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Sponsors seek to reinstate Joint Education Oversight Committee for research and bipartisan review
Summary
House Bill 164 would reinstate the Joint Education Oversight Committee (JEOC) as a bipartisan, bicameral research body to study emerging K–12 issues and provide policy recommendations; sponsors said the committee previously produced useful work and proposed modest annual funding and per diems.
Representative Miller presented House Bill 164 to reinstate the Joint Education Oversight Committee, a bicameral body that would conduct research, review education programs and provide nonpartisan analysis to legislators.
"The JIOC was established in 2015... It provided nonpartisan, fact‑based, and in‑depth analysis of the K–12 education system at great value to the taxpayer," Representative Miller said, describing the committee's past work on state report cards, testing and early‑grade interventions.
Representative Robinson and other sponsors told the committee JEOC would be able to study issues such as vouchers, teacher recruitment and retention, school lunches and transportation shortages. Sponsors proposed appropriations in the mid six‑figures to cover JEOC operating costs and a per diem for members.
Members queried examples of work JEOC might tackle and how it complements existing resources such as the Legislative Service Commission and DEW policy analysis. Sponsors said JEOC's public hearings and the ability to convene diverse stakeholders would add value and suggested JEOC would inform committee work across chambers.
The committee closed the first hearing with sponsors offering to answer further questions; no vote was held.
