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2008 SESSION

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Senate Committee on Education and Health
Subcommittee Public Education

Blevins (Chairman), Howell, Ruff, Locke, Miller, J.C.

Clerk: Jocelyn R. Lance
Staff: Jessica Eades, Brenda Edwards
Date of Meeting: January 21, 2008
Time and Place: Monday, 1/2 hr. after adjournment, 4th Fl East Conf. Rm, GAB

S.B. 48 School teachers; school boards to ensure that all are provided planning time.

Patron: Whipple

Planning time for school teachers. Requires school boards to ensure that all school teachers are provided at least three hours a week of unencumbered, self-directed planning time.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-291.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to planning time for teachers.

084669352

S.B. 124 Public schools; Superintendent to develop guidelines eliminating trans fatty foods served.

Patron: Edwards

Superintendent of Public Instruction; eliminating trans fats.  Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop guidelines with the goal of eliminating foods containing trans fatty acids from public schools. The gradual elimination shall begin with the elimination of trans fats from vegetable oils used in school cafeterias. The final goal shall be to eliminate trans fats in all (i) foods sold as part of the official school breakfast and lunch programs, (ii) foods sold in vending machines on school grounds, and (iii) competitive foods sold during school hours.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-23 of the Code of Virginia, relating to trans fats in public schools.

087974228

S.B. 326 Career and technical education; industry certification.

Patron: Wagner

Career and technical education; industry certification.  Requires the Board of Education to develop a plan for increasing the number of students receiving industry certification and state licensure as part of their career and technical education. The plan shall include an annual goal for school divisions, which may be based on the adequate yearly progress calculation used to measure academic improvement. School divisions shall report annually to the Board the number of students obtaining such credentials or licensure.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 22.1-227.1 and 22.1-253.13:4 of the Code of Virginia, relating to industry certifications and licensure in career and technical education.

084620340

S.B. 356 Textbook purchases; permits local school boards to enter into contracts with publishers.

Patron: Watkins

Textbook purchasing contracts. Permits local school boards to enter into contracts with publishers for the purchase of textbooks. The bill expands the definition of textbook to include print, electronic, online, and other manipulatives-based programs. The bill reorganizes the textbook purchasing process and repeals several sections of outdated code. Also provides that if consumable materials are sold to students, the local school board must provide those materials at a reduced price, or free of charge, to students who are unable to afford them.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 22.1-238, 22.1-239, 22.1-241, 22.1-242, and 22.1-243 of the Code of Virginia and to repeal §§ 22.1-240, 22.1-244 through 22.1-251, and 22.1-253 of the Code of Virginia, relating to textbook purchasing.

085662348

S.B. 376 School divisions, local; required to publish budget on website.

Patron: Stuart

Local school divisions; annual budget.  Requires local school divisions to publish their annual budget on the local school division website. If there is no local school division website, the budget must be available in hard copy.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-93 of the Code of Virginia, relating to publication of the approved annual budget for school purposes.

087742792

S.B. 438 Character education; adds humane education in treatment of companion animals to programs.

Patron: Vogel

Character education; humane education.  Adds that humane education, including compassion and responsibility in the treatment of companion animals, may be covered in character education programs.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-208.01 of the Code of Virginia, relating to character education.

087059352

S.B. 537 School boards, local; required to develop policies for changing students grades.

Patron: Barker

Local school boards; grade-changing policies.  Requires local school boards to develop and implement policies specifying the criteria and procedures for changing any grade given to a student.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-79.3 of the Code of Virginia, relating to policies for changing student grades.

081116201

S.B. 557 Physical examinations; completion thereof within 24 months prior to entering public school.

Patron: Obenshain

Preadmission physical examinations. Provides that a pupil's comprehensive physical examination completed within the 24 months prior to the date such pupil first enters a public kindergarten or elementary school is acceptable so long as the physical examination was performed prior to the pupil's attending a public pre-kindergarten program.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-270 of the Code of Virginia, relating to physical examinations for first-time students.

086252288

S.B. 640 Family life education; adds mental health education & awareness to list of topics to be covered.

Patron: Ticer

Family life education; mental health.  Adds mental health education and awareness, in order to reduce  the stigma of mental illness, to the list of topics to be covered in family life education curricula.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-207.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to family life education; mental health.

080747336

S.B. 655 Contractors; employees having direct contact with students on school property

Patron: Newman

Contractors; employees having direct contact with students on school property; penalty.  Provides that the contractor must certify that all persons having direct contact with students on school property under a contract for the provision of services have not been convicted of a felony barrier crime.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-296.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to data on convictions for certain crimes required; penalty.

084614612