Budget and Legislation Update
By David Walrath
The Assembly Budget Subcommittee completed its action by increasing education funding by $5.9 billion. The Senate Budget Committee completed its action by increasing education funding by approximately $2.5 billion.
The commitment to partially or fully restore some of the cuts to public education is positive; however, both the Assembly and Senate actions are contingent upon new revenue above what has been proposed in the May Revision. Unless there are significant revenues above the May Revision, it will be difficult for the Legislature to maintain either of these funding levels.
Legislation
The SSDA-cosponsored minimum allocations for back-to-school education programs (SB 898), was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
The SSDA-sponsored revenue limit and categorical deferral relief (SB 1136), passed the Senate Appropriations Committee. It will be heard on the Senate Floor next week and will be set in the Assembly Education Committee the second half of June.
SSDA will update on the status of all other bills that the Association is sponsoring, supporting or opposing after June 4, when Floor action is complete in both Houses.
