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2019 SESSION

18103172D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 19
Offered January 10, 2018
Prefiled December 27, 2017
Continuing the Joint Committee of the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education and Health to Study the Future of Public Elementary and Secondary Education in the Commonwealth. Report.
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Patron-- Bell, Richard P.
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, House Joint Resolution No. 112 (2016) and Senate Joint Resolution No. 85 (2016) established the Joint Committee of the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education and Health to Study the Future of Public Elementary and Secondary Education in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the joint committee held several meetings during the 2016 and 2017 interims to conduct such study and made several legislative recommendations to the General Assembly in advance of the 2018 Regular Session of the General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, the joint committee recommends that it be continued for one additional year to further study and make further recommendations on the future of public elementary and secondary education in the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Joint Committee of the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education and Health to Study the Future of Public Elementary and Secondary Education in the Commonwealth be continued. The joint committee shall have a total membership of 13 members, consisting of seven members of the House Committee on Education to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates upon the recommendation of the Chairman of the House Committee on Education and six members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules upon the recommendation of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education and Health. The current members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates shall be subject to reappointment. The current members appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules shall continue to serve until replaced. Vacancies shall be filled by the original appointing authority. The joint committee shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among its membership.

In conducting its study, the joint committee shall:

1. Continue to collaborate with the Board of Education, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Standards of Learning Innovation Committee, and other interested stakeholders to study (i) the need for revisions to or reorganization of the Standards of Quality with a particular emphasis on the effective use of educational technology, (ii) emerging education issues in the Commonwealth, and (iii) the future of public elementary and secondary education in the Commonwealth and make legislative recommendations, as necessary;

2. Continue to maintain subcommittees in distinct subject matter areas. Members of such subcommittees shall include representatives of the Department of Education, the Standards of Learning Innovation Committee, the Virginia Association of Counties, the Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals, the Virginia Association of School Superintendents, the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals, the Virginia Education Association, the Virginia Municipal League, the Virginia School Boards Association, and such other interested stakeholders as the joint committee deems appropriate; and

3. Make recommendations to the General Assembly for a permanent legislative commission to study the future of public elementary and secondary education in the Commonwealth.

Administrative staff support shall continue to be provided by the Office of the Clerk of the House of Delegates. Legal, research, policy analysis, and other services as requested by the joint committee shall continue to be provided by the Division of Legislative Services. Additional research and advisory services as requested by the joint committee shall continue to be provided by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission and the schools of education of each baccalaureate public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth. Technical assistance shall continue to be provided by the Department of Education. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint committee for this study, upon request.

The joint committee shall be limited to four meetings for the 2018 interim, and the direct costs of this study shall not exceed $24,440 without approval as set out in this resolution. Approval for unbudgeted nonmember-related expenses shall require the written authorization of the chairman of the joint committee and the respective Clerk. If a companion joint resolution of the other chamber is agreed to, written authorization of both Clerks shall be required.

No recommendation of the joint committee shall be adopted if a majority of the House members or a majority of the Senate members of the joint committee (i) vote against the recommendation and (ii) vote for the recommendation to fail notwithstanding the majority vote of the joint committee.

The joint committee shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2018, and the chairman shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2019 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall state whether the joint committee intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may approve or disapprove expenditures for this study, extend or delay the period for the conduct of the study, or authorize additional meetings during the 2018 interim.