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FINAL Legislative Update 02-22-2021

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FINAL Legislative Update 02-22-2021 Legislative Update Presented by Johnny Hill, CFO David Hicks, CIO Allen ISD February 22, 2021 2 Immediate Priority #1: Repeal of Legislation • Bond referendum repeal of legislation • Repeal of A-F accountability standards • Repeal the expiration of Formula Transition Grant funding after 5 years Immediate Priority #2: Accountability and A-F • Modifications of A-F System Allen ISD’s • Unintended consequences of campus rating Legislative Immediate Priority #3: School Finance and Funding Priorities • Maintain the integrity of HB3 for 87th • Fund schools based on enrollment, not ADA Legislative • Discuss with legislators and stakeholders the importance of Session maintaining a healthy fund balance • Prioritize the use of funds from the Rainy Day Fund • Limit the expansion of charter schools • Provide full funding and expand opportunities for virtual education • Eliminate the spending requirements on state mandated funds Governor Greg Abbott delivered his State of the State address on Monday, 3 February 1, 2021. The Governor designated five items as emergency items to be addressed during the first 60 days of the legislative session. Governor 1. Expanding broadband internet access Abbott’s 2. Discouraging the defunding of police State of the 3. Fixing the bail system State 4. Election integrity Address 5. Civil liability protections for businesses open during the pandemic 4 Additionally, the Governor stated, “This session, we must continue to fund education as we promised.” This statement refers to the five items designated as emergency items two years ago. • School finance reform • Teacher pay raises • School safety Governor • Property tax reform Abbott’s • Disaster response State of the State Address 5 Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, R-Houston Leaders of the 87th President Pro Tempore of the Texas Senate State Bryan Birdwell, R-Granbury Legislative Session Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont 6 Chair of the Senate Chair of the Senate Education Committee Finance Committee Larry Taylor, R- Jane Nelson, R-Flower Friendswood Mound Leaders of the 87th State Legislative Session Chair of the House Chair of the House Public Education Appropriations Committee Committee Harold Dutton, D- Greg Bonnen, R- Houston Friendswood 7 Senate Finance Chair Senator Jane Nelson and Speaker Dade Phelan presented the budget proposals from the two chambers on January 21st. • The base bills serve as a starting point for the appropriations process. • Although both budget proposals make reductions, they are still currently proposing to spend $7.3 billion more than the Comptroller estimates will be available ($112.5 billion). • The two proposals are similar in their approach to education funding, though not identical. • Public education was largely spared from cuts. State • The Foundation School Program (FSP) is fully funded under current law. This funding Budget honors the commitments made in HB3. Update The Legislature has several “tools” available to make up the approximately $7.3 billion dollar difference. • FSP savings from current biennium ($3 billion) • Economic Stabilization Fund ($8.8 - 11.6 billion) • FSP August 2023 Payment Delay ($2 billion) • ESSER 2 funding ($5.5 billion) 8 Potential educational issues to be addressed by legislation: • Student mental health • Learning loss • Attendance requirements • Fund balance • Property tax • Staffing 87th Legislative As of February 8, 2021, the 391 education bills filed addressed the following subjects: Session • Accountability (23) • Property Tax (96) • Benefits (13) • Purchasing (8) • Bonds (6) • School Finance (32) • Curriculum and Instruction (32) • State Budget (5) • Governance (61) • School Safety (31) • Higher Education (7) • Other (27) • Personnel (50) (Total number of bills filed: 2,430) 9 Bill Author Party Caption Remarks Track Number SB1 Nelson, Jane R General Appropriations Bill State Budget HB690 Metcalf, Will R Relating to training requirements Requires school Board memBer training School Safety/ for a memBer of the Board of on school safety. Training to Be Discipline trustees of an independent school developed By the SBOE and Texas district School Safety Center HB351 Talarico, James D Relating to air filtration efficiency Requires TCEQ to estaBlish rules related School Safety/ standards at certain educational to air filtration and efficiency standards Discipline and child care facilities. for puBlic and private schools and childcare facilities. Requires periodic (once a year) testing of HVAC systems. Includes reporting requirements as well aqs posting of reports. 