Wyoming Education Association - Legislative Update January 30, 2019

WEA Legislative Update | January 30, 2019

TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT FUNDING FOR K-12 EDUCATION

The House passed an amendment to the budget to increase the portion of the K-12 ECA pertaining to teacher salaries by about $5 million.

Tomorrow is the third reading of the budget in the senate. On Tuesday, the senate voted to amend the budget (Amendment 39) to cut the External Cost Adjustment in half. Originally budgeted at $18 million, the ECA would be cut to just over $9 million with this proposed amendment.

This proposed cut would, for the first time since 2011, put the Legislative Funding Model for education beneath the funding model developed by state budget consultants Picus and Odden. This amendment challenges Wyoming's constitutional mandate that education be funded at actual cost.

Take action now! Contact your Senators and tell them to restore the full External Cost Adjustment!

Tell Senators to safeguard funding for public education by

CLICKING HERE

TELL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TO SUPPORT HB 0314 FOR WYOMING RETIREES

This week, a cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) bill was introduced in the Wyoming House. The bill, HB 0314 , would provide a much needed COLA for Wyoming's public employee retirees, who have dedicated their lives to enriching and securing our communities.

Wyoming retired public employees haven't received a COLA in over a decade. With ever-increasing inflation, the daily costs of essentials like food, housing and healthcare demand more of retirees' hard-earned pension checks. Tell your legislators not to leave Wyoming's retirees behind. Support HB 0314 !

Find your legislators and tell them to support the COLA by

CLICKING HERE.

In the Senate today:

SF 0120 – Student expulsion hearing requirements – This bill passed on third reading as amended.

SF 0129 – Education reporting requirements – This bill passed Committee of the Whole.

Senate Education Committee:

SF 0145 – State trust land revenues – This bill was was not heard and will be laid back.

SJ 0007 – School capital construction – constitutional amendments - This bill was not heard and will be laid back.

Coming up in the Senate Education Committee

HB 0022 – Teacher Accountability.

HB 0023 – Education Accountability.

HB 0024 – National Board Certification.

HB 0025 – Virtual Education Amendments.

HB 0079 – School finance interfund loans.

In the House today:

HB 0314 – Retiree cost-of-living payments. This bill was read in and assigned to the appropriations committee and will be up in the House Appropriations tomorrow on adjournment.

HB 0183 – Repeal gun free zones and preemption amendments-2. This bill was read in and assigned to the appropriations committee.

HB 0275 – Permanent Wyoming mineral trust fund-capital gains. This bill was read in and assigned to the Revenue Committee.

Second reading

HB 0133 – Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarships. This bill passed second reading amended.

HB 0147 – K-2 foreign language requirement. This bill passed second reading

Third reading.

HB 0117 – College entrance exam-written component. This bill passed third reading and will be sent to the Senate.

HB 0132 – Hathaway scholarships-award increase. This bill passed third reading and will be sent to the Senate.

TRACK CRITICAL BILLS

Track bills that are critical to public education through the WEA Bill Tracker.

WEA Bill Tracker January 30, 2019

From the Capitol to the Classroom, Stay Informed With WEA!

You can join the unified voice for public education when WEA makes a call to action by visiting our new WYOEALobby webpage . You will find:

Information about current bills before the Wyoming Legislature;
Talking points on critical issues facing Wyoming educators;
Ways to take action in support of public education;
Contact information for your legislator.

This new webpage is designed to help you become a Cyber Lobbyist from your own community.

Becoming a part of the WEA unified voice is easier than ever. Join the momentum by utilizing these new tools!

VISIT OUR WEBSITE