STAFF SUMMARY OF THIRD MEETING OF

FIRST CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB06-1375


Date:04/12/2006
ATTENDANCE
Time:04:21 PM to 04:35 PM
Merrifield
X
Williams
X
Place:SCR 356
King
X
Spence
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Windels
X
Representative Pommer
Pommer
X
This Report was prepared by
Cathy Eslinger


04:21 PM -- Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by the chairman, Representative Pommer.


04:21 PM -- House Bill 06-1375

Representative Pommer discussed compromises that had been reached with the Office of the Governor, which included appropriating for FY 2005-06, $25 million toward the Giardino lawsuit settlement, $20 million of which would be below 6 percent limit and $5 million that would be above the limit, and for FY 2006-07, $15 million subject to the 6 percent limit. Representative Pommer indicated that for FY 2005-06, $22.5 million was available for other areas, with a proposal to appropriate $20 million for special education and $2.5 million for the State Education Fund.


04:23 PM

Representative King asked for clarification for on the status of the summer school grant program and funding for charter school capital construction. Senator Windels commented on legislation going through the process that would impact the State Education Fund and said that her total was approximately $6.9 million. She asked about the summer school grant program and the charter school funding for declining enrollment districts. Representative King testified about pending legislation concerning dual enrollment that would require appropriations. Representative Pommer commented on the $10 million in General Fund dollars available for bills in the appropriations committees.


04:28 PM

Representative Buescher responded to questions about legislation pending before the appropriations committee that request General Fund dollars and said that pending bills would exceed $10 million. Senator Windels requested that the committee return to a discussion of the current provisions in House Bill 06-1375. She indicated that the additional aid for declining enrollment districts was a priority for her. Representative Pommer continued to comment on budget discussions that were ongoing, specifically provisions impacting higher education funding.





04:31 PM

Representative Pommer asked if the committee agreed with the compromises reached on placing $2.5 million in the State Education Fund, $20 million in special education funding in FY 2005-06 and $2.8 million for charter school capital construction. The committee agreed with decisions reached on funding for the Summer School Grant Program and on the assistance for declining enrollment school districts from the State Education Fund. In returning to a discussion of funding for the Giardino lawsuit settlement, Representative Pommer asked if there was agreement on the committee on a 50/50 split of the $25 million for school capital construction between the School Construction and Renovation Fund and the School Capital Construction Expenditures Reserve. Representative King said that he favored the even split between the two sources of funding. The committee discussed the specifics of the grants from the School Construction and Renovation Fund and the School Capital Construction Expenditures Reserve.
BILL:HB06-1375
TIME: 04:34:39 PM
MOVED:Pommer
MOTION:Adopt conference committee report .001, to include amendments: appropriating $25 million in FY 2005-06 in school capital construction funding toward the Giardino lawsuit settlement, with $12.5 to go into the School Construction and Renovation Fund and $12.5 million to go to the Capital Construction Expenditures Reserve, with $20 million subject to the 6 percent limit and $5 million above the limit; $15 million in FY 2006-07 for school capital construction, split evenly between the two funds referenced above; appropriating $20 million in FY 2005-06 for special education and $2.5 million toward the State Education Fund; and appropriating $2.8 million for charter school capital construction for a total of $7.8 million. The motion passed on a 6-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Merrifield
Yes
Williams
Yes
King
Yes
Spence
Yes
Windels
Yes
Pommer
Yes
Not Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


04:35 PM

The committee adjourned.