advocate for 2 SCHOOLS TO SEE A LIST OF BILLS TRACKED BY AASB DURING THE 2020 REGULAR SESSION, CLICK BELOW.

21st Century Critical Infrastructure: Investing in the Education Workforce Workforce Recognizing that K-12 public House floor. School leaders urge lawmak- K-12 public education has schools provides the foundation for ers to vote YES to H.76 (Baker). never been more aligned the state’s economic development, and engaged with state viability for businesses and quality Governor’s Education Budget efforts to prepare students While no action on the education budget for the workforce. Here of life, the House Ways and Means are some resources about Education Committee Wednesday is scheduled, additional resources are the state’s efforts. unanimously approved the Educa- available that outline the governor’s pro- tion Workforce Investment Act. posal for public education. The ETF budg- Federal funds for H.76 (Baker) would revise the education et proposal increases from $7.2 billion to Workforce Innovation employee retirement benefit to increase $7.5 billion for FY21 and includes a $158 and Opportunity Act the state’s competitiveness in recruiting million increase for the state Foundation

Program. The Lt. Governor’s Com- and retaining education employees. The mission released its report proposal would modify the aggressive 2012 Accelerating the Trans- cut in benefits while continuing to reduce the The FY20 to FY 21 ETF Budget Spread- formation to Excellence retirement system’s unfunded liability. That sheet provides an item-by-item listing of the projected cost to fund future retiree benefits Education Trust Fund (ETF) budget appro- Alabama Workforce Coun- ballooned after the 2008 recession and fed- priations outlined in the governor’s proposal. cil’s 2020 Annual Report eral accounting rule change. The resulting It includes the current FY20 fiscal year ap-

propriations, budget requests submitted for The Business Education savings are nine years ahead of projections Alliance published “Edu- but have created unintended negative conse- each line item and the governor’s FY21 ac- cation Matters: Measur- quences on the education workforce. Learn tual recommendations. The year to year dol- ing Alabama’s Progress more about this worthy investment. lar amount and percentage increase or de- toward 500,000 Highly crease is also provided. Skilled Workers.” Public K-12 school systems, one of the The state Department of Education has run Advocacy Days state’s largest employers, are struggling K-12 Foundation Program & State Totals Spend a day in Montgom- to attract and retain the qualified educa- ery with AASB staff to ex- tors, administrators and support person- for key funding items in the proposed ETF perience the legislative nel that keep schools open and operating. budget. These items include the grade divi- process, interact with law- H.76 proposes new employees would con- sors or multiplier to determine the number of makers and earn two train- tribute more to earn an increased retirement teachers/administrators earned for each ing hours. Register today! benefit. Unused sick leave would accrue to grade; instructional support; transportation Feb. 25 - Districts 7,8,9 retirement service instead of being forfeited and more. March 10 - Districts 1,2,3

April 7 - Districts 4,5,6 upon retirement. And employees would be able to retire at age 62 or after 30 years of Little Activity for Education So Far 2020 Regular service. The Act would be one strategy to In only the second week of the 2020 legisla- Legislative Session address what has become a national short- tive session, there are few education bills in 26 age of educators. The Education Workforce position to be debated on either the House days remain Investment Act will next be considered on the or Senate floor. The following bills of inter-

Lissa Tucker AASB Director of Governmental Relations www.AlabamaSchoolBoards.org est to education were approved this week by the House the state, shall be considered residents for the purposes or Senate. of virtual school option eligibility in K-12 public schools. Approved by Senate committee. State Approval for Local Occupational Tax By a 73-27 vote, the House Tuesday approved H.147 H.35 (Pringle) - Gender Is Real Legislative Act (Sells) to require permission from the state legisla- (GIRL) - Among other limitations, it would prohibit public K-12 schools from hosting/sponsoring or otherwise al- ture for a municipality to pass an occupational tax. lowing students to participate as athletes in competitions Extended debate on the House floor included sugges- against different biological birth genders, unless a co-ed tions that the law is a reaction to the proposed Montgom- team. A public hearing was held and the bill failed for ery occupational tax effort. If a municipality already had a lack of a motion for passage. The bill is again on the law in place by Feb. 1, 2020, the proposed law would not committee agenda Feb. 19. apply. The bill goes to Senate committee. EDUCATION-RELATED BILLS INTRODUCED Competitive Bid law H.205 (Robertson) - Firearms on school property - By a 100-3 vote, the House approved H.38 (Collins) to would make it unlawful to discharge a firearm on school help local school boards participate in cost-saving property during/after school hours. Discharging a firearm programs. The bill would add leases to the law that ex- in a school building or school bus is already a felony. empts purchases from the competitive bid law if partici- H.214 (Rich) - Teacher Bill of Rights - would create a pating in a national or regional governmental cooperative Teacher Bill of Rights that local school boards must post purchasing program. H.38 goes to Senate committee. and distribute at the beginning of each school year. AASB is reviewing this bill to provide additional details. Slow Down in School Zones H.235 (Gray) - Yoga in schools - would allow K-12 pub- By a 33-0 vote, the Senate approved S.71 (Ward) to lic schools to offer yoga instruction as an elective activity strengthen the law requiring reduced speed school H.237 (Hollis) - Feminine hygiene products - would zones. The bill clarifies that speed zones apply to require local school boards to provide feminine hygiene schools located in a county or municipality and adds pri- products in women’s restrooms, for schools with grades vate schools. It also specifies municipalities must main- five -12, at no cost to students. tain the signage on municipal roads. The bill goes to S.168 (Whatley)/H.71 (Hall) - Sex education - would House committee. revise content, materials and instruction regarding sex education or the human reproductive process. COMMITTEE ACTION S.189 (Smitherman) - Student discipline - would re- H.153 (Hollis) - School dress codes - Would prohibit a quire school boards to provide independent hearing offic- local board or employer from establishing a dress code or ers to conduct disciplinary hearings for suspensions or grooming policy prohibiting the wearing of a protected expulsions; prohibit students in pre-K through grade five hairstyle. Approved by House committee. from being suspended/expelled unless a safety issue S.143 (Chesteen) - Virtual education for military - and prohibit students from being expelled or suspended would provide that military dependents, upon relocation to solely for truancy or tardiness violations.

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Bill Poole, Chair , Chair , Chair , Chair , Vice Chair Danny Garrett, Vice Chair Tim Melson, Vice Chair Donnie Chesteen, Vice * Rod Scott* * Chair Anthony Daniels * Gerald Allen David Burkette Terri Collins Donnie Chesteen Tom Butler Barbara Drummond Brett Easterbrook Vivian Davis Figures Chris Elliott Corley Ellis Jim McClendon David Faulkner Tracy Estes Jim McClendon Malika Sanders-Fortier Jamie Kiel Charlotte Meadows Rodger Smitherman Nathaniel Ledbetter Tashina Morris Joe Lovvorn Steve McMillan Jabo Waggoner Shane Stringer Tom Whatley