The 2010 session of the General Assembly is nearing "crunch time," and it is not uncommon to see legislation move during these days that causes raised eyebrows.  Add to the recipe the fact that the budget situation is looking worse rather than better, and the "raised eyebrow" bills move even more quickly.  Such was the case on this morning (Day 28) when the Senate Education and Youth Committee, after lengthy discussion, gave a "do pass" recommendation to the latest version of SB 515, a bill requiring that local systems not furlough teachers in years when they start the year with a fund balance of greater than 6% of their annual budget.  Expert testimony as to the definition and purpose of a fund balance along with specific examples of how the uneven flow of local and state revenue exacerbated the need for a fund balance failed to sway the senators, who admitted openly that the politics of the issue trumped the practical need for such legislation.  The myth that many systems are sitting on large fund balances continued to hold sway (absent any proof of large numbers of systems doing so), and the bill moves on to the Senate Rules Committee to be considered for placement on a future Senate calendar.  [Editor's note:  The chairman of the Senate Education and Youth Committee expressed serious reservations about the bill, particularly about the "mechanics" of implementing it, and exacted a promise from the bill's author to work more on it before seeing it pass from the Rules Committee to the full Senate.]

This committee had also been set to discuss (and, likely give a quick "do pass" recommendation to) SR1290, sponsored by Senator Don Balfour.  This resolution calls for a joint House-Senate study committee on Performance Based Salaries for Teachers, and this group will "study" Governor Perdue's merit pay plan for teachers which was the subject of SB 386 (That bill has not progressed.).  Senator Balfour was unable to attend the committee meeting, though, and no action was taken on the resolution.

Meanwhile, on this twenty-eighth day, the Senate tackled no education-related bills as part of their calendar, but the House addressed four.  Three passed overwhelmingly (HB 1307 temporarily suspending recertification requirements, HB 1103 creating "clearance certificates" for educators, and HB 1086 exempting certain information on teachers from public disclosure).  Failing to receive the necessary votes for passage in the House on this day was the latest version of HB 281, which in its current (and, latest) form sought to make charter school students eligible for participation in extracurricular activities at the school located in the attendance zone where they actually reside.

Although it is too late for bills to make it through the legislative process alone at this late date, that doesn't seem to deter legislators from continuing to introduce them.  Many are of the "constituent" variety (introduced on behalf of or in response to some issue that affects a legislator's constituent from back home) or are intended to "send a message" on behalf of the legislator to some targeted group.  See how you would classify the following:

• HB 1397 -- the "Salary Protection Act," introduced by a legislator who is an announced candidate for Governor
• HB 1406 -- a bill dealing with athletic recruitment issues
• HB 1411 -- expands what a student can do during the "moment of silent reflection" that begins each public school day
• HB 1413 -- changes rules for disciplinary tribunals
• HB 1415 -- would have the state reimburse local systems for their expenses incurred when notifying parents of their child's excessive absences
• HB 1417 -- would require a referendum before school uniforms are adopted
• HB 1418 -- seeks a "service learning" requirement
• HB 1386 -- restricts the state's open meetings laws

The General Assembly has (once again) changed their calendar and will be out of session on Tuesday, March 23.  They will convene on Wednesday, March 24, for their twenty-ninth day, and the key thirtieth day will be held on Friday, March 26.  Based on a planned week off during the first week of April, it now appears that the 2010 session will not end until late April.  Oh, happy day.....