As was reported in the last Alliance Legislative Report, the deadline to take  action on the Governor's Amendatory Veto of SB 1 is fast approaching. The Senate will return to the State Capitol on Sunday, August 13, at 2:00 p.m. SB 1 sponsor, Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill), has indicated that he will file a motion to override the Governor's veto of the bill thereby restoring it to the version that was approved by the legislature in May. No motion has been officially filed as of today. The motion to override the Amendatory Veto would take a 3/5 majority vote.

 

The House of Representatives will reconvene on Wednesday, August 16 at 11:00 a.m. If the Senate votes to override the veto of SB 1, it would be sent to the House for consideration. The House has also scheduled a meeting of the education appropriations committee for 9:00 a.m. on that same day. The agenda for the committee meeting consists of House Amendment #3 to SB 1947 that mirrors the language in the Governor's Veto Message.

 

Even though an appropriations bill was approved for a Fiscal Year 2018 k-12 education budget, funds are not flowing to school districts because an evidence-based funding formula has not been enacted. The first general state aid payment of the new fiscal year was scheduled to be distributed this week, but because of the legislative stalemate it was not made.

 

ASSOCIATIONS CALL ON LEADERSHIP TO ACT

 

The Alliance organizations have all taken action to push legislative leadership and the Governor to end this school funding crisis. These communications are posted on each of the respective association websites. Today, the IASB President and Executive Director have issued a letter to Governor Bruce Rauner and the legislative leaders urging them to reach compromise so funds can flow to local school districts and classes can open and continue uninterrupted for the 2017-18 school year. The letter is posted on the   IASB Blog.