One of the administrative questions first asked of new Senators
is which committees they would like to serve on. The answer was
easy for me: The most important committees for me are education and
agriculture and water resources.
While this was a hectic year in the Legislature, especially
considering the record budget crisis, those of us on the Senate
Education Committee were able to discuss and pass a number of
important measures that will help our schools.
One of the administrative questions first asked of new Senators is which committees they would like to serve on. The answer was easy for me: The most important committees for me are education and agriculture and water resources.
While this was a hectic year in the Legislature, especially considering the record budget crisis, those of us on the Senate Education Committee were able to discuss and pass a number of important measures that will help our schools.
Assemblyman Joe Nation (D-San Rafael) and I worked together on legislation dealing with interdistrict transfers. Nation’s Assembly Bill 97 and Senate Bill 140 will re-authorize laws that allow students to attend school in a district other than their home district so that students can attend school closer to where a parent works or where the child receives daycare. These laws are important because they give parents and schools great flexibility.
Another measure that is very important to teachers is Assembly Bill 1270. This measure was authored by Assemblywoman Corbett (D-San Leandro) and I was the Principal Senate Co-author. This measure allows school districts to offer a “golden handshake” to teachers at or near retirement. This measure will give districts the option of encouraging teachers at the top of the pay scale to retire, to avoid lay-offs for newer teachers.
Assembly Bill 547 is another measure that is very important to me. This legislation will allow National Guard soldiers to pay reduced tuition at state community colleges and universities. Soldiers in the National Guard serve our state when there are floods, earthquakes, riots and acts of terrorism. They deserve our gratitude and I believe this is an excellent way to say thank you. They also should not have to forfeit tuition money they have already paid if they are called to active duty. I received education benefits because of my Air Force service and I think extending benefits to members of the National Guard is the right thing to do.
Overall though, I am pleased with much of the legislation that came out of the Education Committee. I was the lone “no” vote on many pieces of legislation that cut education funding. The cuts were very disappointing to see. I will continue to work to restore that funding and to help streamline bureaucracy to better use our tax dollars.
State Sen. Jeff Denham,
R-Salinas
