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Legislation & Advocacy

01.27.12: Big Three Tax Initiatives

By Walrath, David

Please click here for an overview of the big three tax initiatives. read more

11.21.11: State Unemployment Rate Falls

by Shelly Tillery

Notwithstanding the gloom from the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) report I wanted you to know the following more positive news about the rest of the year.  Remember the Department of Finance has always said they believed most . . . read more

11.16.11: All Children Are Equal Act (H.R. 2485)

by Shelly Tillery

All Children are Equal Act (H.R. 2485) to be Considered by the House Education and the Workforce Committee Contact Your Member of Congress Now to Urge Support The U.S. House of Representatives' Education and the Workforce . . . read more

06.06.11: Legislative Update

By Walrath, David

June 3rd was the last day for bills to pass their house of origin (Assembly Bills to pass the Assembly and Senate Bills to pass the Senate) if they are to continue this year. Click here to view the current status of significant bills. . . . read more

05.06.11: SSDA Activities

by Aileen Dalen

SSDA has been lobbying on legislation, state budget and the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) recommendations on small school district consolidation.  SSDA has responded to the LAO. SSDA has testified on numerous bills during . . . read more

03.28.11: Mandate Reimbursement and Flexibility Reform Legislation

By Walrath, David

Senator Emmerson is authoring the SSDA-supported SB 887 for mandate reimbursement and flexibility reform. Click here to view a support letter by the sponsor, the Riverside County Schools Advocacy Association, . . . read more

03.06.2011: Open Enrollment Legislation

By Walrath, David

The Open Enrollment Act reform bill ( Assembly Bill 47 by Assembly Member Huffman ) is set for hearing in Assembly Education Committee on March 16, 2011. SSDA supports this important legislation and will be working with legislative staff on . . . read more

01.20.11: National Gallery of Art Teacher Institute

The National Gallery of Art invites teachers of kindergarten through grade twelve to apply for a six-day seminar that explores American art of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.  Individual sessions will integrate art, social . . . read more

01.05.11: Governor Brown Makes Appointments to State Board of Education

By Walrath, David

This looks like a high quality, experienced, positive State Board of Education.  Governor Brown should be complimented for these appointments. ~Dave Walrath     Governor Brown today . . . read more

01.03.11: California Voting Rights Act

By Walrath, David

Many school districts, including small school districts, will need to review how they elect their trustees after the 2010 Census. The California Voting Rights Act provisions could require changes from at-large to trustee area elections. . . . read more

11.03.10: Election Update

By Walrath, David

State Legislature Still Democratic Governor-Elect Jerry Brown will be able to work with a solidly Democratic Legislature.  Democrats picked up one Assembly seat to be at 52 to 28 in that body.  They are just two members . . . read more

10.19.10: Low Interest School Facility Bonds Available

By Walrath, David

The second round of Qualified School Construction Bonds (QSCB) is available from the California Department of Education. The application (click here to view the application) allows small school districts to secure the bonds with . . . read more

10.01.10: Status of Significant Legislation on Governor's Desk

  SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR AB 191           (Assembly Budget Committee) Requires that all March 2011 deferred payments to county offices of education, school districts, and . . . read more

09.27.10: Governor Signs AB 2560

By Walrath, David

State Application Process Will Now Move Quickly California QSCB Authorization   AB 2560 (Brownley) , signed by the Governor on Friday, is the state legislation that provides the authority to the California Department . . . read more

09.09.10: Frequently Asked Questions About Special Sessions

By David Walrath

Because we do not have a budget at the end of the regular session, school districts have many questions about what happens next.  Just as the Governor has called special sessions for budget emergencies, taxes, school reform, water, and . . . read more

09.07.10: SBE Hearing - Open Enrollment Act

By David Walrath

During the morning of September 16 th , the State Board of Education will hear the Open Enrollment Act final regulations prior to the 15-day comment period. Please attend or be prepared to send comments if your school district has a . . . read more

