Capital Pulse February 11, 2022

The Rundown

The Alabama Legislature reconvened Tuesday, February 8^th, for the seventh day of the regular legislative session. It was rumored that SB140, Sen. Del Marsh’s "Parent's Choice Act," would appear on the floor of the Senate this week but ultimately did not surface. AEA has vehemently worked this bill in both legislative chambers in preparation for any movement of SB140 or its companion bill, HB245, sponsored by Rep. Charlotte Meadows, in the House.

Due to the lack of support in both the Senate and the House, the "Parent's Choice Act" not did not move this week. Marsh has now publicly stated he would be rolling out a substitute that would reduce the initial cost of the program by changing the language to only allow kindergarten students to be eligible the first year and adding a grade each year thereafter over the next thirteen years. The substitute AEA has reviewed also changes the testing language originally added in committee and waters down the requirement. Though it seems the sponsors are making short-term changes to try to make this massive bill more palatable for passage, we must continue to take a comprehensive look at the lack of accountability the program entails and the ultimate fiscal hardship this puts on the Education Trust Fund– it is still well over $500 million when fully implemented.

AEA staff has been diligently lobbying for an educator pay raise greater than the four percent proposed in HB136 and a more significant retiree bonus than proposed in HB137. While we have been advocating daily for these increases, it is now more critical than ever for legislators to hear your voice!! CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS IMMEDIATELY TO ASK FOR MORE!

Thus far, 548 legislative bills have been introduced by the Legislature. AEA staff continues to read every bill and monitors them daily to ensure they will positively affect public education.

Moving This Week

SB170, by Sen. Arthur Orr, would exempt the academic performance of certain English language learner students from consideration in the assigning of an academic achievement grade to a school or school system. SB170 fully passed the Senate and has been referred to the House Education Policy Committee.

HB134, by Rep. Alan Baker, would modify the retirement benefits for Tier II members of the Teachers' Retirement System by providing 30-year service retirement and increase Tier II members' contribution rate from 6.2% to 6.5%. HB134 passed out of the House last week but did not move this week. It can be introduced in the Senate Finance and Taxation Education committee at any time.

HB220, by Rep. Terri Collins, would postpone the third-grade retention portion of the Alabama Literacy Act until the 2022-2023 school year; modifies and provides further definitions for the membership and duties of the Literacy Task Force, the responsibilities and functioning of the Alabama Committee on Grade-Level Reading, and good cause exemptions from retention. HB220 received a favorable report in the Education Policy Committee and can be brought to the floor of the House at any time.

SB171, by Sen. Arthur Orr, would establish the Alabama Numeracy Act and prohibit the use of the Common Core State Standards in public K-12 schools. Additionally, it would implement steps to improve mathematics proficiency of public-school kindergarten to fifth-grade students and ensure that those students are proficient in mathematics at or above grade level by the end of fifth grade by monitoring the progression of each student from one grade to another, in part, by their proficiency in mathematics. SB171 received a favorable report in the Finance and Taxation Education Committee and can be brought to the floor of the Senate at any time.

HB123, by Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter, would require each local board of education in the state, subject to appropriations by the Legislature, to employ a mental health service coordinator to serve the schools under the board's jurisdiction. HB123 was amended and received a favorable report in the Ways and Means Education Committee and can be introduced on the House floor at any time.

Newly Introduced

The bills listed below were introduced last week and are being tracked by AEA. For a complete list of the legislation AEA is currently tracking, go to myAEA.org and click on The Capital Pulse or check past issues of The Pulse for the weekly list of tracked legislation.

HB278, by Rep. Chris Sells, would lift the restrictions of limited compensation upon returning to work for the state upon retirement. Returning employees would be eligible to earn a non-limited salary and draw retirement if the retiree has drawn retirement benefits for twelve consecutive months without performing services for compensation with participating employers.

SB188,by Sen. Chris Elliott, would allow a retired public employee to return to certain limited compensated service with any employer participating in the TRS, ERS, or Judicial Retirement Fund without suspension of retirement benefits after a minimum of 12 consecutive months separation from service.

SB200, by Sen. Rodger Smitherman, would postpone the implementation of the third-grade retention requirement until the 2024-2025 school year.

SB209, by Sen. Donny Chesteen, would authorize the issuance of a professional educator certificate to qualified individuals who have held an alternative certificate for one year instead of three years. Additionally, it would allow the State Board of Education to authorize the State Superintendent of Education to issue a professional educator certificate to a qualified individual who completes an alternative teacher preparation program offered by an approved alternative teacher education preparation organization.

Capital Pulse February 11, 2022

February 8-11, 2022