HB 227: Local school board per diem adjustment
Under this bill, the allowed per diem for local school board members is increased from $75 to $150 and the total maximum allowed is increased from $3,000 to $6,000. The bill takes effect July 1. Board members can still forgo the per diems or donate them to the district or another charity.
(left to right) Rep. Brandon Reed (R-Hodgenville), Boone County school board chair Karen Byrd, and
former KSBA president Rep. Ed Massey (R-Hebron) explain to the House Local Government committee
that the per diem for school board members has not changed in at least 20 years.
HB 22: Local school board vacancies
This bill changes a local school board vacancy from being filled by the commissioner of education, to being appointed by a majority vote of the remaining members of the board. If the board does not appoint within 60 days, the commissioner will appoint. The board must advertise the vacancy on its website and in the local newspaper.
SB 4: Electronic filing of campaign finance reports
This bill will require all candidates, beginning with the 2020 primary election, to electronically submit all campaign finance reports. It permits candidates to amend their spending intent consistent with what they are actually spending, as long as the amendment is made prior to the period in which the first campaign finance report is required to be filed.
SB 1: The School Safety and Resiliency Act
This bill sets a framework by which to harden Kentucky’s school buildings and soften its schools. There will be a new statewide school safety marshal and training for school safety coordinators in districts. The bill sets the goal of a school resource officer in every school along with increased supports for student mental health. It requires teachers to undergo suicide prevention and active shooter training. The bill also includes requirements that schools have secure entrances, classroom door locks and other security improvements by July 2022.
SB 162: Kentucky state police serving as school resource officers
Creates special provisions for any Kentucky State Police officer hired as a school resource officer. It also includes a provision that requires water fountains capable of filling water bottles in newly constructed schools.
SB 15: School background check changes
Schools have been inundated with background checks from the requirement for Child Abuse and Neglect (CAN) checks. This bill limits CAN checks to new certified or classified hires, non-faculty coaches or assistant coaches, student teachers, school-based decision making council parent members and adults permitted access to school grounds on a regularly scheduled, continuing basis while interacting with students.
HB 328: Firearms on school property
Closes a loophole in statute by prohibiting a high school student over the age of 18 from possessing a weapon on school property in his or her locked vehicle.
HB 11: Tobacco-free schools
Prohibits the use of tobacco products, alternative tobacco products and vapor products on school property, in school vehicles and during school activities. Local boards must have policies in place by the 2020-21 school year including proper signage. Enforcement is left up to local boards to allow flexibility.
SB 175: District accountability and TSI schools
Makes changes to the transition readiness and targeted support and improvement (TSI) provisions of the accountability system. It allows a college placement examination approved by the Council on Postsecondary Education to be a transition readiness indicator. It also changes the makeup of the standards and assessments process review committee which reviews the Kentucky Academic Standards. The bill requires the commissioner of education ti hold a series of town hall meetings about the new high school graduation requirements and then report the feedback to the legislature’s Interim Joint Committee on Education.
SB 8: Teacher tribunal reform
The bill changes teacher tribunals to clarify the causes for which a teacher contract can be terminated, requires an attorney with tribunal training to serve as hearing officer and chair, removes the lay person, creates a pre-conference for mediation and limits decisions to upholding or overturning the superintendent’s decision. The bill also establishes the tribunal’s decision as a recommended order, allows the parties to file exceptions and allows hearing officers to respond to exceptions by entering the recommended order or an amended order as the final order.