09.03.10: Legislation Update

Sponsored Legislation   SB 898 (Ashburn (R)) Relates to the After School Education and Safety Program to serve pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 9 at participating public elementary, middle, junior high and . . . read more

09.02.10: City of Bell Scandal Results in New School Superintendent Contract Procedures

By David Walrath

In responding to the scandals from the City of Bell, other cities and the Public Employees’ Retirement System, the Legislature cast a wide net in making changes to employment and retirement provisions for local government management . . . read more

08.13.10: Status of Legislation

Click here to view the status of significant legislation tracked by the Small School Districts' Association. read more

08.10.10: SSDA Amendments Accepted

By David Walrath

  Senator Simitian and Senator Ashburn have accepted SSDA proposed amendments to their bills  - SB 1381 (Simitian) and SB 623 (Ashburn) - that withdraw SSDA’s opposition to those bills.  The SB 1381 . . . read more

07.30.10: Status of Significant Legislation

Please click here to view the status of significant legislation in pdf format. read more

07.30.10: CPUC Lifts Suspension of PBI and Gov't/Non-Profit Projects

Yesterday, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued a Ruling, directing the California Solar Initiative (CSI) Program Administrators (PAs) to resume processing all applications, including those PBI and . . . read more

Legislative Update

By David Walrath

SSDA Sponsored Bills:   SB 898 (Ashburn (R)) Relates to the After School Education and Safety Program to serve pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 9 at participating public elementary, middle, junior high and . . . read more

05.24.10: New Regulations Affecting Project Funding

By David Walrath

For school districts thinking about entering contracts between now and the end of this year, the district should be aware of the new regulations affecting project funding. New Labor Compliance Program (LCP) regulations have been submitted by . . . read more

04.23.10: Opposed Legislation Update

By David Walrath

AB 1605 (Coto (D)) Amends existing law that relates to the design and construction of school buildings to ensure that plans and specifications comply with various structural safety standards. Authorizes a local educational agency to . . . read more

03.30.10: 2010 Significant Legislation

SPONSORED OR COSPONSORED LEGISLATION SB 898 (Ashburn (R)) Summary:      Relates to the After School Education and Safety Program to serve pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 9 at participating . . . read more

03.26.10: Legislative Update

By David Walrath

The SSDA co-sponsored Senate Bill 898 passed the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday. The bill would establish small school minimum funding grants for after school programs. The bill next will go to the Senate Appropriations . . . read more

03.15.10: A Better Week for Schools

By David Walrath

Last week was a good week for schools. The State Controller announced that the state revenues were continuing to exceed – by about $600 million – the budget as passed revenue estimates.  Also the Treasurer sold state bonds, . . . read more

02.23.10: SB 1136 - State Cash Deferral Relief for Small Districts

By David Walrath

Senator Cox has introduced Senate Bill 1136 to provide state cash deferral relief for small (500 or fewer ADA) school districts. While the state is considering restructuring the revenue limit deferrals to potentially increase the . . . read more

01.28.10: Finally Some Good News About Support For K-12 Education

By David Walrath

PPIC poll: Tax us to protect K-12 schools (click to read entire article) Two-thirds of adults surveyed in a Public Policy Institute of California poll say they support higher taxes to maintain funding for K-12 schools. And a full . . . read more

01.28.10: SAB Update

By David Walrath

  For the past week the Small School Districts’ Association (SSDA) has been lobbying to maintain state school facility grants at their current level.  SSDA lobbied the State Allocation Board (SAB) members and staff, but . . . read more

01.06.10: Race to the Top, State of the State and Assembly Updates

By David Walrath

The Small School Districts’ Association (SSDA) Executive Committee has discussed the question of whether small schools districts should or should not sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Race To The Top (RTTT).  The Executive . . . read more

12.22.09: Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund

By David Walrath

Does your district need to remove an underground storage tank? Are you aware of the School District Account in the Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund? (See Section 25299.50.2 of the Health and Safety Code ).    . . . read more

