For the most part, the General Assembly spent the thirty-first day of the 2013 session taking the equivalent of a "deep breath," relaxing from the frenetic pace set on Day Thirty (last Thursday). The Senate handled a three-bill calendar, and the House had no formal calendar on which to act (though they did spend a good bit of time squabbling over local legislation).
The Senate gave its approval to HB 101, a bill designed to exempt certain non-profit entities from having to comply with rules governing "food service establishments" when holding certain events. This bill was amended by the Senate during the committee process, so it now will go back to the House for their "agree/disagree" process before it finally ends its legislative journey and heads to the Governor for his consideration.
The bigger news of the day was the approval by the House Appropriations Committee of its version of the FY2014 Budget. In reality, there were a few, mostly minor changes to the original recommendations made by the Governor, and those changes included the following:
- A restoration of the $2.6 million in the sparsity grant program;
- The "full funding" of the equalization grant (at the lower amount provided for in last year's legislation) at some $38.2 million;
- The addition of only $52 thousand for the Special Needs Scholarship (instead of $778 thousand);
- The return of some $640 thousand to school nutrition;
- A return of some $120 thousand to RESA's for operating funds along with the retirn of all $1.28 million of the old ETC funds; and,
- Budget language calling for the increase in SHBP employer costs for certified employees for the last four months of this fiscal year to be paid for by the state (but, no actual dollars included on that line item and no indication as to where that money might come from).
This budget will be considered by the full House of Representatives on Tuesday, where passage is certain and where amendments will not be permitted. Thus, the House version of the document, which can be viewed by clicking here (and, going to page 30 to view the education section), is a "done deal" and will head to the Senate as soon as Tuesday's vote is final.
Day thirty-two of the session, on which a number of committee meetings are scheduled, is set for Tuesday, March 12. |