Introduction

This 2005 Legislative Summary provides you with a snapshot of information on key pieces of education related legislation either enacted into law or vetoed by the Governor.

This report is designed to be interactive so is best used online. Some helpful hints in reviewing:

q Use the Table of Contents to maneuver to a particular area of interest. Do so by reviewing the list and, when you find something of interest to you, perform a left mouse click on the page number. This will bring you to that section. Unfortunately, I haven’t figured out an easy way for you to get back to the Table of Contents so you’ll simply have to scroll back.

q The report is organized in the following manner:

o Section 1: Newly enacted key resolutions and public laws which most significantly impact education. That is, legislation which made it through the General Assembly and passed into law either because of the Governor’s signing it or him allowing it to become law without his signature. [Note that resolutions – with limited exceptions - do not require action by the Governor. If they are House resolutions only, then they require passage by the House only. If they are Senate resolutions only, then they require passage by the Senate only. If they are Joint Resolutions, they require passage by both the House and the Senate].

o Section 2: Key legislation tracked by the Department which made it through the General Assembly but was vetoed by the Governor.

o Section 3: Key education related legislation awaiting the Governor’s action.

q I’ve included a hyperlink in each Public Law, Resolution or piece of legislation. Click on this and it will take you to either the law or resolution as enacted or to the last version of the legislation that was acted upon by the General Assembly.

Key Enacted 2005 Legislation

2005 Public Law Chapter 74 – Education (Health and Wellness)

An Act Relating Education	Sponsor: Representative McNamara
Public Law Chapter 74	Enactment Date: June 24, 2005 (Signed)
Public Law Link: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/PublicLaws/law05/law05074.htm
Companion Law, if any: Chapter 76
Brief Description: To establish a subcommittee of the School Committee to decrease obesity and address school health and wellness policies for students and employees consistent with section 16-21-28. The subcommittee will make recommendations regarding the district's health education curriculum and instruction, physical education curriculum and instruction, and nutrition and physical activity policies to decrease obesity and enhance the health and well being of students and employees. Membership shall include both school personnel as well as parents, members of the business community and of the general public. It must be chaired by a member of the School Committee.
District Action Needed, if any: The Superintendent shall review this statute and recommend to the School Committee how to proceed with implementation. Said recommendations should be made no later than the 2^nd meeting in September 2005.

2005 Public Law Chapter 75 – Sex Offender Notification

An Act Relating to the Sexual Offender Registration and Community Notification	Sponsor: Senator McCaffrey (on behalf of the Attorney General)
Public Law Chapter 75	Enactment Date: June 24, 2005 (Signed)
Public Law Link: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/PublicLaws/law05/law05075.htm
Companion Law, if any: Chapter 80
Brief Description: This requires local police departments to disclose to the general public information regarding level 2 and level 3 registered sexual offenders as well as notification on the Rhode Island state police website and the Rhode Island Unified Court system website.
District Action Needed, if any: Per Rhode Island Parole Board Guidelines, draft and implement policy and procedures regarding providing student addresses to police for them to use to notify parents as needed.

2005 Public Law Chapter 76 – Education (Health and Wellness)

An Act Relating Education	Sponsor: Senator Roberts
Public Law Chapter 76	Enactment Date: June 24, 2005 (Signed)
Public Law Link: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/PublicLaws/law05/law05076.htm
Companion Law, if any: Chapter 74
Brief Description: To establish a subcommittee of the School Committee to decrease obesity and address school health and wellness policies for students and employees consistent with section 16-21-28. The subcommittee will make recommendations regarding the district's health education curriculum and instruction, physical education curriculum and instruction, and nutrition and physical activity policies to decrease obesity and enhance the health and well being of students and employees. Membership shall include both school personnel as well as parents, members of the business community and of the general public. It must be chaired by a member of the School Committee.
District Action Needed, if any: The Superintendent shall review this statute and recommend to the School Committee how to proceed with implementation. Said recommendations should be made no later than the 2^nd meeting in September 2005.

2005 Public Law Chapter 80 – Sex Offender Notification

An Act Relating to the Sexual Offender Registration and Community Notification	Sponsor: Representative Lally (on behalf of the Attorney General)
Public Law Chapter 80	Enactment Date: June 24, 2005 (Signed)
Public Law Link: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/PublicLaws/law05/law05080.htm
Companion Law, if any: Chapter 75
Brief Description: This requires local police departments to disclose to the general public information regarding level 2 and level 3 registered sexual offenders as well as notification on the Rhode Island state police website and the Rhode Island Unified Court system website.
District Action Needed, if any: Per Rhode Island Parole Board Guidelines, draft and implement policy and procedures regarding providing student addresses to police for them to use to notify parents as needed.

