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Legislative briefs Friday, Apr 7, 2006 Arkansas News Bureau staff House panel turns back bill to cap administrative expenses LITTLE ROCK - The House Education Committee killed a bill Thursday that would limit the amount of money school districts could spend on administration costs at 8 percent of a district's total budget. The bill was a key piece of Gov. Mike Huckabee's special session agenda. The governor has said the cap on administrative expenses would make districts more accountable for their state funding. Huckabee blamed a strong lobbying effort by school superintendents for derailing the bill, plus another that would have prohibited schools from using state money to sue the state. "I'm very disappointed that we didn't pass the 8 percent and also money that should go to the classroom ending up going to the courtroom," the governor said. Rep. Nathan George, D-Dardanelle, was the 8 percent cap bill's sponsor. George, a school teacher, said the measure would ensure an appropriate amount of money would be directed to the classroom. School administrators opposed the proposal because they said it limited local school boards' authority. Walters' measure on lawsuits defeated Rep. Shirley Walters' bill to prevent school districts from using state funding to file lawsuits against the state failed to get out of the House Education Committee on Thursday. Walters, R-Greenwood, said the bill was not intended to prevent districts from suing the state, but to restrain them from using funds meant for the classroom to do so. She said schools could use money collected above the state-mandated 25 property tax mills or private donations in order to fund suits, or attorneys could accept cases on a contingency basis. Rep. David Rainey, D-Dumas, said the bill may penalize poor school districts that may not be able to generate enough money for non-frivolous lawsuits. Walters responded that attorneys for a poor district, Lake View, collected $3 million in attorney's fees. Department of Education Attorney Scott Smith said those fees were an anamoly, since normally the state has immunity from paying attorney's fees. House OKs bill to relax curriculum requirement Some school districts that operate more than one high school as a result of consolidation would not be required to teach all required courses at both campuses under legislation that passed the House on Thursday. House Bill 1014 by Rep. Dwight Fite, D-Benton, would allow districts that take in an isolated school district to teach fewer than all 38 required units at one high school if all of the units are readily available to students at the other through transportation, a traveling teacher or distance learning. State law requires that every high school offer all required units every year. Supporters say Fite's bill would ease the financial stain on school districts that operate high schools many miles apart after school mergers. Some said the measure also would force the state Department of Education to make distance learning technology available to schools in isolated areas of the state. The bill passed, 87-4, and goes to the Senate. Basketball teams honored The House on Thursday approved resolutions honoring three high school basketball teams for winning state championships this year. House Resolution 1004 by Rep. Stephanie Flowers, D-Pine Bluff, praised the Pine Dollarway Cardinals for winning the Class AAA boy's state basketball championship. Team members were sitting in the House gallery and received applause from House members. In the Senate, Sen. Hank Wilkins, D-Pine Bluff, brought the Dollarway team onto the Senate floor to recognize the school's first-ever state basketball championship. The Senate also passed a resolution honoring the team. Sen. Ruth Whitaker, R-Cedarville, snapped a photograph of the team with her camera phone after Wilkins requested a photographer to memorialize the occasion. Also honored by the House were the Morrilton Sacred Heart High School Lady Rebels for winning the Class A girl's state basketball championship. Team members were in the House gallery and were recognized with applause. HR 1003 was sponsored by Rep. Charles Ormond, D-Morrilton. The House also approved HR 1007 by Rep. Marvin Childers, R-Blytheville, which honored the Blytheville Chickasaws for winning the Class AAAA Boy's state championship. That team did not attend Thursday's House session. Governor "engaged" in legislative session Huckabee said Thursday it would be nearly impossible for him to work harder in support of progress in this week's special session. He said his work behind the scenes often goes unnoticed, but demonstrates his dedication to being "engaged" in the state's business. "I don't think I could get more engaged than I am," said Huckabee, who was criticized last week for a trip to New Hampshire as legislative leaders worked on a special session compromise. Huckabee is a potential 2008 Republican presidential candidate. "I work long hours, I spend a lot of time doing what I do," he said. "I'm not sure what else could be done. I really don't." He said he made a point at the start of the session Monday to walk the halls of the Capitol to greet legislators, though the move limited his involvement. "I walked down the hall, made a little loop, talked to a few people, and the next thing, 'The governor's engaged!'" Huckabee said. "Well the truth is, that actually made me disengaged because going down there and hanging out in the hall, I wasn't able to sit down in serious negotiations. I was just out glad-handing." |
