Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/543920
26 Summer 2015 | AEA Advocate AT THE CAPIToL AT THE CAPIToL AT THE CAPIToL AT THE CAPIToL THE BAD: Bills We Killed HB2079 local bonding; property tax measure (sponsor: Rep. Petersen) Requires the ballot language for bond authorization to describe the bond measure by using the words "property tax measure." (Current law already requires the phrase "the issuance of these bonds will result in a property tax increase suffi cient to pay the annual debt service on bonds," with this bill applying the additional requirement). The purpose of this bill was to make bonds more diffi cult to pass. Passed the House 32 ayes – 27 nays (Dems opposed as did Republicans Ackerley, Brophy McGee, Carter and Robson). FAILED in the Senate by a vote of 15 ayes – 13 nays (Dems opposed as did Republicans Dial and Pierce). HB2152 STOS; luxury tax credits (sponsor: Rep. Olson) Expands the corporate tax credit STO program to allow new contributions from any entity that has luxury tax liability (winery, microbrewer, craft distiller). With the STO tax aggregate being $43 million for the 2015 tax year and growing an astounding 20% each year, the AEA is opposed to expanding this poor fi scal policy idea even further. AEA had the votes to defeat this bill in the House, and the sponsor (Rep. Olson) did not bring it to a fl oor vote. HB2174 empowerment scholarship accounts; grandchildren (sponsor: Rep. Finchem) Expands eligibility of ESAs to grandchildren being raised by their grandparents. The AEA has long opposed this private school voucher program—it is unaccountable to the taxpayer and the state (as private schools can exclude students from admittance, private schools don't have to test students with AZMerit, etc.). It is a direct drain on the state's General Fund because all dollars for an ESA voucher come directly from the General Fund. Thus, a student transferring from a district school to a charter school is now entirely on the General Fund and the Department of Education is also giving these students 90% of basic state aid + the full charter additional assistance funds (nearly $2,000 for a high school student) + the small school weight. This leads to even more money going to a private school than the public school would have received. There is general concern that there is continued fraud and abuse occurring with this program because parents are given direct dollars on a state-issued debit card. HB2174 is unnecessary and a continued burden on the General Fund. This bill failed in the House on by a vote of 28 ayes – 32 nays (no's: the 24 Democrats opposed the bill as did Republicans Ackerley, Brophy McGee, Carter, Cobb, Coleman, Pratt and Robson). The bill's sponsor, Rep. Finchem, also voted "no" but he did that to be able to bring the bill back for a reconsideration vote. The bill was never brought back for a reconsideration vote, so it died. HB2190 schools; Common Core; replacement (sponsor: Rep. Finchem) Repeals the Arizona College and Career Ready Standards and establishes a process for the State Board of Education (SBE) to redevelop the statewide academic standards and assessments. Prohibits the SBE from adopting or revising any Arizona Education Standards until the proposed standards or revisions are approved by the Arizona Legislature. Passed the House by a vote of 34 ayes – 23 nays (voted "no": House Democrats + Republicans Brophy McGee and Carter). FAILED in the Senate by a vote of 13 ayes – 16 nays (voted "no": Senate Democrats + Republicans Dial, Driggs, Pierce and Worsley). This bill died in Senate COW which is a rare procedural move, so that it could not be brought on a reconsideration vote. HB2250 empowerment scholarship accounts; applications (sponsor: Rep. Mitchell) This bill was amended in the Senate to return the responsibility of ESA administration from the Treasurer back to the ADE. It requires the ADE to develop minimum criteria for the approval of purchases made with ESA monies and requires that list of approved providers be prominently posted and updated once every month on the ADE's website. Requires the Auditor General beginning in 2019 and every three years thereafter to issue a report that summarizes the NO VOTE FAILED FAILED Continued from p. 8. FAILED