2005 Public Law Chapter 117 – Fiscal Year 2006 State Budget, Articles 1 and 5 - Appropriations

An Act Making Appropriations for the Support of the State for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2006	Sponsor: Representative Mumford
Public Law Chapter 117 – Articles 1 and 5	Enactment Date: June 30, 2005 (Signed)
Public Law Link: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/PublicLaws/law05/law05117.htm (this links only to the title and table of content pages/links to the funding sections are below/links to other pertinent articles will be provided separately) FY 2006 Appropriations Article 1 Substitute A as amended: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/PublicLaws/law05/law05117-01.htm FY 2005 Supplemental Appropriations Article 5: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/PublicLaws/law05/law05117-05.htm
Companion Public Law, if any: None
Brief Description: Provides supplemental funding for the FY 2005 budget and funding for the FY 2006 budget. The various budget articles amend statutory policies to support the funding aspects of the budget. Articles most pertinent to the District are addressed separately.

2005 Public Law Chapter 117 – Fiscal Year 2006 State Budget, Article 7 – Pension Reform

An Act Making Appropriations for the Support of the State for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2006 – Article 7 – Public Officers and Employees Retirement System	Sponsor: Representative Mumford
Public Law Chapter 117 – Article 7	Enactment Date: June 30, 2005 (Signed)
Public Law Link: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/PublicLaws/law05/law05117-07.htm
Companion Public Law, if any: None
Brief Description: This article is also known as the Pension Reform Article. It provides the details as to the changes made to the State Employees’ and Teachers’ Pension Plans. Most of the changes to these plans effect only new hires after July 1, 2005 or those state employees or teachers who have not met the 10 year vesting requirements. Changes include changes to the pension rate applied against years of service, the setting of minimum retirement ages and changes to the cost of living adjustments after retirement. See actual Article for details.
District Action Needed, if any: Determine impact on FY 2006 Budget and factor into FY 2007 Budget. Determine if any notifications need to be made by us to affected staff.

2005 Public Law Chapter 117 – Fiscal Year 2006 State Budget, Articles 13 – Education Aid

An Act Making Appropriations for the Support of the State for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2006 – Article 13 – Education Aid	Sponsor: Representative Mumford
Public Law Chapter 117 – Article 13	Enactment Date: June 30, 2005 (Signed)
Public Law Link: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/PublicLaws/law05/law05117-13.htm
Companion Public Law, if any: None
Brief Description: Key aspects of this include: , Requires Districts’ to submit their annual reports to RIDE no later than July 31 of each year , Changes the Student Language Assistance Investment Fund formula so it is based on the total number of students with limited English proficiency rather than the full time equivalents of such students , Changes the funding formula for the Full Day Kindergarten Investment Fund from enrolled students to students reported as a member of the District , Changes the charter school funding formula from enrollment based figures to membership based figures , Extends the moratorium on the approval of new charter schools through the 2007-2008 academic year , Removes the district-level cap on the number of charter schools which can operate within a specific school district , Sets the states’ share for charter school reimbursement at a minimum of 30% of the per pupil amount , Beginning in FY 2006, requires that professional development funds only be spent with the prior approval of the commissioner of elementary and secondary education upon submission of a district level plan which incorporates the school level plans and which details the use of the funds. These plans shall to the extent possible call for professional development activities that are embedded or do not otherwise encroach upon student instruction time. These requirements shall apply to both district-wide professional development activities and professional development activities determined by the school-level committees. , Sets the State’s FY 2006 School Aid Contribution for Tiverton at $5,659,091 , Changes the mandatory school breakfast funding formula to remove the requirement that any costs (excluding transportation) over and above federal reimbursement be borne by the State and not municipalities. New formula only requires the state to set aside “some sum” and to “distribute it based on each district’s proportion of the number of breakfasts served in the prior school year relative to the statewide total in the same year. This subsidy shall augment the nonprofit school food service account and be used for expenses incurred in providing nutritious breakfast meals to students.” , Amends the School Housing Aid Formula
District Action Needed, if any: The Superintendent and his staff should thoroughly review this article and report to the School Committee, no later than the 2^nd meeting in August 2005, the impact this article will have on District programs and funding. Specific attention should be paid to the changes made to the Professional Development Program, the school breakfast program and the school housing aid program. Additionally, as previously discussed, the Superintendent, on behalf of the Committee, shall seek additional local funding to cover the gap between actual state aid and the amount of state aid we anticipated receiving at the time of the 2005 Financial Town Meeting.

