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Legislative Update & Overview

Legislative Update & Overview. June 12, 2014. 84 th Legislature - Dates to Remember. November 4, 2014 - Election Day November 10, 2014 - Bill filing begins January 13, 2015 – 84 th Session begins June 1, 2015 – Sine Die. 84th Legislative Session. All new state leaders Governor

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Legislative Update & Overview

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  1. Legislative Update & Overview June 12, 2014

  2. 84th Legislature - Dates to Remember • November 4, 2014 - Election Day • November 10, 2014 - Bill filing begins • January 13, 2015 – 84th Session begins • June 1, 2015 – Sine Die

  3. 84th Legislative Session • All new state leaders • Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Comptroller • Attorney General • New Committee Chairs • Senate Education • Senate Finance • House Appropriations

  4. Texas House of Representatives • Speaker Straus expected to be re-elected • Currently, 63% of members are certain to return (51 Republicans and 43 Democrats) • 22 are not returning to their seats (due to retirements or primary losses) • 34 face general election opponents

  5. Texas Senate • New Lieutenant Governor (which also means new committee chairmanship assignments) • 17 of 31 senators are certain to return to their seats (with Hegar and Van de Putte maintaining their seats and returning if their bids for others offices fail) • Could be as many as 8 new senators (meaning that one-third of the Texas Senate will not have served a full four-year term in the Senate in 2015)

  6. Analysis from Mark P. Jones, chairman of Rice University's political science department

  7. Percent with Majority Ch. 41 Legislative District Texas House Texas Senate

  8. Issues at play • Budget surplus (projected $2.5 - $5 billion) • But a Legislature unwilling to spend • $1 billion shortfall from Medicare needs • Transportation and water needs • Calls for tax relief • Property tax appraisals

  9. Timing of the School Finance Case

  10. Education Issues at Play in 2015 • Pre-Kindergarten • Debt Limitations & Transparency • TRS contribution • Virtual Schools • Teacher Quality • Local Control (freedom from mandates) • Accountability • Achievement School Districts • Private School Vouchers

  11. School Finance - 2014-2015 FSP • 1.8% Increase to Basic Allotment (to $5,040), resulting in increase to EWL • Golden Penny Yield increased to $61.86 • Adjustments made through General Appropriations Act, not statutorily

  12. Revenue per Student in 2004 Dollars Ex. 6618

  13. District ADA shown by Quintiles

  14. Chasing “false equity” • As school and state leaders try to measure school district equity by comparing two districts’ total revenue per WADA, the basic assumption is that such numbers are comparable. • But often they are not. • Such comparisons within the Foundation School Program assume that school district formulas distribute funds in a manner that properly accounts for the differences in district needs.

  15. Common Comparison used for Equity

  16. Comparisons should examine full picture

  17. So what? • No comparisons should be taken at face value • Help others understand the story behind your numbers • Size • Cost of Education Index • English Language Learners • Comp Ed students • Facility/Insurance costs • Hold harmless/historic funding levels • And many other factors

  18. In summary • Big changes in all state leaders and Senate + more conservative and Tea Party affiliated legislators • With a surplus they don’t want to spend • In a holding pattern for school finance changes in 2015 awaiting the court ruling • However, 2015 is the time to lay the groundwork for special sessions to come

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