Legislative Update — July 31, 1998

CCFC Phone (916) 441-3300

Some insiders believe that the education budget is not apt to be further reduced, while others believe that not enough reductions have been made to fund the potential $2.5 billion to $3.6 billion tax package. Various iterations have been proposed on the tax package, but the most likely scenario regardless of which taxes and what form they take, is a phase-in that may provide a growing impact to state revenues rather than an immediate large impact.

One of the education components that has been a recent sticking point in the negotiations is the enactment of a K-12 school accountability proposal. Several bills on this subject were moved to a conference committee that has been attempting to work out a viable accountability package. Well into that committee's work the Administration presented its own proposal which was at odds with many of the conference committee's deliberations. The budget provides $50 million for this purpose, but the disagreements involve the implementation and intervention strategies. [Note — The budget is already 46 days past due, while the bond bill is facing an August 27^th deadline.]

STATUS OF FACILITY LEGISLATION — AB 1921 (Scott) which would permit prebid qualification of bidders in community college projects is now awaiting approval on the Senate Floor after Senate Appropriations action. There is a substantial buildup of Assembly Bills on the Senate Floor, and this is part of that backup. There is no known problem with the bill.

AB 425 (Baldwin) — This bill would allow community college districts to lease or purchase commercial buildings for educational facilities under prescribed circumstances which determine whether the building is substantially compliant with the Field Act. It also attempts to expedite plan checking for community college projects in the Division of the State Architect (DSA). The bill is in the Senate Appropriations Committee. The DSA provisions may be amended out of the bill in deference to similar provisions in SB 50 (Karnette), the bond bill.

SB 2159 (Greene) — This bill would involve the BOG in the administration of any joint use set aside of funds in future bond acts. It also allows K-12 and community colleges to develop joint use projects utilizing their appropriate portion of future state bond funds. The measure is on the Assembly Appropriations Committee Suspense File.