News From the Capitol, June 28, 2024
- MASB Issues Statement on Budget Passage
- House Approves Criminal Sexual Misconduct Package
MASB Issues Statement on Budget Passage
Yesterday, we sent an update on the week’s work to get to a final budget. We are continuing to put together a more detailed summary and will also hold the budget edition of Views From the Capitol on Monday, July 1 at noon, registration is still open.
Below is the statement issued by MASB’s Executive Director, Don Wotruba on the passage:
“The Michigan Association of School Boards is deeply concerned about the budget decisions made last night and the impact they will have on every school across our state. This budget fails to address crucial funding needs in our classrooms, exemplified by a zero-dollar increase to the foundation allowance and a refusal to enact a permanent reduction in the retirement tax burden on schools.
The consequences of this budget decision are grave. Without legislative action to revisit these issues, schools face significant challenges including a freeze in foundation funding, a severe 98% reduction in school safety and mental health support funding, and allocations that complicate responsible financial planning.
We urge legislators to return to Lansing promptly to address these critical shortcomings. It is imperative that Senate Bill 911 or House Bill 5803 be swiftly passed and signed into law by Governor Whitmer to provide long-term financial relief and stability for our schools and educators. The future success of Michigan’s education system depends on decisive action to rectify these budgetary oversights without delay.”
House Approves Criminal Sexual Misconduct Package
Early morning on Thursday, the House passed House Bills 4485 and 4486, part of the package of bills that expand criminal and civil statutes of limitations for sexual misconduct crimes; create a two-year window for claims to be filed retroactively; as well as eliminate governmental immunity if the governmental entity knew or should have known of the sexual misconduct and failed to report it to law enforcement.
House Bill 4485 would eliminate the statute of limitations for criminal sexual conduct. House Bill 4486, the governmental immunity bill, only include universities, colleges and K-12 public schools. This treats victims differently depending on where the incident occurred. This, along with many other concerns with the current language in the bill, have led MASB to be opposed to the bill.
Our other concerns include the retroactivity piece and the possibility of loss of governmental immunity for an incident a school “should have known” about. This phrase is not defined and raises many questions about what it may mean in practice.
The bills now go to the Senate for consideration.
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