(Note: This is the third of three blog posts detailing information that was provided by the WASB Government Relations team to in-person attendees at the Legislative Update presentation during the State Education Convention last Friday.)
Although the legislative session is winding down, there are several bills still making their way through the process that impact K-12 education and are of interest to school leaders and the WASB. Here are the bills we discussed during our presentation at Convention.
Legislation of Interest
Assembly Bill 348/Senate Bill 355, relating to raising the legal age for purchasing cigarettes, tobacco products, nicotine products from 18 to 21 to parallel a recent change in federal law. The bill also imposes the same
minimum age to the purchase of “vapor products” (a/k/a electronic smoking devices). (WASB supports) While both bills have been voted out of committee, neither has made it to the floor of either house yet.
Assembly Bill 411/Senate Bill 411, the so-called “critical race theory” bill. The bill prohibits school districts and independent charter schools from allowing teachers to teach race or sex stereotyping, including eight enumerated concepts. The bill provides potentially severe penalties that would vary widely by district. (WASB opposes) The Assembly version has passed the Assembly and will be before the state Senate tomorrow (1/25).
Assembly Bill 435/Senate Bill 431, relating to mandating that cursive writing be incorporated into every school district’s elementary curriculum. (WASB opposes) The Assembly version has passed the Assembly but has not yet been scheduled for a floor vote in the state Senate.
Assembly Bill 475/Senate Bill 448, relating to requiring that a referendum ballot question for issuing bonds include a statement of the estimated interest accruing on the amount of the bonds. (WASB opposes) Both bills have been voted out of committee in their house of origin; neither bill has been scheduled for a floor vote yet.
Assembly Bill 495/Senate Bill 484, relating to: possession of a firearm in a vehicle on school grounds by a person with a license to carry a concealed weapon. (WASB opposes) The Assembly version has passed the Assembly on a voice vote; both the Assembly version and the Senate version are available to be scheduled for a vote on the Senate floor.
Assembly Bill 600/Senate Bill 587, relating to allowing students to transfer to a private school or another public school district based on a district’s masking or vaccination policies. Circumvents the WIAA transfer rules. (WASB opposes) Both bills have been voted out of committee in their house of origin; neither bill has been scheduled for a floor vote yet.
Assembly Bill 602/Senate Bill 585, relating to requiring public high schools and private high schools that participate in a voucher program to report certain crimes and other incidents that occur on school property or school transportation. (WASB opposes) The Senate version has passed the Senate; the Assembly version has been voted out of committee. Both both the Assembly version and the Senate version are available to be scheduled for a vote on the Assembly floor.
Assembly Bill 814/Senate Bill 793, relating to creating an exception to the suspension of annuity payments for retired teachers hired as substitute teachers. (WASB supports) Neither bill has received a public hearing as yet in its house of origin.
Assembly Bill 830/Senate Bill 854, relating to: requiring the state superintendent of public instruction to develop a model curriculum for pupils in grades 5 to 12 to instruct pupils on how to interact with law enforcement with mutual cooperation and respect This bill requires the state superintendent of public instruction, in consultation with organizations representing law enforcement, to promulgate rules to develop a model curriculum for pupils in grades 5 to 12 to instruct pupils on how to interact with law enforcement with mutual cooperation and respect. The bill allows a school board or operator of an independent charter school to include in each grade from 5 to 12 instruction in law enforcement interactions that is consistent with the model curriculum. The bill specifies that a school board that elects not to include such instruction must adopt a resolution making that election. (WASB opposes because of the resolution provision)
Assembly Bill 843, relating to: comprehensive firearm education for high school pupils This bill requires the state superintendent of public instruction to develop a curriculum for a comprehensive firearm education course for high school pupils. The bill requires the state superintendent to jointly develop the curriculum with the Department of Natural Resources, a law enforcement agency, and an organization that specializes in firearm safety or that certifies firearm instructors. The bill allows a school board or operator of an independent charter school to offer high school pupils a comprehensive firearm education course consistent with the curriculum the state superintendent develops or a hunter safety course modeled on DNR’s hunter education program. Under the bill, if the school board or operator offers such a course, the course must be taught or supervised by an individual who demonstrates proof of training in firearm safety. The bill specifies that a school board that elects not to offer a firearm education or hunter safety course must adopt a resolution making that election. (WASB opposes because of the resolution provision)
Assembly Bill 899/Senate Bill 841, relating to requiring one credit of personal financial literacy for high school graduation. Specifically, the bill would require that, in order to graduate, a pupil must earn at least one credit of personal financial literacy that includes financial mindset, education and employment, money management, saving and investing, credit and debt, and risk management and insurance. (WASB is evaluating this bill. We are concerned that the bill could impose an unfunded mandate on many school districts. It is also unclear whether there is enough curricular material on this subject area to merit a full credit course.) Neither bill has received a public hearing as yet in its house of origin.
Assembly Bill 309/Senate Bill 336, relating to prohibiting discrimination based on vaccination status. (WASB is evaluating this bill. It appears the provisions of the bill could conflict with the existing vaccination/immunization requirements in current law. Those immunization requirements may be waived if the student’s parent or guardian, or an adult student, submits a written statement to the school identifying their objections to the immunization(s) for reasons of health, religion, or personal conviction. In the case of a waiver for health reasons, the Department of Health Services (DHS) requires a physician’s signature certifying that one or more vaccinations is or may be harmful to the student’s health.) The Assembly version of the bill has been voted out of committee and is available to be scheduled for a vote on the Assembly floor. The Senate version has received a public hearing but has not yet been voted out of committee.
