Judiciary committee votes to send special-education funding bill to the floor after fiscal concerns

The Judiciary Committee on Tuesday voted to refer Senate Bill 1, an act described as increasing resources for students, schools and special education, to the floor for further consideration.

Sen. Kissel said he would vote no, telling the committee he served as ranking senator on a select committee on special education and that, while the bill addresses important issues, he believes the funding mechanism in the bill would “break the guardrails” that govern state spending, bonding and volatility-gap protections. “I can't support a bill at this time … that break those guardrails,” Kissel said.

Chairman Winfield presided over the item and called the roll after asking whether there were additional comments; Representative Fishpaw asked and confirmed that the bill was before the committee in part because section 55 addresses probate court and truancy clinics. Committee staff then conducted a roll-call vote to refer the bill to the floor.

Why it matters: The bill was reported out of a select committee on special education and had been the subject of statewide hearings, according to Kissel. The dispute in committee centered not on the need for services but on the method of funding and whether it would conflict with current fiscal rules.

Committee action: A motion to refer the bill as Joint Favorable (JF) to the floor was moved by Senator Blitzer and seconded by Representative Buscino. The committee conducted a roll-call vote. The motion passed and the bill was referred to the floor for further consideration.

Next steps: Because the bill was referred to the floor, it will return for further debate and possible amendments in subsequent floor sessions where fiscal questions and the funding mechanism may be addressed.