The following is a brief synopsis of state legislation of interest to MMSD.

Senate Bill 171 – restricts when school districts can hold referenda to regularly scheduled elections, or in September or November in years when there is no scheduled election (odd-years). The bill has passed both houses and awaits the governor's action. MMSD opposed measure.

SB 286 – requires districts that have human growth and development curricula to emphasize abstinence. The bill passed the Senate 24-9 and was reported out of the Assembly Education committee on a 9-3 vote and is ready to be scheduled for debate in the Assembly. MMSD opposed the bill.

SB 310 – requires every school district to have a policy on bullying. Passed the Senate on a voice vote and had an Assembly public hearing on November 29. MMSD opposed for local control reasons.

SB 313 – Members of the Joint Finance Committee recently decided not to take up this bill that would require the state to provide higher Medicaid reimbursement to school districts that provide reimbursable services. The budget-writing committee members feared that the necessary state reimbursement to school districts would balloon and jeopardize resources for other Medicaid programs. MMSD is working with a coalition of education groups and school districts attempting to revive the measure.

Assembly Bill 821 – eliminates certain conditions that must be met for starting truancy proceedings against a child under 12 years of age. Public hearing held November 29. MMSD supports.

AB 822 – eliminates certain requirements that must be met before starting truancy proceedings against a child under 12 years of age. Public hearing held November 29. MMSD supports.

TABOR (Taxpayers Bill of Rights) Update – MMSD parents Beth Swedeen and Barb Katz attended a news conference before Thanksgiving to express their concern about what would happen to schools if more restrictive revenue controls were placed on local governments, which TABOR proposes.

Other citizens and members of the clergy spoke at the news conference about being thankful for a government that provides help for domestic abuse victims, assists in getting meals to the housebound and manages game and wildlife for hunters and fishers. All said TABOR would harm the state's ability to respond to those in need.

An agreed upon version of TABOR, one that is palatable to majority party Republicans in both houses, has yet to be introduced. Assembly Speaker John Gard (R-Peshtigo) said a bill will be introduced early in 2006. GOP gubernatorial hopefuls, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and U.S. Rep. Mark Green, both advocate for passage of TABOR.