Connecticut
Bill: HB 6704
Status: 06/03/2013 – Senate Passed as Amended by House Amendment Schedule A; In Concurrence
Relevant Elements: 5, 8, 9
Connecticut lawmakers on June 3 passed a $37.6 billion two-year budget, HB 6704, that expands gambling, preserves aid to Connecticut municipalities, includes major spending increases for science technology at the University of Connecticut and maintains the state’s safety net for social services without sweeping tax increases. Not one Republican in either chamber, which are both Democrat-controlled, voted to approve the budget. Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloy acknowledged the budget’s imperfections, and some supporters of the bill’s spending priorities expressed concern toward the fiscal foundation underlying them, The New York Times reports. “A heavy reliance on borrowing and a variety of one-shot revenues will leave holes in future budgets,” said Wade Gibson, a senior policy fellow at Connecticut Voices for Children.
The New York Times reports, “It also expands education reforms adopted last year, and it adds a new expansion on science and technology programs at the University of Connecticut.” It would also include the following appropriations for 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 respectively:
- $1.26 million for longitudinal data systems for both 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 periods.
- $8.3 million and $6.3 million for Common Core.
Louisiana
Bill: SR 167
Status: 06/03/2013 – Read by title and adopted.
Relevant Elements: 5, 9
Louisiana SR 167, sponsored by Sen. A.G. Crowe, R-Slidell, was introduced and adopted on June 3. This resolution requests the Department of Education to establish a study group to investigate with respect to the replacement of textbooks with e-books, implementation of cloud technology, related training, an expense analysis of the current expenditures related to textbooks, copy paper, printers, and printer ribbons, comparing that to the cost of providing tablets to students with access to e-books and the cloud.
South Carolina
In South Carolina, interactive 3D technology may make virtual charter schools global, according to Hypergrid Business. NOBLE Virtual school has applied for a charter application and, if successful, would function as a public virtual charter school. It would seek to use innovative methods to connect students with teachers and other students simultaneously and to be able to manipulate and build 3D objects that would push the boundaries of what is typically thought of with a virtual charter school as well as expand the student’s learning opportunities. “We are very excited about the possibility of providing this type of educational innovation to the children of South Carolina. No longer is education bounded by limitations of time, space and resources. If one can think it, one can do it in the virtual world- from reenactments of historical events to simulated science experiments to role-playing characters from famous novels. Instructionally, the sky is the limit,” said Dr. Craig Levan, Director of School Development for NOBLE Virtual, Inc.
Bill Updates:
- California AB 1186 passed the Assembly on May 30 and was ordered to the Senate on the same day. It is currently in the Senate and pending committee referral.
- Connecticut HB 6358 was delivered to Democratic Gov. Dan Malloy on June 4. Governor Malloy has until June 21 to sign or veto the bill or it becomes law without his signature.
- Illinois HB 208, the FY 2014 education appropriations bill, was sent to Democratic Gov. Patrick Quinn on June 4. Governor Quinn will have 60 days to sign or veto the bill or it becomes law without his signature. The budget keeps general state aid level, maintaining the proration level at 89 percent, according to the State Journal-Register. The proposed plan does not include Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn’s proposal to cut education funding by $300 million.
- In Illinois, a one-year moratorium has been placed on new virtual charter schools, according to The Chicago Tribune. HB 494/Act 0098-0016, signed by Democratic Gov. Patrick Quinn on May 24, will go into effect immediately.
- Louisiana HCR 153 has been adopted by the House and Senate. The bill was enrolled on June 2 and presented to the Secretary of State on June 5.
- The Maine House and Senate both passed LD 671 as amended by Committee Amendment A LD 671. The bill is pending delivery to Republican Gov. Paul LePage. Once the bill is delivered, Governor LePage will have 10 days, Sundays excepted, to act on the bill or it will become law without his signature.
- Maine LD 995, sponsored by Senate President Justin Alfond, D-Portland, was passed to be engrossed by the Senate and House on June 4 and 5 respectively. It will now be considered for a final vote.
- The Massachusetts budget entered conference committee after the House did not concur with Senate amendments on May 30. The committee is now debating HB 3401 and SB 1800.
- Michigan HB 4228 was presented to Republican Gov. Rick Snyder on June 5. Governor Snyder has until June 14 to sign or veto the bill or it becomes law without his signature.
- Michigan HB 4328, sponsored by House Appropriations Chair Joe Haveman, R-Holland, emerged from conference committee on June 4 when the Senate voted 24-14 to adopt the conference committee report and the bill was ordered enrolled. The bill contains the same education provisions as SB 196, the specific Department of Education Budget.
- Nevada SB 58/Chapter 321 was signed by Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval on June 1 and took effect immediately.
- New York SB 5509 was amended and passed by the Senate Education Committee on June 5.
- The Ohio budget, HB 59, was reported out as amended from the Senate Finance Committee on June 5. On June 6 the Senate passed the bill 23-10 along party lines.
- South Carolina HB 3752 passed the Senate 44-0 on June 4 and is pending delivery to Republican Gov. Nikki Haley.
- Vermont SB 130 was delivered to Democratic Gov. Peter Shumlin on June 4. The governor has until June 10 to sign or veto the bill or it becomes law without signature.