Thursday, January 14, 2021 09:19 AM

Legislative News | Volume 1

Included in this volume:

SENATE AND HOUSE BILLS

KASC focuses on bills we believe would have the most impact on education and/or are of high interest to our members — parents, teachers, and principals.

 

GOVERNOR AUTHORITY AND STATEWIDE RULES

SB 1 Limit Governor’s Emergency Orders to 30 Days

Amend KRS 39A.090 to limit the effective dates of executive orders issued by the Governor to 30 days unless an extension is approved by the General Assembly.  January 5 introduced; January 6 passed out of State and Local Government Committee; January 7 Senate voted in favor and received in House; January 8 passed State Gov Committee; January 9 passed by House and delivered to the Governor.

 

HB 178 Kentucky Board of Education Eligibility Requirements

Amend the law to require Kentucky Board of Education appointments to proportionately reflect the state’s political affiliation and minority racial composition; equal gender representation; add a student and teacher to the board as non-voting members; prohibit the Governor from reorganizing the board. January 6 introduced. 

 

 

BUDGET, TAX CREDITS, RETIREMENT, AND SCHOLARSHIPS

HB 192 Executive Branch Budget Bill for One Year

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the legislature only passed a one-year budget last year and thus the Governor presented this one-year budget. This executive branch budget  increases state funding for the SEEK formula by $9 million; $1000 raise for all teachers and classified employees; $11 million for textbooks; $5 million for preschool; money for loan forgiveness for teachers; $50 million for broadband grants; $100 million for school building repair and construction; expansion of the Work Ready Scholarship to include all new students pursuing associate degrees and certificates; Teachers Retirement System is fully funded as is the teachers medical insurance; January 7 bill introduced; January 11 passed the House and heading to the Senate. The conference committee will be discussing the details of the Executive Budget in the next few weeks.  

 

SB 25 Opportunities in Education Tax Credits *similar to HB 149

Establishes the Education Opportunity Account EOA Program; gives state tax credits for donations to an organization that provides funds to middle and low income students and foster children to attend private schools including tuition; also funds computers, education therapies and services. January 5 introduced. 

 

HB 149 Education Opportunity Account Program *similar to SB 25

Creates the Education Opportunity account EOA Program; gives state tax credits for donations to an organization that provides funds to middle and low income students and foster children to attend private schools including tuition; also funds computers, education therapies, tutoring, and services.  January 5 introduced. 

 

HB 153 Dual Credit Scholarship

Expands Dual Credit Scholarships to include two career and technical courses annually.   January 5 introduced. 

 

HB 200 State Tax Credit Educator Expenses

Creates a new state tax credit for educators for unreimbursed education expenses with a maximum of $250 per year. January 7 introduced.


HB 253 FAFSA High School Completion Requirement

Requires the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid FAFSA form as a high school graduation requirement; Parents can opt out of the FAFSA requirement; January 11 introduced.


HB 258 Teachers’ Retirement System New Hires

Creates new sections of the Teachers’ Retirement System for new hires; creates a hybrid plan with part guaranteed defined retirement benefits, part supplemental plan, and retiree medical benefits; new hires will be eligible to retire at age 55 with 30 years of service or with reduced benefit at age 55 with 10 years of service, retire at age 60 with 10 years of service and at age 65 with 5 years of service.  January 12 introduced. 

 

 

STUDENTS — GENDER, RACE, CHILD ABUSE, BEHAVIOR

SB 106 School Athletics Gender Restrictions

Requires the Kentucky Board of Education or its designee to enact rules requiring that student athletes only participate in sporting events based on their biological sex; prohibit male students from participating in athletic teams designated as girls; creates a cause of action against a school that violates these provisions; also extends these prohibitions to colleges and universities.  January 11 introduced. 

 

HB 43 Race Discrimination Prohibitions

Amend KRS 344.010 to include protective hairstyles and race, that includes traits historically associated with race; Require school disciplinary codes to prohibit discrimination on the basis or race; January 5 introduced.


HB 186 History of Racism Required Curriculum

Amends KRS 156.160 to require middle and high school curriculum to include the history of racism; January 6 introduced.

 

HB 65 Professional Development Behavior disorders

Require all certified public-school employees to complete high quality behavioral and mood disorder professional development training annually. Bill does not stipulate the number of hours per year for this PD. January 5 introduced.


HB 154 Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Curriculum and PD

New law requires school council to adopt a curriculum for child abuse awareness and prevention instruction for all students in grades K-9; shall be taught by certified teacher who has completed at least one hour of professional development related to physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect. January 5 filed.

 

HB134 Corporal Punishment Banned

Creates new law that prohibits school district employees from using corporal punishment. January 5 introduced. 

 

 

COVID

HB 1 Allows Schools and Businesses to Open during COVID

Applies during COVID 19 time period, allows schools and businesses to remain open if adopted written plan complies with CDC guidelines or state orders—whichever is least restrictive. January 5 introduced; January 6 passed in House State Government Committee; January 7 passed in House and received in Senate; January 8 passed in Senate State and Local Government Committee; January 9 passed by Senate and delivered to the Governor.

 

HB 208 Omnibus Education Bill COVID-19 Related

Education bill that addresses many COVID-19 related issues ranging form attendance, NTI, district calendars, school meal service, assessment and accountability, IDEA, certified evaluation plans, educational enhancement opportunity days, email notice requirements. January 7 introduced.

 

 

RESOLUTIONS

 

Joint Resolutions

HJR 8 Committee Study Assessment and Accountability

Directs the commissioner of education to convene a strategic assessment and accountability committee; establish minimum requirements for the composition of the committee; establish the duties of the committee; require the commissioner to report the findings of the committee to the Interim Joint Committee on Education by December 1, 2021, and December 1, 2022.  January 5 filed. 

 

House Resolutions

HR 21 Commemorate Constitution Day

House Resolution to urge school districts to commemorate Constitution Day on or about September 17. January 6 introduced. 

 

What is the difference between a Kentucky Bill and a Resolution?

A bill creates new law, amends or repeals existing law, or proposes to amend the constitution.

Resolutions can be one of three kinds:

  • Simple resolutions concern the affairs of one chamber only and require action only by that chamber. They are used to regulate procedure and to express requests or sentiments.

  • Concurrent resolutions must be approved by both the House and Senate. Concurrent resolutions deal with legislative organization and are used to transmit messages to other branches of government, to undertake a research study, or express opinions of the General Assembly.

  • Joint resolutions have the effect of law and are treated as bills. They are used to ratify US constitutional amendments and for matters of temporary legislation not to be included as part of the Kentucky Revised Statutes.

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