Wyoming Education Association - Legislative Update February 19, 2019

WEA Legislative Update | February 19, 2019

State Budget Bill Passes in the Senate Today

HB0001 / SF0001 – General government appropriations. This bill, also known as the budget bill passed in the senate 18 -11. The bill also passed in the house 41-15-4. This bill includes the external cost adjustment (ECA).

In Campbell II, the Wyoming Supreme Court noted that “without such [externalcost] adjustments, legislative inaction appears inevitable, and, ultimately, funding of education will be below cost, in contravention of the constitution.” State v. Campbell Cnty Sch. Dist., 2001 WY 19, ¶ 88, 19 P.3d 518 (Wyo. 2001). The court determined that schools must be funded at the actual cost of education and adjust that amount yearly for inflation. This adjustment is referred to as an external cost adjustment (ECA).

In 2009, the Wyoming Legislature stopped providing an ECA. Thanks to a group of dedicated lawmakers and today's vote in the senate and house, that is set to change.

Action in the Senate

On the floor:

HB0132 – Hathaway scholarship award increase. This bill failed on third reading.

HB0263 – Postsecondary education and economic development. This bill passed the Committee of the Whole.

HB0117 – College entrance exam – written component. This bill passed the Committee of the Whole.

HB0308 – Modernizing and balancing Wyoming's school funding streams. This bill passed the Committee of the Whole.

Concurrence:

HB0023 – Education Accountability. This bill passed in the senate.

On adjournment in the Senate Corporations Committee:

HB 0220ENG : National Retail Fairness Act. This bill, if passed will result in approximately $45 million per year for public schools. Today the committee will work and vote on the bill. If it passes, it will move to the senate floor for debate. The bill has the support of many of the senate leadership, and is a step in the right direction to begin to fix our structural deficit in school funding.

No action on public education beyond the passing of the budget bill in the house today.

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WEA Bill Tracker February 19, 2019

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Information about current bills before the Wyoming Legislature;
Talking points on critical issues facing Wyoming educators;
Ways to take action in support of public education;
Contact information for your legislator.

This new webpage is designed to help you become a Cyber Lobbyist from your own community.

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