Action Line for March 19, 2009
Volume XXXII, Number 10
The March 20 Revenue Estimating Conference will set the state revenue estimates that define the size of the FY 2010 state budget. Pay attention to future Action Lines and if necessary, Action Networks, on soon to be considered appropriations bills and federal stimulus monies. Unless the Legislature takes action, allowable growth for FY 2010 is still at 4 percent. As local districts prepare budgets, keep in mind that the Iowa Department of Management will allow a district to lower a cash reserve levy but it will not allow you to increase your levy after the public process to set the budget has been completed. The district’s final budget will be sent to the superintendent for final approval, after DOM enters all the appropriate numbers, likely in mid-May. At that time, districts may request lowering the cash reserve levy if it is later determined that federal stimulus funds provided sufficient cash to fund spending authority for FY 2010.
SF 218 Allowable Growth at 2 percent FY 2011
SF 217 Salary Per Student Allowable Growth at 2 percent for FY 2011
HF 233 Disposition of School Property – the bill was effective immediately
Funnel Survival
The following bills of interest to school board members survived last week’s funnel date. This funnel is a self-imposed deadline for the Legislature by which bills were required to be approved by the committee of origin in order to advance through the legislative process. The funnel deadline does not apply to budget or appropriations bills, tax or ways and means bills, or bills sponsored by legislative leadership, oversight committee bills or legalizing acts. Also remember, dead bills are sometimes resurrected as amendments to bills that have progressed through the funnel.
Bills Surviving the Funnel
The following bills cleared a committee in their chamber of origin, so are eligible to move through the process. These are bills of interest to education leaders and are each followed by IASB’s lobbying position. (S = supports, O = opposes, U = undecided, or NR = not registered as we aren’t actively lobbying the bill).
- SF 445 Single Salary Schedule S
- SF 416 Sharing Incentives and Reorganizations U
- SF 359 State Writing Assessment S
- SF 276 PPEL fix in Secretary of State’s bill S
- SF 282 HF 777 Open Meetings/Public Records U
- SF 155 HF 795 Choice of Doctor O
- SF 81 Disaster Recovery S
- HF 794 Collective Bargaining (PERB pre-file) NR
- HF 778 Design Build Pilot Projects S
- HF 766 Resubmission of ISL and Bond Votes S
- HF 761 School Reorganization Task Force U
- HF 739 UNI Lab School O
- HF 589 Start Date O
- HF 495 Extracurricular Participation Timelines U
- HF 333 Prevailing Wage O
- HF 282 Dropout Prevention Funds S
- HF 259 Compulsory Attendance Age S
A link to the PowerPoint presentation shared by IASB lobbyists at the March 19 ICN Legislative Update is posted on the Web http://www.ia-sb.org/LegislativeAdvocacy.aspx?id=6964. This presentation provides status and background on these bills and other issues likely to be addressed by the 2009 Legislature.
Bills on the Move
SF 360 School District Dissolution
This bill makes changes to accreditation and re-organization of school districts in situations of a district recommended to lose accreditation after a Phase II audit. The bill is the result of the Russell state takeover in 2008. It allows a school district to speak directly to the state Board of Education on a plan by the accreditation committee and allows the state board to modify the plan. The bill requires continuation of the school accreditation while the plan is being implemented. The bill adds provisions on the use of various levies by a district that is receiving the assets and liabilities of a district that lost its accreditation. There is an arbitration process if necessary on the split of assets and liabilities between schools. The bill requires the former school to execute quitclaim deeds and pay for a final audit and certification of a final report and makes provisions on changing the boundaries of district directors applicable after removing accreditation from a school district and forming new director districts. The bill allows the notice provision to be delivered by regular mail but makes the final date of the hearing at least 30 days and no more than 60 days. IASB supports this bill, which was approved in the House and now moves to the Senate Education Committee.
HF 214 Educational Opportunities for Military Children
This bill addresses the issue of students of full-time active duty, not guard or reservist, military parents who have to transfer schools due to a re-assignment of the military parent. The bill addresses the treatment of records, immunizations, and enrollment. It is a federal compact bill that has already passed in over 10 states so is now considered to be federal law. IASB is monitoring this bill, having been approved by the House, which now moves to the Senate.
Other Resources
Capitol Cast: Please visit www.ia-sb.org to view this week’s Capitol Cast video clip from Margaret Buckton.
Report Legislative Contacts:
There is now a quick survey tool to help you easily keep IASB in the loop on conversations and e-mail exchanges you have with legislators. Whether you are talking about allowable growth or want to report something that helps us understand your district or legislator’s viewpoint on any issue at all, please visit the IASB Web site http://www.ia-sb.org/LegislativeAdvocacy.aspx?id=6466 and take two minutes to describe your conversation via the Local Legislative Contact Report. This saves you a phone call or e-mail and gives us everything we need to follow-up with your legislators or spot themes in conversations that we can address through this Action Line or an Action Network. Thanks for helping us keep track of your great advocacy work!
IASB Government Relations Team
Margaret Buckton, mbuckton@ia-sb.org
Mary Gannon, mgannon@ia-sb.org
Emily Piper, emily80@mchsi.com
Marte Brightman, mbrightman@ia-sb.org
Delivery Note: IASB sends you the Action Line by the fastest method possible: E-mails are usually sent Thursday evening; the print version is mailed Friday. If you prefer the Action Line by a method other than how it's now being sent to you, please contact Marte Brightman at IASB, mbrightman@ia-sb.org, or 1-800-795-4272.