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News & Press: Policy Update

Policy Update: General Assembly’s Work Drawing to a Close

Friday, April 30, 2021  

112th General Assembly
Policy Update

April 30, 2021

General Assembly’s Work Drawing to a Close 

The General Assembly is moving quickly toward adjournment.  The current plan is for the first session of the 112th General Assembly to adjourn sine die sometime this next week. This week saw the House and Senate finance committees approve all the key bills necessary for approving the state’s budget.  This is when the final bills awaiting consideration move quickly through the committee structure or are removed from consideration.  Only a handful of committees remain open to consider the final bills.  Below is a summary of actions taken this week on some remaining bills TICUA is monitoring.

Student Aid Bills Passed
Several student aid bills made it through the House and Senate this week.  The following legislative proposals were funded for passage and are awaiting Governor Bill Lee’s signature:

HB1150/SB1173 – modifies the Helping Heroes grant.  This bill adds any service expeditionary medal identified in rules and regulations promulgated by TSAC to the list of qualifying awards for purposes of the Helping Heroes grants.  This bill removes the following provisions of present law concerning the Helping Heroes Act of 2008: (1) The provision that limits grant eligibility to semesters that commence prior to the eighth anniversary of the veteran's honorable discharge from military service; and (2) The requirement that TSAC award the grants each year on a first come, first served basis and the annual $750,000 cap on the total amount of all Helping Heroes grant awards.  

HB471/SB1157 – makes Moore Tech. in Memphis eligible for the Dual Enrollment grant. 
Home School Bill Moves to Full Chambers
The bill (HB646/SB458) which proposes to modify the home school requirements for Hope Scholarship eligibility was passed by the Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee.  The bill is calendared for final consideration in both the House and Senate this next week.  The measure eliminates the one-year home schooling requirement and allows home school students to qualify for the Hope Scholarship with a 21 ACT score or a 3.0 GPA on two dual enrollment courses. This legislative proposal is expected to pass and be sent to the Governor next week.
Legislation Waiting for Action
There is a small backlog of bills awaiting action in both the House and Senate finance committees.  Typically, this does not bode well for the proposed legislation.  If the sponsors have not been notified that the measures will be funded, they will be removed from consideration for this year.  Bills awaiting action include:  

HB139/SB722 – expands the Hope Foster Care Grant. This bill expands the grant to students who, after reaching the age of 17, were placed in state custody, permanent guardianship by the department, or made eligible for adoption.  The Senate version has passed the full chamber but the House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee will not consider it until Monday.  This measure seems likely to pass.

SB229/HB6 is sponsored by Sen. Joey Hensley and Rep. Scott Cepicky.  The legislation would create a four-year pilot program for Tennessee Promise completion grants.  The grants would be made available to students who have financial strains which would keep them from remaining enrolled full-time to complete their Associate degree or certificate.  The pilot program would provide $250,000 each year for the pilot to address immediate student financial hardships. The companion bills are awaiting consideration in their respective finance committees on Monday.

SB482/HB752, sponsored by Sen. Ferrell Haile and Rep. Mark White would make the first four courses taken under a dual enrollment grant to be funded at the cost of in-state tuition and mandatory fees established annually for community colleges.  The bill will move to the House floor but remains in the Senate Finance, Ways, and Means, Committee where it is calendared to be heard on Monday.
LEA Teacher Education Endorsement Bill Still in Play  
The remaining bill impacting teacher preparation programs is awaiting consideration in both the House and Senate finance committees. Rep. Terry Weaver and Sen. Janice Bowling are sponsoring (HB1534/SB653) which, as amended, would allow LEAs to create district teacher training for the purpose of adding additional endorsements for those who are currently employed by the LEA.  The House amendment allows for a waiver for the Praxis if the district can verify that that teacher has the content competency.  The Senate’s amendment requires passage of the necessary Praxis exams for the additional endorsement.  

There was a move this week to remove the fiscal note which would allow the bill to bypass the finance committees and be referred to the Calendar committees which is the final step before being considered by full the chambers.  Before action could be taken in the Calendar committees, however, bills were referred back to their respective finance committees for consideration next Monday. 

If the House and Senate move their respective versions out of the Finance, Ways, and Means Committees, the bills will most likely end up in a conference committee to iron out this key difference.

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