Grassroots Advocacy Network News
May, 2010
Legislative Summary
State Budget
The Connecticut General Assembly adjourned the first week of May. Near the end of the legislative session, Governor Rell and Democrat leaders of the Connecticut General Assembly were clearly focused on dealing with our state budget, which was facing a $700 million projected deficit for fiscal year 2011. Fiscal year 2011 begins on July 1, 2010. The Governor and Democrat leaders agreed to:
· increase spending by 0.9 percent
· one-time use of $366 million in federal stimulus money
· deferring payment of $100 million into the pension fund of state employees
· borrowing of $1 billion
Below is a summary of the legislative issues the Connecticut Federation of Catholic School Parents worked on during the 2010 session of the Connecticut General Assembly.
10% Reduction in Transportation and Nursing
The Governor and Democrat leaders, during the early days of legislative session, agreed to a budget mitigation plan to deal with a $300 million deficit projected for this year. The Governor had originally proposed a 10 % reduction or $877,000 in state funding for local municipalities to provide nursing coverage and transportation services to Connecticut’s private and religious schools. Unfortunately, reimbursement to towns was decreased by 10% to provide nursing but we managed to save the funding for transportation.
In the last budget negotiations mentioned above, we were very concerned that the reduction for transportation would be proposed. Thankfully due to our efforts, funding for transportation was not reduced.
Operation of Child Day Care Centers
H.B. 5306, which passed both the House and Senate, will make it a little easier for our Catholic Schools to operate after school programs. The bill requires the Department of Public Health (DPH) to adopt regulations establishing physical plant requirements for licensed child day care centers and licensed group day care homes that exclusively serve school-age children. In doing so, DPH must consider those located in private or public school buildings. The bill requires DPH to implement policies and procedures while in the process of adopting these regulations.
Teacher Certification and Student Teaching
The Federation worked closely with State Representative Henry Genga and State Representative Sandy Nafis on H.B. 5421, An Act Concerning Educators and Administrators. This bill included two provisions the Connecticut Federation of Catholic School Parents supported.
- The bill repeals a provision passed last year that doesn’t allow for experienced teaching in nonpublic schools as a means of obtaining Professional Educator Certification.
- The bill permits student teaching experience in private and religious schools to count towards preparation and eligibility to obtain initial educator certification.
The bill had passed three committees, even though it was opposed by the State Department of Education and the American Federation of Teachers Connecticut. On the last night of legislative session the bill passed House by a 151 to 0 vote. Unfortunately, the Senate adjourned at midnight, and was unable to vote on the bill.
The Federation will continue to work on this issue next year during a longer legislative session.
Tax Credit Scholarship
Early in the morning of May 5, the Connecticut State House of Representatives rejected an amendment, mostly along party lines, that would have created a tax credit for corporations that donate to scholarship programs. The scholarships would have been used by middle and lower-income students to attend a private or religious school. The amendment, which was offered by Representative Christopher Coutu (R-Norwich), failed by a 98 to 44 vote.
The proposal would have created a pilot program in 10 municipalities and would have been paid for by using $500,000 from the taxpayer funded mailing program for members of the General Assembly.
While I am disappointed in the results, this is the first school choice vote the General Assembly has undertaken in almost 18 years.
To see how your representative voted click the following link - http://www.cga.ct.gov/2010/VOTE/H/2010HV-00211-R00SB00438-HV.htm
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