2015 State Legislative

Agenda Discussion

Board Workshop

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Ashlea P. Graves

Director, Government Relations

Today’s Goal

Discuss and reach agreement on HISD’s

priorities for the 84th Texas Legislative

Session.

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Today’s agenda

• 2013 Session Recap

• 2015 Session Predictions

• HISD Priorities

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2013 session recap

• Funding partially restored

• House Bill 5

• Senate Bill 2

• School turnaround

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2013 Session Re-cap

• $3.6 B restored from $5.4 B cut in 2011

• Passed HB 5

• Passed SB 2

• Partially restored Pre-K grant funding ($30M)

• Passed Competency-based advancement bills

• Passed Common Core refusal bill

• Passed virtual schools bill

• Parent trigger bill – died

• Achievement School District bill - died

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“We’ve come a long way, baby, since the

last session.” Sen. Tommy Williams, floor

remarks on SB 1

(Week of March 22, 2013)

“We're trying to get [education reform]

right. I hope we don't overcorrect.” Rep.

Jimmie Don Aycock on HB 5

(Week of March 29, 2013)

“This is how 31 people work together for the best

interest of all Texans.” Sen. Dan Patrick,

remarks on Senate’s approval of SB 2

(Week of April 12, 2013)

“Education is kind of the key sticking point right

now.” House Budget Conferees, Reps. Jim Pitts

and Sylvester Turner, discussing education

funding in SB 1

(Week of May 13, 2013)

2015 session predictions

• Competing interests

• Legislative unknowns

• “New” Faces

• Political Landscape

• Important Issues

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Competing Interests

• Adequate school funding versus Property

Tax Relief: Who will win?

• School finance versus transportation,

water, higher education and health care

funding

• Some ISDs versus Texas Achievement

School District

• ISD versus ISD over formula funding

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Legislative Unknowns

• New state leaders and legislators?

• School finance lawsuit – final verdict?

• Use of the Rainy Day Fund?

• Senate rules for bringing bills to the floor?

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“New” Faces in 2015

• Governor

• Lieutenant Governor

• Comptroller

• Attorney General

• Land Commissioner

• Agriculture Commissioner

• 25 House – 7 Senate

• TEA Commissioner?

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Political Landscape - 2013

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• Republican majority in both chambers

• 19 R’s and 12 D’s in the Senate

• 95 R’s and 55 D’s in the House

• Tea party caucusing separately from the

Republican Caucus

Political Landscape - 2015

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• Stronger Senate Republican majority

• 20 R’s -11 D’s in the Senate*

• 90 R’s - 60 D’s in the House*

• # of senior legislators drops

• # of 1st and 2nd term legislators rises

• New chairs: Senate Ed, Senate Finance, House Appropriations

• New presiding officer in the Senate

State Board of Education

• Democrats: Five

– One new member in January

• Republicans: Ten

– Two distinct factions

– Lines blur on some issues

• Barbara Cargill, Chair through January 2015

Important Issues

• HB 5 implementation funding (counselors)

• Funding full-day Pre-K

• Teacher quality and effectiveness

• Achievement School District

• Assessment and accountability changes

• Unconstitutional school finance system

remains unchanged

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HISD Priorities

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• Proposed Priorities

• Session Strategy

• Key Legislators

• Legislative Timeline

• Austin Team

Proposed HISD Priorities

• Mitigate impact of Chapter 41 status

• Fund full-day Pre-K through state formula

• Remove three-course limit and extend

flexibility to create dual-credit programs

with any institution of higher education

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84th Session Strategy

• Focus on priorities unique to Houston

• Chapter 41 is a very important item

• Engage key lawmakers early; leverage relationships

• Work cross-coalition on Pre-K and other issues

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Key Legislators for Public Ed• Rep. Joe Straus (R-San Antonio)

• Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock (R-Killeen)

• Rep. Alma Allen (D-Houston)

• Rep. Harold Dutton (D-Houston)

• Rep. Jim Pitts (R-Waxahachie)

• Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-Houston)

• Rep. John Otto (R-Dayton)

• Sen. Dan Patrick (R-Houston)

• Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. (R-Brownsville)

• Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas)

• Sen. Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio)

• Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound)

• Sen. Chuy Hinojosa (D-McAllen)

• Sen. John Whitmire (D-Houston)

• Sen. Rodney Ellis (D-Houston)

• Sen. Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth)

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* Plus remaining

members of HISD’s state

delegation! *

84th Session Timeline

• November 4, 2014 – General Election

• November 10, 2014 – Pre-filing begins

• January 13, 2015 – Session begins

• March 13, 2015 – Filing deadline

• June 1, 2015 – Session ends

• June 21, 2015 – Veto deadline

• Late 2015/16 – School finance verdict

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Austin Team

• HISD Government Relations

• HillCo Partners

• Thompson & Horton

• Moak Casey & Associates

• Law Offices of Ellen Williams

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Discussion & Facilitation

2015 State Legislative Agenda

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Next steps• Trustees/superintendent

• State legislators

• HISD principals

• Board adoption – Oct. 9

• Promote agenda – Oct.- Dec.

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Ashlea P. Graves

Director, Government Relations

713-556-7203 (office)

713-447-8430 (mobile)

agraves@houstonisd.org

Thursday, September 18, 2014