Officials briefed on state bill package; paid leave proposal would add payroll tax

District government-relations staff briefed the board on a collection of state bills being discussed as part of bill 306 and highlighted provisions that could affect district operations and personnel.

“we had a phone conference this morning with senator Juarez,” the government-relations staff said, introducing the bills in the package. Staff described the package as a “Christmas tree” bill that bundles multiple, distinct proposals.

Staff focused on several items: a paid-leave measure (Sen. Spivey’s bill) that was amended from four weeks to three weeks and would be funded in part by a payroll tax; proposed limits on outside work by superintendents; a change to a religious release policy that was amended from “shall” to “may,” giving districts discretion; a forgivable-loan program for special-education teachers; and a reporting requirement for postsecondary institutions (LB378) related to foreign contributions.

The government-relations staff provided one example of the payroll-tax impact: at a $70,000 salary, the payroll-tax portion was described as roughly $276. Staff noted that some teachers and representatives (listed in the meeting as REA folks) expressed concerns about the payroll tax and questioned whether employees would use the additional leave. Staff explained the payroll tax is intended to offset substitute costs when employees take leave.

Staff also flagged a likely constitutional challenge to the bill limiting superintendents’ outside work because it attempts to restrict what people can do in employment outside their contract. The package contains measures with mixed reception, staff said, noting how larger bills often combine popular provisions with more controversial ones.