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Legislative Update: State budget, suspense hearings, new CSBA positions

Published: June 1, 2016

Following the release of Gov. Jerry’s Brown’s May Revision, the Senate and Assembly budget subcommittees have both finalized their respective 2016-17 budget proposals. CSBA is generally supportive of the Senate proposal, which is strong for Proposition 98 and preK-12 funding.

The Senate and Assembly convene their annual Joint Budget Conference Committee this week, with a June 15 deadline to adopt a budget and send it to the Governor for his approval.

Key Details of the Senate and Assembly Budget Proposals:

Proposition 98: Both houses adopted the Legislative Analyst’s estimates for property tax revenues, yielding a total Proposition 98 guarantee of $71.937 billion.

LCFF: Both houses show strong support for the Local Control Funding Formula, both offering more than $3 billion to close nearly 55 percent of the remaining funding gap and bringing LCFF to 95.7 percent of full funding.

Facilities: Both houses rejected the May Revision proposal to allocate $100 million in Proposition 98 funding to a loan program for emergency facilities repairs, a proposal which CSBA opposed.

Early Education: Both houses rejected Gov. Brown’s proposal to eliminate transitional kindergarten and to consolidate early education funding into a $1.6 billion block grant without full stakeholder input; CSBA supports the Legislature’s action.

Child care: There are few areas of difference between the houses other than the sizeable $832 million proposal to increase child care and preschool adopted by the Assembly. That package splits $405 million in General Funds for child care rates and slots and $213 million in Prop. 98 Funds for preschool rates and slots, which is mostly one-time funding.

CSBA is expressing concerns about the Assembly proposal to direct one-time funds for ongoing preschool programs that districts may be expected to continue once the funding disappears. CSBA is urging that any preschool slots be funded with ongoing funds over and above the LCFF allocation,other programs are not negatively impacted and general school operating funds are not reduced.

Teacher shortage: CSBA supports the Senate’s focus on resolving California’s teacher shortage. The Senate proposes $7 million for the California Center on Teaching Careers, pursuant to SB 915 (Liu, D-La Cañada Flintridge), which CSBA supports, as well as $10 million for a four-year integrated degree and teacher residency. The Assembly proposes $20 million to fund the Classified School Employee Teacher Credentialing program.

California Collaborative for Educational Excellence: CSBA is very supportive of Senate funding of $45 million for the CCEE, pursuant to SB 871 (Liu, D-La Cañada Flintridge), which CSBA supports.

Adult Ed/CTE: CSBA supports the work of both houses in continuing to support Adult Education and Career Technical Education funding.

One-time funds: CSBA is supportive of both houses allowing school districts and county offices of education the maximum flexibility with one-time funds.

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY SUSPENSE HEARINGS:

The Senate and Assembly Appropriations Committees both heard their respective suspense files on May 27, clearing a major fiscal hurdle for several key education bills. Of the bills being followed by CSBA that made it to suspense, the Assembly passed 40 and held 24, with the Senate passing 28 and holding 10. View a full list of education bills heard in the May 27 Senate and Assembly suspense hearings.

Key bills passed by Appropriations Committees:

AB 1719 (Rodriguez, D-Chino) – Would require students in grades 9-12 to be provided instruction in “compression only” CPR; the bill was amended in policy committee to remove provisions establishing CPR instruction as a graduation requirement. CSBA Position: Support

SB 871 (Liu, D-La Cañada Flintridge) – Provides funding for the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence and professional development; the bill was amended by the author to encourage inclusion of stakeholders. CSBA Position: Support

SB 933 (Allen, D-Santa Monica) – To address the teacher shortage, Appropriations has allocated funding for California Teacher Corps Act of 2016, which establishes teacher residency programs to assist in teacher retention. CSBA Position: Support

SB 1225 (Mendoza, D-Artesia) – Requires that a notice explaining rights and protections of teachers be posted in common administrative areas and in each classroom; the bill was amended to reduce the scope of the posting requirements. CSBA Position: Oppose

Key bills held in Appropriations Committees:

AB 2401 (O’Donnell, D-Long Beach) – Would create an annual General Fund allocation (of an unspecified amount) for the Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA) program. CSBA Position: Support

SB 1145 (Hueso, D-San Diego) – Would require the SBE to develop reading assessments for pupils in grades 1 to 3, but raises concerns regarding specific types of assessments, implementation and funding. CSBA Position: Oppose

A list of all 2016-17 bills CSBA is monitoring can be found online.

NEW POSITIONS ON 2016 LEGISLATION:

CSBA’s Legislative Committee reviewed and adopted positions on the following 2016 bills at its May 27 meeting.

AB 2116 (Gallagher) – School bonds: projections of assessed property valuations

CSBA Position: Neutral

Issue area(s): Strengthen Local Governance

AB 2316 (O’Donnell) – School facilities: leasing property

CSBA Position: Support if Amended

Issue area(s): Strengthen Local Governance

AB 2615 (Wood) – After school programs

CSBA Position: Support

Issue area(s): Improve Conditions of Children