On Monday the state Legislature passed S-29 / A-3065, the Democratic proposal to cap property tax increases at 2.9 percent. The Senate approved the measure by a 23-17 margin, while the Assembly passed it by a 44-33-1 vote. (This week’s edition of School Board Notes contains NJSBA’s comparison of the 2.9 percent cap, the 2.5 percent cap and the existing 4 percent cap.)
That was just one of several education bills that saw action on Monday. They include:
- Summer school: A-2794, which permits school districts to charge fees for summer school, passed the Assembly by a vote of 27-8. It had previously passed the Senate on June 21 and now heads to the Gov. Chris Christie for his signature. NJSBA supports the measure, which was endorsed by a vote of the Delegate Assembly in May.
- School choice: A-355, which establishes a permanent Interdistrict Public School Choice Program, passed both houses unanimously. An earlier version had also passed the Assembly in March. The measure will allow children to attend schools in districts they don’t live in. This bill, which was supported by NJSBA, is entirely voluntary; local school districts may decide whether or not to participate. Currently, 15 districts participate in the program.
- Special-ed funding: A measure that clarifies school district eligibility to receive state funding for special education evaluation services for children enrolled in New Jersey non-public schools and living out-of-state, passed both houses by a unanimous vote. NJSBA supported the bill, A-2300 /S-1762.
- Restoring layoffs: A wage concessions bill, S-1940 that requires that any savings realized by boards from concessions made by a district’s labor unions be used to offset any reductions in force, passed the Senate by a vote 34-2 on Monday. NJSBA opposes the bill, believing that it is unnecessary and noting that it will infringe on local school boards’ responsibility to represent the public’s interest. The companion bill, A-2772, was introduced and was referred to the Assembly Education Committee.
- Scholarship vouchers: The Opportunity Scholarship Act, S-1872 (Lesniak, Kean), and companion bill A-2810 (Fuentes, De Croce), did not move in Monday’s session.
Special Session Begins This Week Gov. Christie has ordered a special session of the Legislature to begin on Thursday, July 1. The session will consider his proposal for a constitutional amendment to cap property tax hikes at 2.5 percent, as well as his 33-bill “toolkit” to help local governments control costs. To appear on the ballot in the general election in November 2010, the constitutional amendment measure would need to be approved by the Legislature by July 7.
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