The Legislative Session begins next week in Montgomery. Below is a list of pre-filed bills relative to education as presented to superintendents via the School Superintendents of Alabama.
Alabama Ahead Act
HB1 (McClendon) and SB1 (Dial)
- Bond for this was approved in 2012 session.
- Deletes pen-enabled requirement and the phase-in provisions
- Revises the advisory committee
- Provides an option for participation
- Requires a 25% funding match (unless waived or reduced by SDE)
- No longer restricted to grades 9-12
- Funding may be used for:
- Infrastructure
- Devices, digital content, management systems, debt service and support
- Upgrades, expansions and maintenance
Sovereign Immunity
HB17 (Jones); HB64 (Jones); and SB55(Holley)
- House Republican Caucus Priority
- Legal immunity for civil cases (i.e., restraining a student, breaking up a fight, etc.)
- Goal is to reduce legal fees to 1 motion and 1 short bench hearing before a judge; no witnesses
- Constitution currently grants absolute immunity to the state and state officials in their official capacity
Traditional Winter Celebrations
HB15 (Weaver) and SB18 (Allen)
- Would allow each school system to educate students about the history of traditional winter celebrations and to allow traditional greetings regarding the celebrations.
- Schools may display scenes or symbols associated with traditional winter celebrations IF the display includes a scene or symbol of: more than one religion; one religion and at least one secular scene or symbol; does not encourage adherence to a particular religious belief.
Unfunded Mandates
HB26 (McClurkin) and SB7 (Brewbaker)
- Constitutional Amendment
- Prohibits a new or increased expenditure of funds without enactment of a local ordinance or resolution and available funds
- An exemption is made for any state law that passes with 2/3 of those voting in each chamber and anything LFO determines to have an insignificant fiscal impact (in this case, less than $50,000)
Warrantless Arrests for Educational Institutions Trespass
HB33 (Poole)
- Authorizes a law enforcement officer to arrest a person without a warrant under certain conditions for trespassing on the property of an education institution.
- Current allowable conditions include:
- “breach of the peace”
- felony committed
- reasonable cause that a felony committed
- knowledge of an arrest warrant when a charge has been made that a person has committed a felony
- domestic violence
- trespass on educational institution (new condition added through this bill)
Remove SDE from Private School Oversight
SB38 (Brewbaker and Marsh)
- Clarifies that private, non-public, and church schools are not subject to licensure or regulation by SDE.
- Prohibits any two-year or four-year institution of higher education from denying admittance to a qualified student because that student was home-schooled or attended private, non-public, or church school
- Prohibits the SDE from denying certification to a qualified person on the basis that the person was employed by a private, non-public, or church school
Tax Exemption for Private Schools
SB39 (Whatley)
- Exempts private schools from any state, county, and municipal sales and use taxes on the purchase of tangible personal property
Kyle Grady Act
SB41 (Whatley)
- Allows the possession and self-administration of auto-injectable epinephrine by a school student to treat life-threatening allergic reactions
- Defines “auto-injectable epinephrine” as a “disposable delivery device….that contains a pre-measured single dose.”
Competitive Bids
SB42 (Dial)
- Allows contracts to be let for 5 years (an increase from the current 3-year limit) for the purchase of personal property or contractual services
Alabama Safe at Schools Act
SB57 (Waggoner)
- Provides for volunteer training of persons in the delivery of diabetes care to a student with diabetes in a public, private, or charter school according to a diabetes care management plan.
- Bill limits the liability of schools, school personnel, and volunteers providing care under this act.
Open Meetings Act
SB58 (Orr)
- Allows members of governmental bodies to participate in meetings and deliberations via electronic communications under certain circumstances.
- Must still maintain a “public” meeting site.
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