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Gov. Rick Perry vetoed 35 bills on June 19, including three education-related bills. Legislation that was not vetoed by June 21 became law. The three education bills were:
HB 130 by Rep. Patrick/Sen. Zaffirini
Created a $25 million grant program under which pre-kindergarten programs could expand to full-day programs, with quality controls including an approved curriculum and class size limits.
Excerpt from Perry statement on HB 130:
Pursuant to my veto of House Bill No. 130 and approval of the state budget, the $25 million appropriated for House Bill No. 130 should be used to expand the number of students served by the existing grant program. As a result, TEA will be equipped to provide assistance to half-day pre-kindergarten programs in districts whose third graders have scored below the state average on the reading portion of TAKS for the past three years.
Under the funding formula for the existing grant program, $25 million would serve more than 27,000 students over the next biennium, which is 21,000 students more than the estimated 6,800 students that would have been served under the bill’s proposed program – or a 305 percent increase. Expanding our current grant program, rather than creating an additional pre-kindergarten program, will serve more students with greater needs.
HB 2656 – by Rep. Doug Miller/Sen. Duncan
Changed the composition of the TRS Director's council to comprise a majority of employee representatives. The current board includes four employee representatives (one retiree, one higher education representative, and two active employees) and five non-member financial experts. The bill would have replaced one of the financial expert positions with an additional retiree.
Excerpt from Perry statement on HB 2656:
House Bill No. 2656 decreases the number of Teacher Retirement System (TRS) board members with financial expertise, an inappropriate adjustment in these uncertain economic times…. The significance and ramifications of the board’s decisions on the futures of those who steward our children’s education make it imprudent to dilute the board’s financial expertise with House Bill No. 2656.
HB 518 by Rep. Kolkhorst/Sen. Van de Putte
Established loan repayment programs for certain speech-language pathologists and audiologists, including those employed in a public school, and for certain math and science teachers.
Excerpt from Perry statement on HB 518:
Rather than creating new programs, the state should focus on fully funding the four main programs to make financial aid available to more students. The 2010–2011 state budget includes significant increases in funding for these key financial aid programs, which will provide assistance to more students than ever before. ….Additionally, the state already provides loan repayment assistance for math and science teachers through the Teach for Texas Loan Repayment Assistance Program, so another program for math and science teachers is duplicative.
Updated: 06/23/09
