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Bill to expand nonpublic-school powers draws heated debate over school police and zoning; zoning amendment fails, bill clears committee
Summary
Senators approved a bill expanding services and program access for nonpublic schools but rejected a zoning preemption amendment and engaged in extended debate about whether nonpublic schools should be allowed to form police departments.
The Senate Appropriations Committee advanced a bill that would give nonpublic schools new authorities but drew hours of debate over two provisions: a change to statewide zoning treatment for schools and new authority for nonpublic schools to establish police departments.
The bill’s sponsor said the measure would allow nonpublic schools access to certain workforce and grant programs, provide an appeals route for scholarship denials and remove barriers local zoning boards might apply to schools. Opponents focused on a provision that, as amended in an earlier committee, would make public, charter and nonpublic schools a permitted use in all zoning districts.…
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