Legislative Briefs
State School Fund
What it does: HB 5016 would allocate $9 billion to the State School Fund for the 2019-21 biennium. Although this may not meet the needs of all school districts, it is an increase over Gov. Kate Brown’s preliminary budget of $8.97 billion and the Legislature’s budget of $8.87 billion.
What’s new: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a work session Friday, May 3.
What’s next: This bill is expected to move to the House for a vote this week.
Student Success Act funds
What it does: HB 5047 is the vehicle that will allocate the funds established in the Student Success Act into the specific education accounts in the act: 50% to the Student Investment Account, 30% to the Statewide Education Initiatives Account, and 20% to the Early Learning Account.
What’s new: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a work session Friday, May 3.
What’s next: This bill is expected to move to the House for a vote this week.
Confidential student records
What it does: Current statute requires any hearing held by a district school board on matters pertaining to confidential medical records of a student, including that student's educational program, to be held in private. HB 2514A would expand this requirement to include hearings that pertain to any confidential records of a student, not just medical records.
What’s new: The bill passed the House on April 16.
What’s next: The bill is scheduled for a public hearing Monday, May 6, in the Senate Education Committee.
Legislative note: The Senate Education Committee will hold an informational meeting to hear from the Oregon Healthy Teen Survey and Sexual Assault Task Force at 1 p.m. Monday, May 6.
The Oregon Healthy Teen Survey is an anonymous and voluntary research-based survey, administered by the Oregon Health Authority, to monitor the health and well-being of adolescents. The survey provides information to help schools and communities focus on the things that are most important to ensure successful youth development.
The Oregon attorney general’s Sexual Assault Task Force was formed in 1999 and is dedicated to making Oregon a safe and thriving community through position papers, manuals, training, technical assistance, legislative and policy efforts, and primary prevention efforts. This hearing is partially in response to the increase in suicide and violence in schools.