Legislative Week 4

(April 11-13: Legislative Days 8-10)


The PRICE Act

Parental Rights In Children's Education

Universal School Choice

Click pic to watch.



SPONSOR: Sen Stutts (R) SB202 Rep. Yarbrough (R) HB295


DESCRIPTION: These companion bills allow parents to establish educational savings accounts for their children with a portion of state money. Funds can be used for non-public education of their choice.


STATUS: The bills have been introduced in the Senate and House and will be heard in an upcoming House Ways and Means Education Committee and Senate Education Policy committee meetings.


EF's POSITION: We support this bill. See: FAQs, PowerPoint slides, flyer, videos, news articles, and more here.


Quick Overview of bill as introduced:

  • Universal Educational Savings Accounts (ESA) 
  • All children can apply after 3-year phase-in period. 
  • ESAs empower parents to educate their children according to their values and to tailor their children’s education to their exact needs.
  • ESAs can be used for private school, online school, or homeschool.
  • ESA amount is based on average amount of state tax dollars used per pupil-Approx $6,000.
  • Examples of qualifying expenses are tuition, textbooks and fees, individual classes, tutoring services, therapies such as occupational, behavioral, physical, speech-language, audiology therapies, etc., extracurricular activities including, athletics, art, music, and literature, computer hardware and other technological devices, software and applications, school uniforms, college tuition, textbooks and fees if there is any remaining ESA funds after high school. 
  • Public schools keep any fed & local money left from a student who leaves their public school.
  • ESA funds that are not fully used in one school year can be rolled over into next year.
  • No more money is added to an ESA once the student has graduated from high school.
  • Remaining funds can be used until age 21. (Can be used for college/trade school etc.)
  • Protects private and homeschool autonomy. Nothing in the act changes the current laws that regulate non-public education entities (private, church, parochial, religious and home-based schools), including accreditation and assessments (testing). 
  • Program is administered by Dept of Revenue (DOR) and 13-person/parent advisory board.
  • Students who use AL Accountability Act (AAA) scholarships are allowed to participate.
  • This Act doesn’t change or amend the AL Highschool Athletic Association constitution or bi-laws.
  • ESA programs are on strong legal ground.


Doesn’t Hurt Public Schools

Government and private schools DON’T HAVE to participate

Public schools still get any remaining federal and local funds

Could help relieve teacher shortages 

Competition can expose areas for improvement of public schools   


This Information is subject to change as the bill moves through the legislative process.


ACTION: Call these committee members and ask them to please pass the Price Act out of Committee.

MASK EXEMPTION K-12



SPONSOR: Rep. Brown HB186


DESCRIPTION: This bill would allow a parent to opt his or her child out of any school policy requiring students to wear a face covering at school, at a school function, on a school bus, or at a school bus stop.


STATUS: This bill has passed out of the House Health Committee and is awaiting a vote on the House floor.


EF's POSITION: We support this bill.

PARENTAL RIGHTS



SPONSOR: Rep. Paschal HB6


DESCRIPTION: Existing precedent of the AL Sup. Court and U.S. Sup. Court provides that fit parents have a fundamental right to direct the upbringing of their children. This bill would also provide that the government may not burden certain fundamental rights of parents unless the burden is narrowly tailored to a compelling state interest.


STATUS: This bill has passed out of the House Judiciary Committee and is awaiting a vote on the House floor.


EF's POSITION: We support this bill.

BAN CRT



SPONSOR: Rep. Oliver HB7


DESCRIPTION: This bill would prohibit certain public entities, including state agencies, local boards of education, and public institutions of higher education, from promoting or endorsing, or requiring affirmation of, certain divisive concepts relating to race, sex, or religion.


STATUS: The bill passed out of the House State Government Committee and is headed to the House floor.


EF's POSITION: We support this bill.

WOMEN'S SPORTS



SPONSOR: Rep. DuBose HB261


DESCRIPTION: This bill would require all public two-year and four-year institutions of higher education to prohibit biological males from participating on an athletic team or sport designated for females and prohibit biological females from participating on an athletic team or sport designated for males.


STATUS: The bill passed out of the House Education Policy Committee and is headed to the House floor.


EF's POSITION: We support this bill.

ADOPTION BILL


SPONSOR: Rep. Shaver HB101


DESCRIPTION: This bill would amend certain section of the cuurent AL Adoption code and create the Alabama Minor Adoption Code and the Alabama Adult Adoption Code; to provide for jurisdictional and procedural requirements relating to adoptions; to provide for the communication of certain courts handling adoption-related proceedings; to provide that certain individuals must consent to an adoption; to provide for the confidentiality of certain adoption records; to provide for investigative requirements for the adoption of a minor.


STATUS: The bill passed both the House and Senate.


EF's POSITION: We support this bill. Sen. Orr added an important amendment stating Department of Human Resources shall provide by rule the process through which an individual seeking to participate in foster care or adoption may apply for an exemption from any vaccination requirement for religious or other appropriate reason for himself, herself, or any other individual in his or her household.

NO STATUS CHANGES TO LAST WEEK'S BILLS

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