Week 2

March 7 - March 11


Spring Break is now upon us. The weather might not feel like it, but maybe that means we should all just go further south for the week. Either way, with as many people as I know leaving the state next week, it looks like I’m being left to run things for a while. Seriously though, I’m kidding, no one would want that.

Regardless of what next week looks like, both chambers of the State House this past week met for 3 consecutive days in order to get some good work in before the break. In doing so, two bills in particular ran their way through both chambers and were passed as quickly as any bill possibly could. And both continued on the theme of reforming our budgets.

Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed SB72, which repeals the DROP program, by a vote of 59-40. This was done in order to save the state millions of dollars each year and should help balance the Education Trust Fund. DROP was created about a decade ago in order to keep teachers of retiring age in education. If a teacher was 55 years of age and had their 25 years of service they could continue working while drawing retirement for five years. The retirement pay went into an account where it drew guaranteed interest and ensuring the employee a lump sum payment at final retirement.

Clearly the purpose of the DROP program was to be an incentive to keep good teachers and this is why the House of Representatives placed an amendment on the bill. The amendment will create a commission tasked with finding other incentives for keeping our best teachers in the classroom.

The other bill that passed both houses and is being signed by Governor Bentley today is HB57 by Representative Greg Canfield. This purpose of this bill is to avoid the proration in our Education Budget that we have today. It does this by putting a cap on the amount that can be appropriated from the Education Trust Fund and sending any excess money into a budget stabilization fund to be used in the lean years.

It has been a busy week here in the Shelby County Delegation Office. The phone has been ringing off the hook. That is what happens when legislation comes up that people are passionate about. I received phone calls on two specific bills all week. The DROP bill had many people calling with differing opinions as did HB126 relating to the Forever Wild Land Trust. I suspect my phone might be a little silent next week during Spring Break. Until the next week, have a great and relaxing break and I’ll try and do the same.