Funding

HB 1 Citizens for Educational Choice testified during public testimony period on the budget. The testimony outlined the principle of parents as first formators and fully funding the Governor’s 93.5 million request for the GATOR program.

This is an extremely critical time, and a reminder ACTION ALERT on the CEC Voter Voice was sent to contact your Senator to fund the GATOR at the Governor’s request for 93.5 million.

This is now in the Senate Finance Committee on Sunday; Senator Henry opposing any new funds and just wants the current scholarship kids funded.  Continued efforts to educate the Senators below on the impacts are ongoing on the consequences of the negative impacts and uncertainty this is causing. Below are the Senate Finance Committee members and some have already reached out.

Finance Committee

  • Alexandria: Womack, Chair, Cloud
  • Baton Rouge: Edmonds, Selders, Kleinpeter, Foil
  • Shreveport: Jackson, Pressley
  • Lake Charles: Abraham, Stine
  • Lafayette: Miguez
  • New Orleans: Owen, Harris,
  • HT: Fesi

Joint Legislative Budget Committee

  • Not scheduled yet. Must approve Odessey contract by June 30th. This is especially important. All signs are that it will be signed but the JLBC must meet before June 30th to approve.

Revenue Estimating Conference

  • The Revenue Estimating Conference projected another 139 million to be available for next year, but criminal justice requirements, economic development and the Department of Children and Family Service Child Welfare needs have priority.

 

Curriculum, Grading and Licensing

SB 27 Stacking; House Way and Means of Monday.

HB 484 Special Needs not moving; stated the SB 27 was prioritized.

HB 52, which requires information on accessing scholarships, is being included in the Financial Literacy requirement for TOPS, is progressing.

HB 327 10-point scale is moving, however.

  • This week CEC approached Rep. Chassion with the problem of retroactivity. Last minute amendment by Senator Miguez untenable. Collaborating with the Governor’s Office; DOE, Rep. Mcmakin and Rep, Carlson are both opposed and working.
  • Briefed Senator Miguez and Rep. Chaisson of our concern. Notified Sen. Miguez of our concern and requested he withdraw the amendment. All kinds of last-minute maneuvering. Our goal is to stop this amendment.

HB 372, which delays computer science, is still sitting on the calendar in Senate but not scheduled for debate; technically called returned to calendar.

SB 41, which deals with licensing on non-public day care centers and investigations of child-on-child sexual assaults on school property: has been referred to House Health and Welfare for a committee hearing.  Scheduled for next Tuesday.

Nutrition Related

SB 117 has been amended to where schools shall purchase Louisiana products “to the extent possible”. It is waiting for the House Floor for Final Passage to be scheduled.

SB 14 has been amended to remove foods sold in vending machines and schools shall purchase food produced in Louisiana “to the extent possible”. SB 14 is set on House Orders to be heard. It has been amended to reduce some of the ultra-processed foods and drop the SNAP requirements.

Federal

Educational Choice for Children’s Act on to the Senate. USCCB is working on all of this and informing the Advisory Committee.