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Committee sends semi‑quincentennial/capital and education aid bill to floor; includes $10M compensatory aid and $5M threat‑reporting funding
Summary
Senator Swadzinski presented House File 2433, which includes a $10 million compensatory aid hold‑harmless and $5 million for an anonymous threat reporting system; senators Clark and Bolden described the distribution and staffing details and fiscal staff outlined timing and availability.
Senator Steve Swadzinski presented House File 2433 to the Senate Finance Committee on May 15, describing it as the semi‑quincentennial/capital investment bill shaped by leadership.
Swadzinski said the global leadership agreement included a compensatory aid hold‑harmless of $10,000,000 and $5,000,000 for an anonymous threat reporting system. He moved the A250 amendment (delete‑all/semi‑quincentennial), which the committee adopted by voice vote.
Senator Clark (online) described how the $10,000,000 compensatory aid would operate: allocations are evaluated at the individual school site level, preserving a three‑year hold‑harmless phase‑out and limiting steep cuts with an overall 35% drop path for large decreases; 60% of compensatory dollars go to individual sites and 40% can be flexed at the district level. Clark said the structure aims to maintain flexibility while identifying schools with the greatest need.
Senator Bolden explained the $5,000,000 anonymous threat reporting system: the funding covers grants to schools (about $4,000,000) and $1,000,000 for Department of Public Safety staffing for threat assessment and investigation activity. Districts may use existing local systems or opt into a statewide program offered by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) at no cost; the proposal includes two staff positions (a special agent and a criminal analyst) funded for 2½ years plus six months lead time to onboard. The Department of Education will track whether districts use local or statewide systems.
Bjorn Arnison (Senate counsel/fiscal analysis) told the committee the $5,000,000 DPS appropriation is one‑time but available through 06/30/2029, and explained timing of general education aid payments spread over fiscal years as reflected in the change item sheet. After discussion the committee recommended House File 2433, as amended, to the Senate floor by voice vote.
