SB 226 received a "do pass" from the House Education Committee today. This bill would establish a common spring break for all Arkansas public schools. It will be up for a vote in the House this week. If the bill is approved, it would be effective during the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school years. Each public school district that provides a week-long spring break would schedule that break during the 38th week of the school year. The 38th week of the school year is calculated by counting as week one the first week in July that begins on a Sunday. For example, in the 2009-2010 school year, week one begins on July 5, which is the first week in July that begins on a Sunday. Spring break would occur 38 weeks after that, or the week of March 28 (March 29-April 2). In the 2010 school year, week one begins on July 4. Spring break would occur the week of March 27 (March 28-April 1). The bill would also establish an advisory committee to review the impact of the common spring break on the coordination of academic, extracurricular and athletic school activities, and on state tourism, during these years.
- SB 998: An act concerning classified public school employee personnel policies (sponsor: Jimmy Jeffress, D-Crossett). This bill seeks to clarify the roles and responsibilities for personnel committees, superintendents and school boards. - SB 999: an act concerning licensed public school employee personnel policies (sponsor: Jimmy Jeffress, D-Crossett). This bill seeks to clarify the roles and responsibilities for personnel committees, superintendents and school boards. - HB 2249: To improve the effectiveness of public school teacher evaluations (sponsor: Eddie Cheatham, D-Crossett. These are "shell bills" and do not include specifics at this point. We will keep you informed as these bills progress.
Legislative Action Taken Today HB 1179: AEA opposes HB 1179, sponsored by Reps. John Burris, R-Harrison, Jon Woods, R-Springdale and Bryan King, R-Green Forest. This bill would remove Arkansas from the Streamlined Sales Tax Compact. This would result in a loss of some $9 million in revenue that the state currently receives from vendors in the other 18 states that are members of the compact, who collect and remit Arkansas sales tax. It would also keep the state from receiving additional revenue as more states join the compact. The bill was discussed in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee today and overwhelmingly defeated. HB 1052: The House of Representatives passed HB 1052, sponsored by Rep. Dan Greenburg, R-Bryant. This AEA-supported bill prevents retaliation against public employees, including school employees, for requesting records under the Freedom of Information Act. The bill now goes to the Senate. SB 396: The Senate passed SB396, sponsored by Sen. Joyce Elliott, D-Little Rock, which establishes the Arkansas Housing Trust Fund. AEA supports this bill, which now goes to the House. Retirement bills: - SB170: To allow a waiver of penalty for delinquent employer contributions in certain very limited cases where extraordinary circumstances keep the employer from being to timely remit the contributions(sponsor: Gene Jeffress, D-Louann). - SB191: To make technical corrections to Arkansas Code Title 24, Chapter 7. (sponsor: Steve Faris, D-Malvern). - SB227: To allow the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System to recoup benefits, including interest, paid to a member under T-DROP who does not meet the eligibility requirements. (sponsor: Jimmy Jeffress, D-Crossett). - SB229: To clarify that lump-sum benefits paid to a member under the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System are intended to be treated for tax purposes as proceeds from a life insurance policy. (sponsor: Jimmy Jeffress, D-Crossett). Legislative Alerts Archive www.aeaonline.org/political_action/alert.asp | |
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