|
Louisiana Speech-Language-Hearing Association
|
|
LSHA still has Legislative goals and we need ALL LSHA members to help accomplish them. Contact: legislation@lsha.org LEGISLATIVE UPDATES FOR THE 2010 REGULAR SESSION Last updated 6/19/10 Senator Nevers proposed an amendment for $16,250,000 to reimburse local school systems for salary supplements to all nationally certified personnel. He testified on the Senate floor that these funds would come out of the Department of Education's general fund. The amendment passed with a vote of 24 to 14. Funding is presently back in HB1. It is time now to thank our Senators and especially thank Senator Nevers! The next step in the process will be in the hands of Governor Jindal. He will have an opportunity to keep this amendment or veto it.
HB 1 will be special order of the day on the
senate floor on Friday, June 18, 2010.
All amendments put in the bill by the HOR have been CUT.
Including salary supplements for school psychologist, speech &
language Audiologist & Pathologist and school social workers.
To All:
CALL YOU SENATORS NOW. Get a support
commitment. Don't take no for an answer. Cuts were made to duplicate
contracts in the DOE to cover this appropriation. This is a
commitment the state made to you for your higher level of
services to the students and the school systems.
EMAIL YOUR SENATORS NOW. Ask for their
support commitment.
Our funding of the salary supplements is supported by the
Superintendents Association, the School Board
Executive Association, the Louisiana School Board
Association, the Louisiana Federation of Teachers
and the Louisiana Association of Educators. Plus,
the Louisiana School Psychological Association, The
Louisiana School Social Workers Association, The
Louisiana Speech & Language Audiologist & Pathologist
Association, The Louisiana Educational Diagnostician's
Association.
Senator Nevers will offer an amendment to replace the funds when the
bill comes to the senate floor. Ask your senator to support this
proposed amendment.
If you watch the senate chamber video during the hearing on the
bill, the Department of Education is Schedule 19. That is when the
amendment will be offered.
PLEASE do not let this opportunity pass without
your best effort. This may be the last chance we get to secure the
funding this year!
LSHA Legislative Update: Now that HB 1 has passed the House, (please be sure and thank Representative Pope) it is being referred to Senate Finance where it will be changed significantly again. Senate Finance has been meeting and hearing from the Commissioner of Administration and the Department Heads about the effect of the amendments added by Appropriations. Senate Finance will only have about a week to work on HB 1 before Finance will have to report it out so the full Senate can debate it – no later than June 18.
History...
Initially, the House Appropriations Committee approved an amendment budgeting $8.7 million to pay the state-approved stipends for full-time teachers, administrators and guidance counselors who have earned national certification. The vote to approve the amendment was 23 to one. On the house floor, Representative Nancy Landry argued that we only pay membership fees and that our state licensure is the same as our national licensure. However, Representative Pope offered an amendment that
“Provided, however, that of the funds included in the Total Means of Finance appropriated to Schedule 19-678, State Activities, $7,550,000 shall be allocated for reimbursements to school systems for providing salary supplements to the following: school psychologists having certain credentials issued by the National School Psychology Certification Board; school social workers having certain certificates issued by the National Association of Social Workers; and school speech-language pathologists and audiologists having certain certificates issued by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association”; 6-4-2010; passed by a vote of 64-31.
Members can contact their senators and again request funding of the salary supplement. We want the amendment to stay in HB 1 that has been approved for our salary supplement.
HB 1 is going to Senate Finance Committee first… Senate Finance Committee:
Then HB 1 will be moving to a full Senate vote…
Contact your Senators! Phone calls make more of an impact if you have the time. LSHA MEMBERS,
I would like to ask you to begin making contacts with the Appropriations Committee as well as the Education Committee to encourage support for the proposed bills by Representatives Pope, Harrison, and Senator Nevers.
HB 274 - POPE Provides for appropriations of funds for the state reimbursement to school boards for the payment of salary adjustments for Nationally Certified Teachers, School Counselors, School Psychologists, School Social Workers, and School Speech-Language Pathologists. Referred to Appropriations.
SB 489 - NEVERS Requires the Department of Education to reimburse local school boards annually for payment of the $5,000 salary supplements to Nationally Certified Teachers, school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, and school speech-language pathologists. Referred to Education.
HB 311 - HARRISSON Provides funding to the Department of Education to implement the $5,000 salary supplement for Nationally Certified Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists beginning with fiscal year 2010-2011. Referred to Appropriations
Anyone making direct contact or getting responses from the appropriations or education committee needs to send me that information to legislation@lsha.org or complete the legislative contact form! LSHA MEMBERS,
I would like to ask you to take a moment to thank Representatives Pope, Harrison, and Senator Nevers for their proposed bills that would support our salary supplement. Please note that Senator Nevers' bill will be a holistic solution to our continual fight and create equality among nationally certified personnel.
HB 274 - POPE Provides for appropriations of funds for the state reimbursement to school boards for the payment of salary adjustments for Nationally Certified Teachers, School Counselors, School Psychologists, School Social Workers, and School Speech-Language Pathologists. Referred to Appropriations. SB 489 - NEVERS Requires the Department of Education to reimburse local school boards annually for payment of the $5,000 salary supplements to Nationally Certified Teachers, school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, and school speech-language pathologists. Referred to Education. HB 311 - HARRISSON Provides funding to the Department of Education to implement the $5,000 salary supplement for Nationally Certified Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists beginning with fiscal year 2010-2011. Referred to Appropriations
Kimberly Stafford Legislative Liaison Forms of Interest: SUBCOMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Salary Supplement Legislative Success Chart Academic, Clinical and Exam Requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) in Speech-Language PathologySide-By-Side Comparison (Teacher Certification vs. SLP Certification) RequirementsState of Louisiana Legislative Website Comparison Chart of National Certifications for all Professions
CAN
WE TALK?
TIPS FOR MEETING WITH LEGISLATORS While it may sound intimidating, a
five-minute meeting is all it takes to build a valuable relationship with a
legislator. Legislators want
to hear from constituents, and face-to-face meetings in the district are much
more effective than form letters, e-mails, etc.
When meeting with your legislator:
AFTER THE MEETING:
DO NOT:
Legislative INFO was last updated June 19, 2010
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Contact US: LSHA; 8550 United Plaza Blvd.; Suite 1001; Baton Rouge, LA 70809; (225) 922-4512; Fax: (225) 408-4422; Email: lsha@pncpa.com |