HB 1

ALARIO Provides for the ordinary operating expenses of state government.

HCR 13

MORRELL Urges and requests Congress to provide sufficient funding for full implementation of the "No Child Left Behind Act" of 2001. Enrolled

HCR 20

FANNIN Memorializes congress to support an amendment to the proposed federal budget for fiscal year 2005 to fully fund the "No Child Left Behind Act" of 2001. Enrolled.

HCR 77

GALLOT Requests BESE to study cost issues relative to the implementation of the "No Child Left Behind Act" of 2001 and to determine any potential costs associated with change in the state’s school and district accountability system to comply with the Act and, should the state not comply with the Act, any potential loss of federal funding; further, requests BESE to submit a written report on its findings to the House and Senate Committees on Education prior to the beginning of the 2005 Regular Session. Enrolled.

HCR 88

J. H. SMITH Requests BESE to revise the state's definition of "highly qualified" teacher that is required by the "No Child Left Behind Act" to be similar to such definitions established in the States of Ohio and Arkansas and to submit a written report on the status on such provisions to the House and Senate Committee's on education no later than June 1, 2004. Enrolled.

HB 96

CRANE (Act 146) Allows BESE to disqualify an applicant for employment or for a license, permit, or certificate for an occupation, trade, or profession based solely on the applicant having a prior felony conviction. Effective 8/15/04.

HB 173

CRANE (Act 243) Specifies June 30^th as the date by which school social workers, school speech language-pathologists and audiologists, and school psychologists must receive national certification in order to receive the salary supplement during the immediately following school year and permits BESE to determine the date by which school boards must submit verification documentation rather than requiring submission by August 1.

HB 213

CRANE (Act 198) Specifies that the state advisory panel for children with disabilities shall be appointed by BESE instead of the Department of Education and that the panel shall advise BESE rather than the Department.

HB 258

CRANE (492) To specify that children with exceptionalities enrolled in state-operated facilities and receiving special education services provided by the special school district shall be enrolled as residents of such facilities; specifies eligible children enrolled in state-operated mental health facilities and receiving appropriate educational services by the special school district shall be enrolled as a resident of such facilities; authorizes the special school district to enter into inter-agency agreements with other state agencies to provide appropriate educational services, including special education and related services, to any eligible child who is not a resident of a state operated facility but who is in the care or custody of a public or private department, agency, or institution.

SB 334

HAINKEL Authorizes health plans to offer mandate-free coverage to individuals and small groups on an optional basis; requires health insurers to continue offering coverage that includes all mandates; requires health insurers offering mandate-free coverage to disclose benefits not included at the time of application.

NOTE:  Our opposition, together with the opposition of many other individuals and organizations, could not stop this train.

Enrolled and sent to the Governor.

HB 699

DURAND (Act 252) Clarifies that medical records related to alcohol and drug abuse treatment can not be provided through authorization or subpoena absent compliance with federal regulations related to alcohol and drug abuse treatment, education, training, etc. and that DHH facilities are programs to which the federal regulations apply.

SB 869

JONES (Substitute for SB 736) Requires an appointing authority in making appointments to any Board, Commission, Council, Authority, or other similar entity that has statewide jurisdiction to give due consideration to the demographics of the population of the state, including but not limited to geography, gender, and race; provides that no person shall have any right of action against an appointing authority because of this provision.