1 Bill 0 Author Party Caption Remarks Track Number HB303 Collier, Nicole D Relating to testing for lead Requires first draw tap tests for school School Safety/ contamination in public school district drinking water every five years. Discipline drinking water. Requires remediation if results indicate unsafe levels before water may be used. Buildings designated lead free by the Safe Drinking Water Act are exempt. Districts and charter schools with fewer than 1,000 students are exempt. Test results must be posted, submitted to local health authorities, and maintained for 12 years. HB204 Thierry, Shawn D Relating to requiring school Each school district and open- School Safety/ districts and open-enrollment enrollment charter school shall provide Discipline charter schools to provide a each classroom in the district or school landline telephone or panic button with a landline telephone or panic in every classroom. button that allows for immediate contact with district emergency services or emergency services agencies, law enforcement agencies, health departments, and fire departments. 1 1 Bill Author Party Caption Remarks Track Number HB55 Swanson, Valoree R Relating to the carrying and Eliminates restriction of school School Safety/ possession of a concealed marshals from carrying handguns if Discipline handgun by a school marshal. they will have regular, direct contact with students. Prohibits a district from requiring school marshals to store handgun in locked location while on duty. SB514 Hall, Bob R Relating to the carrying of The board of trustees of a school School Safety/ concealed handguns by handgun district or the governing body of an Discipline license holders on the campus of open-enrollment charter school may a school district or open- not adopt any rule, regulation, or enrollment charter school. other provision prohibiting or restricting a district or school employee, while performing job duties on the premises of a district or school, from carrying in a concealed manner a handgun that the employee is licensed to carry. 1 2 Bill Author Party Caption Remarks Track Number HB1468 Bell, Keith R Relating to curriculum and Allows ISDs to be funded for remote School Finance eligibility requirements for the instruction for students who live in the provision of local remote learning district or who are children of to qualify for state funding and employees. Allows ISD to establish calculation of average daily policies for admission. Counts time in attendance. remote learning to count toward ADA. HB1246 Hinojosa, Gina D Relating to the use of average Replaces average daily attendance with School Finance enrollment for purposes of the average daily enrollment. StriKes public school finance system. language related to course completion for funding under the virtual school network. HB334 Gates, Gary R Relating to funding for career and Requires 90% of CTE allotment to be School Finance technology programs in public used on CTE program. schools. HB733 Gonzalez, Jessica D Relating to state assistance for Increases the amount of FSP funding School Finance school employees uniform group that districts are directed to set aside health coverage. for benefits from $900 to $1,800. 13 Bill Author Party Caption Remarks Track Number HB538 Patterson, Jared R Relating to the removal of Removes limitation on entities that can School Finance restrictions on funding and provide full time virtual education. payment of costs for certain full- time online educational programs. HB1360 Landgraf, Brooks R Relating to the procedure by which Requires publication of no-new- Property Tax a taxing unit is required to provide revenue, I&S and M&O fund balance, public notice of certain ad valorem and schedule of debt service in the tax-related information. newspaper, rather than on the internet. HB183 Bernal, Diego D Relating to a limitation on the total Limits tax increases on residence Property Tax amount of ad valorem taxes that a homesteads for individuals who qualify school district may impose on for the residence homestead certain residence homesteads exemption for 15 consecutive years. following a substantial school tax increase. Bill 14 Author Party Caption Remarks Track Number HJR30 Raymond, Richard D Proposing a constitutional Property Tax amendment to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation by certain political subdivisions of a portion of the market value of the residence homestead of the parent or guardian. HJR25 Shaheen, Matt R Proposing a constitutional Allows up to 50% homestead Property Tax amendment authorizing a local exemption for physicians who provide option exemption from ad valorem indigent health care services. taxation by a county of a portion of the value of the residence homestead of a physician. HJR22 Pacheco, Leo D Proposing a constitutional Extends current school district freeze fo Property Tax amendment establishing a individuals who are over 65years old to limitation on the total amount
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