Committee approves amendment to HB 2382 setting State Board of Education per-diems, reports bill favorably

The Committee on K-12 Education Budget voted to report House Bill 2382 favorably as amended after adopting a balloon amendment that replaces a formula-based pay link with set per-diem amounts for members of the State Board of Education.

The committee approved language that would pay State Board members $286.81 per calendar day for regularly scheduled board meetings, $286.81 per calendar day for the first 12 days of in-state meetings related to education interests, and $172 per calendar day for any additional in-state days beyond those 12. The amendment also clarified that out-of-state travel reimbursement would be limited to either subsistence or actual travel expenses, not both.

Why it matters: The change delinks State Board pay from the legislature's salary formula and establishes specific daily rates and limits for compensation. Committee discussion centered on budget impacts, how the new rates would be administered, and safeguards to prevent overlapping reimbursements for out-of-state travel.

Committee staff and agency witnesses gave the panel several fiscal figures during the discussion. A staff estimate presented to the committee showed a fiscal note for the bill as introduced of $170,000 and an estimated additional cost attributable to the amendment of $120,000. Committee members and staff referenced an amount of roughly $125,000 included in substitute House Bill 2007 that rolled into the current budget picture; adding the $120,000 amendment estimate to that amount was discussed as roughly $245,000. Committee staff also said the current FY2025 compensation budget for State Board member pay and related employer costs was about $140,000; under the amendment staff estimated the total compensation budget would increase to about $260,000 (an increase of about $120,000).

On the amendment text, Representative Hill proposed changing a conjunction on line 20 so that subsistence and travel expenses would be alternates rather than cumulative. Hill said the change would avoid “double dipping” on out-of-state trips and would read, in his words, as an "or" rather than an "and." The committee adopted that change by voice vote.

Staff explained how subsistence and travel reimbursements work under the statute cited in the bill. Committee staff (Nick) noted subsistence previously was written in statute as $109 per calendar day but is adjusted by federal CONUS per-diem rates and is currently in the range of about $170–$178 per day. Dr. Harwood explained that the amendment, as drafted, would not authorize a daily compensation rate for out-of-state travel (those trips would be handled under subsistence or actual travel expense reimbursement rules), and that the State Board rarely sends many members to out-of-state events, typically limiting such travel to specific needs like the National Association of State School Boards meeting or supporting a national finalist.

Representative Vestas moved that the committee report HB 2382 favorably as amended; Mr. Swartfeger seconded. The committee approved the motion by voice vote; members recorded the motion as carried.

Committee members asked several procedural and budget-management questions during the discussion. Staff and Dr. Harwood described current budget controls: the State Board monitors its operating budget and approves travel and additional pay in monthly actions; if appropriated funding for additional compensation is exhausted, the board must prioritize or absorb additional costs from other operating funds.

The committee did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript; the actions were approved by voice vote. The committee chair indicated there would be further opportunities to explain the bill as it advances to the next stage.

The committee then moved on to other business and adjourned.