We are very close to the end of the legislative session, and many committees have already wrapped up their business for the year.
Burden of Proof Update:
Next Tuesday, April 16, 2019, is the final meeting of the Senate committee. Our Burden of Proof bill, which was delayed by the Senate State and Local Government committee earlier this week to correct language in an amendment, will be heard on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 (the final meeting of the committee). SB0621 is number 14 on their calendar.
Earlier this week in the House, after a lengthy discussion, our Burden of Proof bill HB0644 passed the House State committee with 14 Ayes and 3 Noes. (The bill is currently off notice in the House while we await the outcome in the Senate.)
We want to take this opportunity to thank the House bill sponsor Rep. Timothy Hill for his tireless work on this vital legislation. Also, we are grateful to all the members of the House committee who voted to pass this bill. Representatives voting aye on Burden of Proof were: Beck, Eldridge, Halford, Hawk, Hicks, Hulsey, Keisling, Littleton, Love, Powell, Ramsey, Sanderson, Shaw, and Staples.
The Burden of Proof bill if passed would place the Burden of Proof in disciplinary proceedings on the state agency to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the employee violated state law or a rule or policy of the state agency.
Longevity Update:
The Senate State and Local Government committee this week voted to send our Longevity bill to a summer study committee for further consideration. While not the exact outcome we hoped for, this will allow us to attempt to secure funding for Longevity in next year’s budget. As a reminder, the House two weeks ago placed the bill behind the budget due to its fiscal note.
However, the Governor’s supplemental budget will be out Tuesday morning, and the House and Senate are still reviewing bills they can fund, including Longevity. That means there is still a possibility longevity is funded in the House, regardless of the Senate’s decision to place the bill in summer study We will keep you posted on our social media pages and here next week as developments occur.
Update on TSEA’s Legislative Agenda Bills
Longevity for All
SB0689 Sen. Jackson
HB0900 Rep. Sparks
Status:
Senate: 04/10/19 – Senate State & Local Government Committee deferred to summer study.
House: 04/03/19 – House Finance Subcommittee placed the bill behind the budget.
Burden of Proof
SB0621 Sen. Hensley, Co-Prime Sponsor: Sen. Yager
HB0644 Rep. T. Hill
Status:
Senate: Set for Senate State & Local Government Committee 04/16/19.
House: 04/11/19 – Taken off notice in House Calendar & Rules Committee.
For information on other bills in our legislative agenda, as well as other bills we are monitoring, please visit:
