Legislative Update

 

2012 Legislative Crossover

 

February 21, 2012  


Dear ,

"Crossover" is an important day in the General Assembly and several homeschool bills have made it through this critical point.

 

"Crossover" marks the last opportunity for bills to be approved by the House or Senate before they move to the opposite body to be considered. Only bills that pass their house of origin "cross over" to be considered in the opposite house. Three homeschool bills survived crossover and one was continued to 2013.

 

We are expecting committee hearings on our curriculum description this week and sports access legislation next week. See more information below. 

 

 

Regards,

Yvonne Bunn, Homeschool Support

Yvonne Bunn

Director of Homeschool Support and Legislative Affairs 


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Legislation at Crossover

 

House Curriculum Description Change

Two bills, initiated by HEAV to clarify the meaning of a "curriculum description," have passed the House and Senate. These bills, with very similar language, will limit the required curriculum description to "a list of subjects to be studied" during the coming year. This proposed change will clarify the meaning of a curriculum description and provide a consistent application in all school districts of the annual curriculum description requirement.

 

HB 1208, a curriculum description bill patroned by Delegate Brenda Pogge (R-James City/York County), passed the full House on February 2, with a 77-Y, 23-N vote.

 

The Senate version of the curriculum description bill, SB 564, patroned by Senator Dick Black (R-Loudoun/Prince William), passed the Senate on February 7, with a 23-Y, 17-N vote.

 

What's next?

The House version of the curriculum description bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Education and Health; the Senate version has been referred to the House Education Committee. We expect committee hearings on both bills this week.

 

Sports Access

HB 947, patroned by Delegate Rob Bell (R-Charlottesville), will allow homeschool students to try out for public school sports without excessive requirements. A sunset provision has been added that will discontinue the provisions of the bill by June 2017, unless further legislative action is taken.  

 

The House passed an amended version of the sports access bill on February 8, with a 59-Y, 39-N vote. This is the farthest it has progressed in the legislative process.

 

Two similar sports access bills, HB 905, patroned by Delegate Randy Minchew (R-Frederick/Loudoun) and HB 1005, patroned by Delegate David Ramadan (R- Loudoun/Prince William), were tabled, and the delegates became co-patrons on Delegate Bell's bill.

 

What's next?

Sports access has never been discussed in the Senate before and may have a difficult time getting out of committee. If you support sports access and one of the committee members listed below is your representative, they need to hear from you. Contact him or her before the hearing on Thursday, March 1.

Lt. Governor Bill Bolling presides over the Senate.

 

Senator Steve Martin (Chairman) (R-Chesterfield)

Senator Richard Saslaw (D-Springfield)

Senator Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth)

Senator Janet Howell (D-Reston)

Senator Stephen Newman (R-Forest)

Senator Harry Blevins (R-Chesapeake)

Senator Mamie Locke (D-Hampton)

Senator George Barker (D-Alexandria)

Senator Ralph Northam (D-Norfolk)

Senator J. C. Miller (D-Newport News)

Senator Ralph Smith (R-Roanoke)

Senator Jeffrey McWaters (R-Virginia Beach)

Senator Richard Black (R-Leesburg)

Senator Bill Carrico (R-Grayson)

Senator Thomas Garrett (R-Lynchburg)

 

Contact Information

 

If you're not sure who your legislator is, click here to find his or her name and contact information. A personal phone call is preferred to an email. You can expect to speak to your legislator's secretary or aide who will ask for the bill number and your name and address.

 

Homeschool Tax Credits

Delegate David Ramadan (R-Prince William) introduced homeschool tax credit legislation. HB 1006 would provide up to $1,000 in tax credits for home instruction-related materials, including textbooks, workbooks, and supplies used solely in home instruction, and correspondence courses or distance learning programs used in home instruction.

 

It was continued to 2013 in the House Finance Committee by voice vote on February 6.

 

Virtual School Bills

HEAV is tracking numerous other bills related to virtual schools, funding for virtual schools, and charter schools. These bills could possibly impact homeschoolers in the future.

 

We will keep you informed as these bills progress through this next step of the legislative process. If the bills make it through, they will then go to the governor for his signature.

 

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update@heav.org
804-278-9200
www.heav.org 

 

Your membership and donations to HEAV enable us to continue monitoring legislation and help us to guard and promote homeschooling freedoms.

 

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