Under the Dome - Legislative News
Click here for the most recent weekly Legislative Update from the Texas PTA.
News for Monday, May 23rd, 2011: We are in the mad dash to the end of the 82nd Texas Legislative Session. Many bills died last Thursday at midnight, and many more will die this coming Tuesday when another deadline passes. The bill reports are much shorter now because we have removed bills that died last week.
State officers of Texas PTA had a busy week. As you will see below, and hopefully read about in PTA updates this week, The top three state officers crisscrossed the state urging Governor Perry to "Fund our Future" by utilizing more, but not all, of the Rainy Day Fund and raising sin taxes on alcohol and cigarettes. In every city PTA officers spoke to local media outlets about Texas PTA's concerns that the Texas Legislature is considering dramatically underfunding public education. The three day blitz ended in Austin with a trip back to the capitol to deliver letters to Governor Perry, Lt. Governor Dewhurst, and Speaker Straus with the same message.
In other news about Texas PTA's priorities:
- The bill to ban the use and sale of K-2 is on its way to the Governor for his signature.
- The bullying bill Texas PTA has endorsed is expected to be debated in the 2nd chamber early this week.
- The statewide workplace smoking ban was attached to a "must pass" bill late last week. The ban, if it survives, applies only to bars and restaurants. Amendments to exempt pool halls and bingo parlors were added. It is hoped that they can be stripped out as the bill progresses.
- Healthy Lifestyles programs and requirements have been under attack this session as ISDs seek to remove mandates on them during this lean fiscal period. Texas PTA has fought this erosion of needed laws that affect the health of Texas youth.
- The class size law has failed thus far to be changed, although another effort to do so is expected on Monday or Tuesday of this week.
You are likely to receive several more alerts this week, the last 7 days of the Legislative Session. Thank you for reading and responding to alerts this session. Your calls and emails have made a difference.
News for Monday, May 16th, 2011: The 10 legislators who make up the Conference Committee on the state's budget for the next 2 years are continuing to meet, but appear to be at an impasse. Texas PTA's top three elected officers met with staff members for Budget Conferees, with one of the conferees, and with senior staffers for Lt. Gov Dewhurst and Speaker Straus, to discuss Texas PTA's concerns about the proposed budget for public education.
Your state officers heard loud and clear that the conferees are struggling to come to consensus around the dollars that should be spent for 2012-2013. The Senate conferees would like to spend more than the House conferees. It appears that the House is waiting for Gov. Perry to approve ideas for new revenue such as using more of the Rainy Day Fund (RDF), and raising sin taxes and fees.
This week the Senate voted out a bill that would authorize use of more of the RDF for this year's budget. This would free up money in next year's budget. Gov. Perry objected to this strategy and has been sending calls in to voters across the state, opposing the use of more of the RDF.
Two bills are stalled at this time that are "must pass" bills. These bills change the funding system for public schools. If the bills are not passed, the state will be responsible for funding schools using the current funding system, but will not have enough money to do so.
Time is running out. There are only 14 more days in this Legislative Session. Any compromise budget must be brought back to the full House and Senate for their approval in the next 8-10 days, and the school finance bill must pass as well, in order for this budget to balance.
In other news:
- Bullying bills are on the move. HB 1942 and SB 205 will be heard in committee this week.
- K2 legislation is nearing passage.
- The class size averaging bill died in the House this week, however we may see this concept attached to another bill that is still alive. This bill also contained language that attempts to end Coordinated School Health and Fitnessgram as well.
- Smoke-Free Texas legislation was pulled down by the House author, Rep. Myra Crownover, who promised to attach it to another bill that will be heard next week.
- HB 2599, the bill that reduces the chewing tobacco tax, is stuck for now in the Senate Finance Committee. Many thanks to those of you who called or emailed your opposition to this bill!
The PTA bill status reports will get shorter now, as any bill that was not passed by the House on Thursday night is dead.
The session will end in 14 days. You are no doubt tiring of the Legislative Alerts that are inundating your email box. Please hang in there with us for a few more days. We need your support to accomplish Texas PTA's goals for Texas children!!!