$15 Million Health Insurance Funding Proposal Goes to Gov. Beebe
Speaker Robbie Wills' leadership team, including Reps. Abernathy (D-Mena) and Curren Everett (D-Salem) presented Gov. Mike Beebe with a proposal this morning that provided an additional $15 million for active employees enrolled in the public school employee health insurance program. The funding comes from an underestimate in the local property tax revenue generated from the 25 mill Uniform Rate of Tax dedicated to public schools. Under the proposal, the money would be sent to school districts through the funding matrix and would raise the requirement for schools to pay $131 per month for each employee participating in the health insurance program.
While Gov. Beebe agreed upon the additional $15 million in funding, he insisted that the funds go directly to the Employee Benefits Division so that all of the money is used for health insurance. Speaker Wills' leadership team agreed, and legislative staff will draft language that describes the agreement to amend an existing appropriation bill. The amendment will likely amend a bill in the Joint Budget Committee. AEA will keep you informed when more specific details are available.
Joint Budget Committee Supports Virtual Charter School Cap
The Joint Budget Committee voted this morning in favor of an amendment proposed by Rep. David Rainey (D-Dumas) to the Public School Fund appropriation bill. The amendment prevents an increase in the number of students who would be allowed to attend the virtual charter school. The Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators, the School Boards Association and AEA supported this amendment. The amendment maintains the current cap of 500 students; if it had not passed, the cap would have increased to 1,000 students. This could have a serious fiscal impact on school districts whose students transfer to the virtual charter school because districts would lose approximately $6,000 for each student who transfers.
Senate Passes Five Bills
The Senate unanimously passed four bills Thursday – HB 1859, HB 1999, SB 998 and SB 999. HB 1372 was passed on Friday.
HB 1859 and HB 1999 will now return to the House. The House must concur on any amendments made by the Senate before these bills go to Gov. Beebe to be signed.
• HB 1859, sponsored by Rep. Bill Abernathy (D- Mena) would exempt licensed education employees from the FOI Act under certain conditions to ensure confidentiality of certain documents and procedures relating to code of ethics proceedings of the Professional Licensure Standards Board. However, hearings before the State Board of Education will be open and the records subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
• HB 1999, sponsored by Rep. Andrea Lea (R-Russellville) would allow teachers to choose an option of earning 12 hours of the required 60 professional development hours (equivalent to 2 of the required 10 days) using the online professional development approved by ADE and related either to the school’s ACSIP plan and/or the teacher’s professional growth plan. The 12 online hours must be taken from the 12 hours reserved for preparation work done before class. Additionally, a teacher who is unable to obtain the required professional development hours due to illness may use online course work to complete the requirements.
SB 998 and SB 999 will go to the House Education Committee. These bills, sponsored by Sen. Jimmy Jeffress (D-Crossett), are bills that clarify the roles and responsibilities of the personnel policies committees, school boards and superintendents.
HB 1372 will return to the House for concurrence with the Senate amendment added to the bill. This AEA-supported bill, sponsored by Rep. Johnnie Roebuck (D-Arkadelphia), grants subpoena power to the
Professional Licensure Standards Board and the State Board of Education.
SB 889 Passes the House
SB 889, sponsored by Sen. Steven Bryles (D-Little Rock), was passed by the House today. This AEA-supported bill would require the Department of Education to provide a detailed report of National School Lunch Student Categorical Fund expenditures and results from programs funded by National School Lunch Student Categorical Funds.
AEA Members Urged to Attend Health Care Forum in Wynne
Congressman Marion Berry will be a special guest at the forum. The event will be Tuesday, April 7, 2009, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Delta Technology Center, 1790 N. Falls Blvd., in Wynne. Congressman Berry needs to hear from school employees about the effects of the high cost of health care and health insurance. National health care reform is an important part of fixing this broken system.
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