Education HB 65 Passes the House

Rep. Reed DeMordaunt’s bill to keep districts whole, in the wake of the Students Come First repeal, passed the House Tuesday February 19, 2013.

DeMordaunt, who leads the House Education Committee, said House Bill 65 prevents school districts from losing more than $30 Million in anticipated funding.  The districts anticipated this funding would be available, based around the Students Come First laws on the books at the time, when their 2012-13 budgets were set last year.

The bill, which contains an emergency clause that would make it effective as soon it is adopted – only restores money and programs for the current budget year. It addresses initiatives and programs ranging from technology to teachers, including:

§  Restoring more than $4.8 million to pay for more math and science teachers.

§  Providing nearly $16.2 million for professional development and technology.

§  Returning $842,400 for dual credit courses for high school students who complete graduation requirements early.

§  Allowing districts to have use-it-or-lose-it spending flexibility with 9.5 percent of money they receive for staffing.

§  Unfreezing one year of education credits on the salary table that determines what educators are paid.

Following its swift passage through the House, the bill next heads to the Senate, where the committee, hearing and voting process starts over.