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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE AS OF APRIL 27, 2005 

Senator Charlie Clary's SB 788 passed the Senate Education Committee by a 7 - 0 Vote.  The bill was amended however, for it would not have passed as written.  The bill had two parts: Extend the Drop and allow administrators to return to work only after sitting out one month.  The return to work clause would have had a fiscal impact while the extension of the DROP did not.  If the return to work section was left in, it would have delayed passage because additional actuarial studies would have been needed and time would run out and the bill would have died.  Some times you have to settle for 1/2 loaf rather than no loaf at all. 

We need to thank FASA and the Mixon group for staying on top of this bill and our other two bills.  They are really working hard for us.  As it stands now we have a decent chance of getting the DROP and the Health Insurance supplement this year.  The 1.6 to 2% multiplier bill has a harder road to travel because of the large fiscal impact it has on local school districts.  We hope to get an actuarial Study out of the Legislature this year so we can use it next year as evidence of the need etc. 

I want to thank those of you who responded to the call to action on yesterday's SB 788 that was before the Education Committee.  Please stay on alert and read your email at least once a day for future Calls to Action.  If you haven't yet built  your grass roots program of informing your members please start right of way.  We need a strong response when we are asked to help. 

JOHN MILIZIANO