Date: 02/21/2014

Final
LLS No. 14-536 BEST Money for Flood Damaged Public Schools

FLOOD DISASTER STUDY COMMITTEE

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Move to approve draft bill LLS No. 14-0536, BEST MPASS


03:49 PM -- LLS No. 14-0536 BEST Money for Flood Damaged Public Schools

Representative Young discussed LLS No. 14-0536 (Attachment E) and the Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) program. He said the the intent is to give school districts the ability to respond to emergencies in a quick and effective way. He said the draft bill waives the usual match and gives damaged schools priority. Senator Lambert discussed different funding streams that may be available to assist schools. He said that there is very little data on the marijuana excise tax revenue stream. He suggested that legislative staff speak to JBC staff to identify other sources of revenue that may be available.

0221AttachmentE.pdf0221AttachmentE.pdf

03:53 PM -- Nicole Myers, Legislative Legal Services, clarified the funding streams specified in the bill and answered questions from the committee. She said that the first $40 million of the marijuana excise tax will go into the BEST fund. Ms. Myers and Representative Young explained how this bill fixes a drafting oversight from 2013. Senator Renfroe asked if this bill conflicts with Senate Bill 14-172.

03:57 PM -- Scott Newell, representing the Division of Public School Capital Construction Assistance, testified in support of the drafted bill. He described how this bill would waive the match requirement for a flood damaged school in the grant application process. He answered questions from the committee regarding how the waiver would be applied and the role of the BEST Board in the allocation of capital construction assistance.

BILL:LLS No. 14-536 BEST Money for Flood Damaged Public Schools
TIME: 04:06:12 PM
MOVED:Young
MOTION:Move to approve draft bill LLS No. 14-0536, BEST Money for Flood Damaged Public Schools (Attachment E). The motion passed on a vote of 8-0, with 4 excused.
SECONDED:Nicholson
VOTE
DelGrosso
Excused
Foote
Yes
Humphrey
Yes
Jones
Excused
Kefalas
Excused
Lambert
Yes
Lundberg
Excused
Nicholson
Yes
Singer
Yes
Sonnenberg
Yes
Renfroe
Yes
Young
Yes
Final YES: 8 NO: 0 EXC: 4 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


04:10 PM

Senator Lambert suggested changing the word "flood" to "emergency" or "disaster". Senator Renfroe said that the long title is accurate but the short title needs to be changed. Committee discussion ensued. The committee discussed sponsorship on various bills.