2005 Public Law Chapter 177 – Education – Curriculum (Civics Education)

An Act Relating to Education – Curriculum (Civics Education)	Sponsor: Senator Gallo
Public Law Chapter 177	Enactment Date: June 24, 2005 (Signed)
Public Law Link: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/PublicLaws/law05/law05177.htm
Companion Law, if any: Chapter 180
Brief Description: Requires the Board of Regents to develop and adopt a set of grade level standards K-12 in civics education no later than August 31, 2007.
District Action Needed, if any: Participate in development as appropriate.

2005 Public Law Chapter 180 – Education – Curriculum (Civics Education)

An Act Relating to Education – Curriculum (Civics Education)	Sponsor: Representative Story
Public Law Chapter 180	Enactment Date: July 6, 2005 (Signed)
Public Law Link: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/PublicLaws/law05/law05177.htm
Companion Law, if any: Chapter 177
Brief Description: Requires the Board of Regents to develop and adopt a set of grade level standards K-12 in civics education no later than August 31, 2007.
District Action Needed, if any: Participate in development as appropriate.

2005 Public Law Chapter 213 – Education (East Bay Collaborative Authority to Purchase Property)

An Act Relating to Education – Cooperative Service Among School Districts	Sponsor: Representative Anguilla
Public Law Chapter 213	Enactment Date: July 8, 2005 (Effective without Governor’s Signature
Public Law Link: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/PublicLaws/law05/law05213.htm
Companion Law, if any: Chapter 373
Brief Description: Authorizes the East Bay Educational Collaborative to purchase and or sell property to meet their administrative and operational needs provided that a majority of the school committee’s of the member districts approve of any sale and or purchase. This also authorizes EBEC to sell bonds or in others finance such transactions, again with the approval of a majority of the school committee’s of the member districts.
District Action Needed, if any: Review any and all such transactions and determine whether or not to support said transactions.

2005 Public Law Chapter 244 – Education (Performance Enhancing Supplements)

An Act Relating to Education	Sponsor: Senator Tassoni
Public Law Chapter 244	Enactment Date: July 8, 2005 (Signed)
Public Law Link: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/PublicLaws/law05/law05244.htm
Companion Law, if any: Chapter 246
Brief Description: Restricts any teacher, athletic director, sports coach, or other school official or employee from knowingly selling or distributing to students or knowingly promoting the use by students of any performance-enhancing dietary supplement. Further restricts any high school or public or private university or college from accepting any sponsorship or other payment from a performance-enhancing dietary supplement manufacturer to promote such manufacturer's performance-enhancing dietary supplement. It also requires that, beginning September 1, 2006, mandatory first aid training for athletic coaches include health information related to performance enhancing dietary supplements.
District Action Needed, if any: Inform staff of statute and ensure District is in full compliance.

2005 Public Law Chapter 246 – Education (Performance Enhancing Supplements)

An Act Relating to Education	Sponsor: Representative Kilmartin
Public Law Chapter 246	Enactment Date: July 8, 2005 (Signed)
Public Law Link: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/PublicLaws/law05/law05246.htm
Companion Law, if any: Chapter 244
Brief Description: Restricts any teacher, athletic director, sports coach, or other school official or employee from knowingly selling or distributing to students or knowingly promoting the use by students of any performance-enhancing dietary supplement. Further restricts any high school or public or private university or college from accepting any sponsorship or other payment from a performance-enhancing dietary supplement manufacturer to promote such manufacturer's performance-enhancing dietary supplement. It also requires that, beginning September 1, 2006, mandatory first aid training for athletic coaches include health information related to performance enhancing dietary supplements.
District Action Needed, if any: Inform staff of statute and ensure District is in full compliance.

2005 Public Law Chapter 299 – Education – School Department Employees

An Act Relating to Education – School Department Employees	Sponsor: Senator Blais
Public Law Chapter 299	Enactment Date: July 15, 2005 (Signed)
Public Law Link: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/PublicLaws/law05/law05299.htm
Companion Law, if any: Chapter 310
Brief Description: Prohibits cities and towns from requiring that school department employees live within the school district.
District Action Needed, if any: No action necessary

2005 Public Law Chapter 310 – Education – School Department Employees

An Act Relating to Education – School Department Employees	Sponsor: Senator Blais
Public Law Chapter 310	Enactment Date: July 15, 2005 (Signed)
Public Law Link: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/PublicLaws/law05/law05310.htm
Companion Law, if any: Chapter 299
Brief Description: Prohibits cities and towns from requiring that school department employees live within the school district.
District Action Needed, if any: No action necessary

2005 Public Law Chapter 373 - Education (East Bay Collaborative Authority to Purchase Property)

An Act Relating to Education – Cooperative Service Among School Districts