Education Policy and Funding
SB20 - Appropriation, to make an approp. from the Education Trust Fund to the State Board of Education for fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, require board to allocate funds to each public K-12 school in the state to establish an anti-bullying program
Sponsor(s): Senator Smitherman
Synopsis and Analysis: This bill would make an appropriation from the Education Trust Fund to the State Board of Education in the amount of $14,730,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, and would require the board to allocate $10,000 of that amount to each public K-12 school in the state for the purpose of establishing and maintaining an anti-bullying program on each school campus.
League Action and Justification: Monitor. The LWVAL has a position that states "Legislation that will assure adequate financing for the total needs of Alabama public schools." The LWVUS has a position to "Support violence prevention programs in communities." This bill does support violence prevention programs. However, there are no specific requirements for the anti-bullying program, what it should include or benchmarks to achieve. It raises concerns of money being dispersed and not properly used. It would also take money away from other areas of education which need adequate funding.
Bill Progress in Legislature
SB20 - Appropriation, to make an approp. from the Education Trust Fund to the State Board of Education for fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, require board to allocate funds to each public K-12 school in the state to establish an anti-bullying program
Sponsor(s): Senator Smitherman
Synopsis and Analysis: This bill would make an appropriation from the Education Trust Fund to the State Board of Education in the amount of $14,730,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, and would require the board to allocate $10,000 of that amount to each public K-12 school in the state for the purpose of establishing and maintaining an anti-bullying program on each school campus.
League Action and Justification: Monitor. The LWVAL has a position that states "Legislation that will assure adequate financing for the total needs of Alabama public schools." The LWVUS has a position to "Support violence prevention programs in communities." This bill does support violence prevention programs. However, there are no specific requirements for the anti-bullying program, what it should include or benchmarks to achieve. It raises concerns of money being dispersed and not properly used. It would also take money away from other areas of education which need adequate funding.
Bill Progress in Legislature
Go here to get more information about the bill and changes in the bill as it progresses through the legislature.
| Calendar Date | Body | Amd/Sub | Matter | Committee | Nay | Yea | Abstain | Vote |
| 03/05/2019 | S | Read for the first time and referred to the Senate committee on Finance and Taxation Education | F&TE | |
Contact information for legislators and committees that might be referenced in this bill:
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