Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON JOINT EDUCATION

Date:02/02/2006
ATTENDANCE
Time:01:36 PM to 02:15 PM
Bacon
X
Benefield
X
Place:HCR 0107
Evans
E*
Jones
X
This Meeting was called to order by
King
E*
Representative Merrifield
Larson
E*
Massey
X
This Report was prepared by
McKinley
E
Cathy Eslinger
Paccione
X
Penry
E*
Pommer
E*
Rose
X
Solano
E
Spence
X
Todd
X
Tupa
E*
White
X
Williams
E
Merrifield
X
Windels
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
JBC Briefing-

01:38 PM

The meeting was called to order by the co-chairman, Representative Merrifield. He welcomed members of the Joint Budget Committee.

01:38 PM

Representative Plant began his presentation by reviewing the Joint Budget Committee document that was provided to the joint committee (Attachment A). He indicated that the briefing document included departmental goals and objectives for the next five years. He said that the JBC welcomed the input of the members of the House and Senate Education committees.

01:40 PM

Representative Plant reviewed the Department of Education's share of the state General Fund. Representative White asked about the factors driving the increasing state share of education funding. Representative Plant discussed factors including the Gallagher Amendment and added that the depictions in the document did not reflect supplementals. Representative Buescher and Representative Plant continued to comment on the state share, with Representative Buescher indicating that the education funding would not increase significantly as a percent age of the total General Fund increase.


01:45 PM

The discussion continued with a discussion of districts' total program funding and average per pupil funding for FY 2005-06, represented by a 2.7 percent and 1.5 percent increases respectively. Senator Evans commented on the FY 2005-06 figures, which led into a discussion of the potential increases for FY 2006-07. The document also reviews the funding formula and factors for school finance funding, as well as for categoricals.

01:49 PM

Representative Plant continued to walk the committee through the budget briefing document with a discussion of the Department of Education decision item priority list.

01:51 PM

The presentation turned to a discussion of the Department of Higher Education funding and priorities. The document outlines the key responsibilities of the department and the factors driving the Department of Higher Education budget, including the College Opportunity Fund Program. The committee saw a comparison of tuition rates across the public institution of higher education. The recent budget reductions and enrollment factors, and their impact on institutions were noted.

01:54 PM

Representative Plant discussed the status of financial aid and proposals for increasing need-based aid. The document also reviews major funding changes in higher education between FY 2004-05 and FY 2005-06. The department's FY 2006-07 budget request and the budget request submitted by the Governor were noted as included in the document. Representative Plant responded to questions about feedback from institutions regarding the College Opportunity Fund Program, and specifically about ensuring that students fill out the appropriate paperwork in order to receive their higher education stipend.

01:58 PM

The committee asked questions about how decision-making on Referendum C supplementals for FY 2005-06 would proceed. Representative Plant said that current supplementals address early emergency supplementals, sought before the passage of the referendum. He said the committee was still in preliminary discussions about considering Referendum C moneys for FY 2005-06. Senator Keller added further comments about the JBC's discussions on increases in education funding.

02:04 PM

Senator Bacon returned to a discussion of the College Opportunity Fund stipends. Representative Plant pointed out the inclusion of a briefing paper on the College Opportunity Fund Program in the briefing document.

02:07 PM

Representative Buescher discussed future appropriations in order to retain the solvency of the State Education Fund. Representative Plant referred to projections utilizing the Pacey model and calculating a General Fund appropriation level at which the fund remains solvent, which is currently projected to be approximately 6 percent.



02:10 PM

In response to a question regarding the Giardino lawsuit, Representative Plant said that the JBC had had an executive session with the Department of Law concerning the status of the Giardino lawsuit settlement.

02:11 PM

Representative Plant discussed the pending introduction of a State Education Fund resolution. A draft resolution for FY 2006-07 was provided to committee members (Attachment B). He said that he understood that the inflation factor may be projected at 1.9 percent, which is used to calculate the inflation plus one-percent requirement under Amendment 23.

02:13 PM

Representative Plant noted that the state education fund resolution was close to being finalized for introduction. He reiterated that with a 6 percent appropriation, it appears that the State Education Fund would remain solvent. Representative Plant also asked if the committee members felt that the resolution requirement was useful. The committee provided feedback that the State Education Fund resolution was a requirement that it wished to continue.

02:15 PM

The committee adjourned.