DAY 29

Representative John Meadows, Chairman of the House Rules Committee, reminded everyone this morning that not all of the bills filed this year will make it to the Governor’s office. With that said, the push is on to get that last bill to the House or Senate calendar.

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

The Full House passed:

HB313, limited leave for state employees to promote education. The program will be referred to as the GIVE Program.

HB502, the Title 20 clean-up bill. 

HR394, sales and use tax; distribution of net proceeds for educational purposes between county school systems and independent school system.

HB131, the End to Cyberbullying

HB474 , charter school enrollment priorities for educationally disadvantaged students and military students.

The House Rules Committee will meet at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 12, 2015. The House is scheduled to have a supplemental calendar on Friday.

The Full Senate passed:

SR80, the resolution demands that the College Board make revisions to the AP US History course.

SB116, Celebrate Freedom Week (substitute). This bill has a number of provisions in it (see the staff comments), but the language of the bill ensures that the legislation strongly encourages these activities.

SB164, adds a new code section, 20-2-741, which encourages local boards of education to implement Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and Response to Intervention (RTI) initiatives in their schools, particularly in their "high needs schools".  High needs schools are defined in the bill as public schools which have received a school climate rating of 1-star or 2-stars.

The Senate Rules Committee set the calendar for Friday after their meeting on Wednesday. There is currently one educational related bill on Friday's calendar. SB176, the "Deantre Gregory Turman Act" to strongly encourage youth athletes participating in gridiron football to wear four star rated helmets as rated by the Virginia Tech Helmet Rating system.

The Senate Transportation Committee met today to hear HB170, Transportation Funding Act of 2015, a bill that we have heard so much about. The first hearing was postponed until Thursday at 10:00 a.m. on the Senate side.

The legislators will return to the Gold Dome this week on the following schedule:

Thursday, March 12^th — in adjournment (some committees will meet)

Friday, March 13^th — Legislative day 30 convenes — Crossover Day

Saturday, March 14^th through Tuesday, March 17^th — in adjournment

Wednesday, March 18^th — Legislative day 31 convenes