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Senate advances several education bills including asbestos-abatement and accountability measures
Summary
The Senate moved a package of education bills forward: Substitute House Bill 161 (asbestos abatement in public schools) passed the Senate third-reading rules with a 27–1 tally; House Bill 170 (school-district performance report) and House Bill 321 (achievement tests) were moved to third reading to be considered together as an accountability package.
The Senate considered an education package that included substitute House Bill 161, House Bill 170 and House Bill 321 among other measures. Substitute HB161, addressing asbestos abatement in public schools, was presented with a sponsor-supported $5,000,000 program that school districts would match; the Senate recorded a vote of 27 ayes and 1 nay and placed the bill on the third-reading calendar.
Senators discussed HB170, a school-district performance-report requirement modeled on national 'report card' concepts to increase accountability, and HB321, a statewide achievement-test reporting system. Floor sponsors said the bills were being moved together to third reading so senators would have the weekend to review the combined package and prepare for final votes.
Discussion included concerns about open enrollment impacts on extracurricular recruitment and diploma award rules, plus concerns about enforcement and compatibility of graduation-credit requirements across districts. The Senate called the question on multiple education bills and placed them on third reading for final consideration.
