Legislators came to town seven weeks ago. Since early January, stakeholders have been waiting for a career ladder bill to be introduced. Apparently that wait will come to an end Friday morning when the House Education Committee introduces a bill outlining a career ladders formula.
Chairman Dean Mortimer (R-Idaho Falls) was called away from his Senate Education Committee chairing duties late Thursday afternoon to presumably join legislative leaders in a final conversation before the bill’s introduction. Though an electronic version of the committee agenda was not posted online Thursday evening, a paper version was posted on the bulletin board in the Statehouse.
The IEA and other education stakeholders have not seen a final version of the bill, but as soon as it is made available to us we will post it on the IEA Facebook page and/or the IEA website. In addition, we’ll provide an analysis of the bill in our Friday edition of the Hotline. Stay tuned.
Governor Signs Education Bills Into Law
The final journey of any bill into the law books requires the governor’s signature. Each year hundreds of new laws are added to Idaho Code. Thus far this year, the governor has signed only three pieces of education-related legislation impacting K-12 schools. Only one of those bills has immediate and important bearing on schools. Here’s a quick rundown of the education bills that are now Idaho law.
SB 1021 is a technical change amending the formula used to calculate what charter schools are required to pay to the Charter School Commission an authorizing fee.
HB 168 allocates $3.6 million to the State Department of Education to help school districts pay for broadband service for the remainder of the school year.
HB 22 repeals a section of law that outlined how school board members would be transitioned from three year terms to four year terms. The law is unnecessary because the transition was completed in 2013.
