Legislature(2013 - 2014)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/03/2013 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB15 | |
| SB82 | |
| Confirmation Hearing: State Board of Education & Early Development | |
| HB87 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 15 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | HB 87 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 82 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 87-EXTEND SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICE AGENCY
8:54:21 AM
CHAIR STEVENS announced the consideration of HB 87. [CSHB
87(FIN) was before the committee.]
8:54:35 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PETE HIGGINS, sponsor of HB 87, introduced the
bill. He related that HB 87 extends the requirement for the
Special Education Service Agency (SESA), which was established
in 1986.
REPRESENTATIVE HIGGINS explained the changes the House made to
HB 87. He said that SESA was extended until June 30, 2021, and
realigned under the Department of Education and Early
Development (DEED) for oversight.
8:56:41 AM
PATRICK PILLAI, Executive Director, Special Education Services
Agency (SESA), provided information related to HB 87.
CHAIR STEVENS noted that the committee was waiting for a fiscal
note and a Senate CS.
MR. PILLAI addressed the oversight of SESA, which he saw as a
policy decision. He said if the oversight moves from the
Governor's Council to DEED, and if the structure remains the
same with the continuation of an advisory board, it will have
little impact on agency operations. He said he preferred SESA to
remain under the Governor's Council because there are no
problems with oversight at this time. He emphasized that SESA
requires funding because it is looking at $400,000 in cuts.
8:58:21 AM
CHAIR STEVENS reviewed the differences between the Senate and
House version of the bill. He said governance and funding are
the two main differences that need to be worked out.
8:58:51 AM
MIKE HANLEY, Commissioner, Department of Education & Early
Development, provided information about SESA. He spoke in
support of extending SESA. He noted that DEED currently actively
works with SESA, and audit concerns have been addressed. He said
SESA functions very well under the governance of the Governor's
Council. He thought that moving SESA under DEED would be
cumbersome.
CHAIR STEVENS said the committee is awaiting a fiscal note. If
the governance were to transfer there would be a need for
additional staffing in DEED. He requested information about the
fiscal note.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY responded that the DEED would be tasked with
oversight of SESA and that would require another staff.
9:01:14 AM
CHAIR STEVENS held HB 87 in committee pending a fiscal note.