224-5623
Fax: 202-228-1377
