Last week, the Senate passed SB 21 authored by Senator Joan Huffman. SB 21 would raise the legal age to purchase tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and Juuling devices, from 18 to 21. The bill would hinder teen smoking by reducing the likelihood that a legal purchaser would still be enrolled in high school and among the social circles of younger peers. Raising the age will also make it harder for teens to purchase these products as they will have to pass themselves off as 21. Texas PTA is particularly concerned with the popularity of Juuling and believe this bill will decrease use among students. SB 21 now moves to the House where a similar measure has been voted out of committee and is awaiting debate by the full House.
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| Texas PTA Backs STAAR Reform
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On April 9, PTA President-Elect Suzi Kennon testified in favor of HB 4242, authored by Representative Diego Bernal, to authorize an audit on the STAAR test. The bill would direct the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to conduct an independent readability study on the test questions while suspending the use of 2019-2020 STAAR data in student/campus accountability while the audit is being conducted. Several independent studies have already been conducted on the readability of the test prompting HB 4242, HB 3237 by Representative Mary Gonzalez, and at least three other bills to be filed: SB 2297 by Senator Beverly Powell and SB 2400 and SB 2401 by Senator Jose Menendez (which have yet to be heard in committee). > Watch Suzi's testimony here (hour 5:11:42).
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| Thousands Sign for STAAR Reform
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Earlier in April, Texas PTA surveyed our wider community (including parents and educators) on their perspective of the STAAR test. 7,985 people completed the survey during a 6-day window. Read survey results here. As the state’s largest child advocacy association, Texas PTA stands with Texas families, teachers, and community members in support of fair and accurate assessments for our students and schools. In light of survey results, Texas PTA began a petition on April 5th calling for: The State of Texas should immediately suspend the use of STAAR data in student/campus accountability measures while conducting an in-depth audit of all STAAR content. In less than one week, over thirteen-thousand Texans signed their names in support of Texas students. On Friday, April 12, Texas PTA President Sheri Doss and President-Elect Suzi Kennon walked the Capitol — sharing all 13,342 signatures for STAAR reform with House and Senate members. We are appealing that lawmakers support legislation this session that will ensure a fair, accurate, and trusted assessment for our students and schools.
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A few days after the House passed its version of the state budget for the next two years, the Senate passed its version of the budget and sent the bill to the House. The House will reject the Senate’s version and a Budget Conference Committee will be formed, composed of five senators and five House members who will work toward a compromise. Once they agree upon a budget, the bill will return to each chamber for a final vote.
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The House recently passed HB 3, authored by Representative Dan Huberty, for school finance reform. HB 3 would invest $6.3 billion in new funding for Texas public schools and students, with an additional $2.7 billion for property tax compression. Debate on the bill was congenial and took just over three hours. HB 3 allocates the bulk of new funding through an increase in the basic allotment from $5,140 to $6,030 and creates a new early childhood allotment to fund full-day pre-kindergarten for eligible students. HB 3 reduces recapture by almost 40% by reducing district payments from $7.7 billion to $4.7 billion. Amendments to the bill include requiring 25% of any basic allotment increase going forward to be spent on equal pay raises for full-time, non-administrative staff.
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| Individual Graduation Committee
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SB 213, authored by Senator Kel Seliger, which would extend the life of the Individual Graduation Committee Program, has been placed on the Senate’s Local Calendar, a process where non-controversial bills that do not cost the state any money can be considered and voted on in an expedited manner. The House’s version of this bill, HB 851 by Representative Dan Huberty, was voted on favorably by the House Committee on Public Education earlier this month. Next stop is the House Committee on Calendars where it could move on to the House floor for debate.
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HB 17, authored by Representative Greg Bonnen, relating to public school safety measures and procedures, has been heard in the House Committee on Public Education, but not yet voted on. HB 1754 by Representative Greg Bonnen, relating to creating a school safety allotment under the Foundation School Program, has been heard in the House Committee on Public Education, but not yet voted on. SB 994 by Senator Beverly Powell, an identical companion bill to HB 1754, has not yet been heard by the Senate Committee on Education. SB 11 by Senator Larry Taylor, relating to policies, procedures, and measures for school safety and mental health promotion in public schools, has not yet been heard by the Senate Committee on Education.
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HB 1335, authored by Representative Four Price, relating to the establishment of school-based behavioral health centers and a grant program for the operation of those centers, was heard recently by the House Committee on Public Health. SB 2003 by Senator John Whitmire has not yet been heard in committee.
SB 10 by Senator Jane Nelson, relating to the creation of the Texas Mental Health Care Consortium, has been passed from the Senate and referred to the House Committee on Public Health for consideration.
SB 10 companion legislation, HB 1448 by Representative John Zerwas, has not yet been heard in committee.
HB 3718 by Representative Tan Parker, relating to a trauma-informed care policy for school districts and open-enrollment charter schools and training regarding the policy for district and school employees, has been heard in the House Committee on Public Education.
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HB 1216, authored by Representative Senfronia Thompson, relating to orders of nondisclosure for victims of human trafficking, has been voted from the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence. Next stop is the House Committee on Calendars where it could move on to the House floor for debate.
SB 72 by Senator Jane Nelson, relating to establishment and duties of the Human Trafficking Prevention Coordinating Council, has passed out of the Senate and been referred to the House Committee on State Affairs. It is more than halfway through the process.
HB 1232 by Representative Ryan Guillen, the companion bill for SB 72, has been recommended for the Local and Consent Calendar in the House.
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SB 364, authored by Senator Kirk Watson, relating to policies on the recess period in public schools, has been set on the Local Calendar in the Senate.
SB 364 companion legislation, HB 455 by Representative Alma Allen, has been reported from House Committee on Public Education. Next stop is the House Committee on Calendars where it could move on to the House floor for debate.
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| Childhood Immunization Reporting
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HB 3551, authored by Representative J.D. Sheffield, and SB 329 by Senator Kel Seliger, relating to requirements for and the transparency of epidemiological reports and certain immunization exemption information and reports, have been referred to committee but not yet heard.
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