The House Education Committee went over a strike-and-insert amendment proposed to a Senate education bill.
The Senate passed the bill earlier this week following many days of debate and deliberation. The measure introduces public charter schools, Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), a $250 tax credit for teachers buying supplies, a 5 percent pay increase to teachers and service personnel, and a $500 bonus for teachers who miss less than 10 days during an academic year.
Charter schools would be open in any school district and are opt-in. Education Savings Accounts would be open for 2,500 students who attend public charter schools in the state.
The strike-and-insert proposed several changes to the version passed out of the Senate. Some of the proposed changes included limiting the amount of charter schools established to six, removed virtual charter schools from the bill, and changed the implementation date to July 1, 2020. The strike-and-insert also proposed limiting ESAs to families of students with special needs.
The proposed tax credit was expanded to include service personnel.
The strike-and-insert also added a severability clause.
The proposed new version also changed the section related to payment during work stoppages, withholding pay during the stoppage but paying after all days are made up.
The strike-and-insert includes the proposed pay raises.
The proposed new version also removed a provision that would require unions to get written permission from members before they could spend membership dues on political causes.
In the afternoon meeting, counsel outlined technical changes to the strike-and-insert. Some of the technical changes included changing the language to say that the $250 tax credit would apply to teachers and service personnel in public schools and for comparable positions in private schools. Counsel noted that not all positions in private schools would perfectly match up to those in public schools.
After a few hours of questioning committee counsel, the committee adjourned until 9 a.m. Thursday.
