On Monday, February 22, at 7:45 am the SD House Education committee will take on 6 bills. This is compiled using the agenda at the time of composing this post. Agendas can and do change!
One way to listen to these meetings live is via the audio links on the Schedule page of the LRC website. While there you can also view the status board for the meetings as they are going on.
*** Wednesday is crossover day. That means this is the last day this committee has to get any House bills out to the floor!
HB 1152 (SoDakLiberty Posts) – Create the new frontiers program to support innovative research by South Dakota companies.
SoDakLiberty Stance: Undecided
Prime Sponsors: Rep Mark Mickelson (R, Dist 13) and Sen Gary Cammack (R, Dist 29) are the prime sponsors.
This was an empty hoghouse vehicle bill in House Commerce. It was then deferred to House Education.
The bill is apparently related to HB 1213 (SoDakLiberty Posts), which also deals with the new frontiers program. I’m guessing in this meeting we will get to see the actual content meant for the bill.
HB 1220 (SoDakLiberty Posts) – Direct the secretary of education to rescind a GEAR UP grant waiver.
SoDakLiberty Stance: Undecided
Prime Sponsors: Rep Julie Bartling (D, Dist 21) and Sen Troy Heinert (D, Dist 26) are the prime sponsors.
Below is the whole bill:
Section 1. That the code be amended by adding a NEW SECTION to read:The secretary of the Department of Education is hereby directed to rescind a waiver that the Department of Education requested from the federal government as part of the 2011application for a state grant under the Gaining Early Awareness And Readiness For Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) state grants program. The recision of the waiver will allow grant funding to be used to fund scholarships for Native American students. It is the intent of the Legislature that fifty to seventy-five percent of the total funding received through this grant go toward scholarships for Native American students as is the original intent of the federal law creating the grant program.
As I read through this bill it occurred to me this should have been yanked by the feds already. There has been plenty of publicly available evidence the program was not being used as intended. As to this bill, I would say get rid of GEAR UP. The current SD DOE has proven unfit to make sure the program is administered properly.
HB 1222 (SoDakLiberty Posts) – Accommodate legislation relating to shared services in schools.
SoDakLiberty Stance: Undecided
Prime Sponsors: Rep Spencer Hawley (D, Dist 7) and Sen Billie Sutton (D, Dist 21) are the prime sponsors.
This is a hoghouse vehicle bill with no actual legislation. It is just waiting to be filled with legislation or killed.
BILLS FOR POSSIBLE ACTION WHICH HAVE HAD PRIOR HEARING.
HB 1146 (SoDakLiberty Posts) – Authorize the Governor to enter agreements with Indian tribes regarding the high school equivalency tests administered on Indian reservations.
SoDakLiberty Stance: Undecided
Prime Sponsors: Rep Shawn Bordeaux (D, Dist 26A) and Sen Troy Heinert (D, Dist 26) are the prime sponsors.
HB 1146 has already had a hearing. This would allow the Governor to enter into a five-year agreement with the tribes about high school equivalency tests.
HB 1147 (SoDakLiberty Posts) – Prohibit school districts from using school or athletic team names, mascots, or nicknames that are determined to be racially derogatory or discriminatory.
SoDakLiberty Stance: Undecided
Prime Sponsors: Rep Shawn Bordeaux (D, Dist 26A) and Sen Troy Heinert (D, Dist 26) are the prime sponsors.
This has already had one hearing, which I haven’t had time to listen to.
This would basically make the South Dakota High School Activities Association (SDHSAA) receive complaints about school athletic teams names, mascots, or nicknames. The SDHSAA would then work with the nearest tribe to determine if the claim is true. If found to be in the wrong, that school would need to change their name, mascot or nickname. The school can continue to use certain stuff already bought in some cases.
My biggest question here: Do we want this to be part of the SDHSAA’s mission? Especially since those fighting against the legislature mandating changes to the SDHSAA’s transgender policy say the SDHSAA cannot be mandated to by the State because the SDHSAA gets its power from the members schools, and not the state.
HB 1148 (SoDakLiberty Posts) – Require schools to provide instruction on South Dakota’s tribal history, culture, and government.
SoDakLiberty Stance: Undecided
Prime Sponsors: Rep Shawn Bordeaux (D, Dist 26A) and Sen Troy Heinert (D, Dist 26) are the prime sponsors.
This has already had one hearing, which I haven’t had time to listen to.
This bill would mandate schools provide instruction on South Dakota’s tribal history, culture, and government. Content provided by the DOE would be utilized, and schools would worth with local tribes, if applicable.
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