Committee accepts Senate changes to H931, adds $21,000 for hazing/harassment prevention council

The House Ways & Means Committee heard a preview of H931 on May 28 from James of the Office of Legislative Council and voted to accept the Senate's proposal of amendment.

James said the Senate made several additions to the miscellaneous education bill, including membership and duty changes to an intercollegiate sexual-harm prevention council and to a hazing/harassment/bullying advisory council for preK'12. He described the language as a reformatting that preserves existing members while adding new members and spelling out additional duties and reimbursement provisions.

Section seven of the Senate amendment carries a $21,000 appropriation from the general fund to the Agency of Education in fiscal year 2027 for per diems and compensation for members of the hazing/harassment/bullying prevention council. Fiscal staff said that, combined with about $1,600 in previously discussed fingerprint/background-check fees, the estimated fiscal impact tied to the amendment is roughly $22,600.

Other details James reviewed included removal of class-size minimum language and the travel of some provisions to a separate education transformation bill (H955). The amendment also includes a technical change to the energy-performance-contracting statute to expand the definition of cost-saving measures eligible under school construction rules, with an effective date of July 1, 2026.

Committee members asked for the fiscal note and expressed concern about agency financial pressures; staff said the appropriation is intended to cover per diems for about 13 members. After discussion, the committee voted the Senate amendment favorable and forwarded H931 to the floor.

Next steps: H931, as amended by the Senate, was voted favorable in committee and will be reported to the House floor.