07.31.10: Status of Significant Legislation

Please click here to view the status of significant legislation in pdf format.     read more

09.18.09: Status of Significant Legislation

Please click here to view the status of significant legislation followed by the Small School Districts' Association. (pdf) read more

08.17.09: Recovery Funded Ultra-Low Interest Loans Available to Spur Economic Growth and Energy Efficiency Projects in California

by Aileen Dalen

Governor Schwarzenegger released the following press release on August 13: http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/12999/   Public Energy Efficient and Renewable Energy Projects Eligible The California Recovery Task . . . read more

08.14.09: Education Finance Districts

By David Walrath

SSDA is working with Assembly Member Tom Torlakson to develop more opportunities for small school districts to join together for cooperative programs. As part of this effort, Assembly Member Torlakson is authoring Assembly Bill 267. . . . read more

03.27.09: SAB Action on Deferred Maintenance

By David Walrath

On Wednesday, March 25, the State Allocation Board (SAB) acted on Deferred Maintenance and Deferred Maintenance Extreme Hardship project allocations.  The SAB did not adopt the SSDA recommendation (see attached) which SSDA believed . . . read more

03.10.09: Flexibility Survey

By David Walrath

SSDA is trying to determine how member districts are using the new flexibility authorized by the budget agreement and as explained in the Superintendent of Public Instruction's letter :  While this is a very large subject I am . . . read more

03.09.09: SSDA Special Election Recommendations

By David Walrath

SSDA has adopted support positions on Propositions 1A, 1B, 1C and 1F that are all on the May 19 special election ballot.  The special election ballot is part of the agreement for balancing the state budget in 2008-09 through . . . read more

Can School Districts Initiate Another Round of Certificated Employee Layoffs after March 15?

By David Walrath

Education Code Section 44955.5 allows school districts to initiate additional certificated employee layoffs if:  “During the time period between five days after the enactment of the Budget Act and August 15 of the fiscal year to . . . read more

Proposition 39 Audit Requirements

By David Walrath

As part of Proposition 39, school districts which enact 55% voter approval bonds pursuant to Proposition 39 must conduct performance audits. These audits are not specific but are intended to ensure that the Proposition 39 bond funds are . . . read more

State Allocation Board Update

By David Walrath

PMIB The State Allocation Board (SAB) met on February 25, to continue discussing how to address the state’s credit crunch which has restricted the ability to provide fund releases for new construction and modernization projects. . . . read more

Don't Panic

By David Walrath

Yesterday, State Treasurer Bill Lockyer indicated the state’s cash flow problems could result in a delay or termination of funding new infrastructure projects.  The Treasurer indicated that such a slowdown or stoppage could occur . . . read more

12.04.08: Lottery Sales Drop

By David Walrath

The State Lottery has reported an almost 10 percent decline in lottery ticket sales for the July through October time period.  This means school districts should prepare for a similar percent decline in the anticipated 2008-09 . . . read more

11.05.08: When is News not News?

By David Walrath

Last night the Democrats increased their membership in both the California State Assembly and Senate.  The increase, however, was not to the magic two-thirds necessary to pass a state budget or tax increase without Republican votes. . . . read more

09.03.08: Status of Significant Legislation

By David Walrath

The Legislature has completed action on legislation for this two-year session, other than for  budget trailer (urgency) bills and the State Budget.   Click here for the status of significant enrolled and signed legislation. . . . read more

Legislative and Regulatory Focus

Small School Districts' Association 2007-2008 Legislative Platform School Finance:  In addition to ensuring funding for the COLA and full funding equalization, establish the following goals: Provide . . . read more

Legislative Accomplishments

June 17, 2010

2009 Accomplishments State Ensured that small districts eligible for extreme hardship funding received funds through the flexibility item. Worked on the budget flexibility provisions including CSR flexibility. . . . read more

 
 

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