October 18, 2013
Common Core... Again    

 

Sources inside the Senate Republican Caucus have been less than eager to share the vote count on the latest resolution on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), but one thing is clear, there weren't enough votes to move the issue this week.

 

This leaves the education community in a bit of a lurch as the deadline for passing these resolutions has come and gone. The coalition pushing for the CCSS implantation continues to pound the pavement for this issue and as something shakes loose, we will make sure the MEMSPA membership knows.
 
Vacant School Building Tax Abetments Pass the House      

 HB 4121 passed the House this week. This bill would allow local units of government the option of exempting vacant school buildings from property taxes for a certain period of time in order to entice development.

 

The original bill did not include the city council consent, but reworked versions of this bill require the city council to pass a resolution to abate the property taxes for up to five years. This bill stems from the increasing number of school buildings left vacant from declining enrollment, new construction and competition.

 

The bill passed pretty much along party lines and its fate in the Senate is not certain.
Guns in School       

The House Judiciary Committee discussed HBs 4133,  4134 and 4350. This package of bills would allow certain individuals to carry a concealed weapon in no-carry zones, including schools. The new classes of individuals allowed to carry are:

  •  Retired corrections officer of a county sheriff's department;
  • Active or retired corrections officer, active or retired absconder recovery unit member, or a retired parole or probation officer of the Department of Corrections;
  • Certain retired federal law enforcement officers;
  • A current or former county prosecuting attorney or current or former assistant prosecuting attorney.
The bills were not voted on, but could be acted on soon.
School Safety in House Education       

The House education committee took testimony on HB 4713, a bill that would decrease the number of fire drills given by schools each year and increase the number of lockdown drills conducted. The bill also requires that after the completion of a drill, schools post a report on their website.

 

In addition to the above requirements, the bill would also require that the school provide a list of the scheduled drills to the county's emergency management coordinator by Sept. 15 of each school year dictating when certain drills should be had. Additional requirements on the drills ask that one drill per year be conducted while students are gathered at recess or lunch.

 

MEMSPA has a concern that this pre written list could be too rigid and also could expose a weakness, spelling out specifically when students would be in lockdown or outside. We're working with the bill sponsor to ensure that our concerns are heard.


Bills of Note 

No new education bills were introduced this week.

 



Advocating for you,


Paul Liabenow
MEMSPA Executive Director

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