Provided by the Smith Hill Report, 6-23-15
Music Education Requirement (S0459A Picard, House Floor) (H5776A Morin, House Floor) The RIFTHP supports this act which would encourage all public secondary schools managed or controlled by the state to provide instruction in performing arts, including musical ensembles, as part of their curriculum. The bill passed the Senate on June 10th and was sent to the House Finance Committee on June 11th. Both bills are scheduled for a vote on the House Floor on June 23rd.
• Teacher Certification – Notice of Renewal (S0155Aaa Picard, House Health, Education and Welfare ) (H6023 Newberry, House Health, Education and Welfare) The RIFTHP supports this act which would require the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to provide email notice to teachers and other licensed public school personnel when any action of recertification, revocation, or repeal of their license is proposed and pending. Such notice would be issued at least ninety (90) days prior to the proposed action. The bill passed the Senate on June 10th and was sent to the House Health, Education and Welfare Committee on June 11th. The House version is also currently in House Health, Education and Welfare.
• Schools – Administration of Narcan (H5047A Bennett, Senate Education) (S0154A Goldin, House Health, Education and Welfare) This act would require all public middle schools, junior high schools and high schools to maintain opioid antagonists on the school premises for administration in an emergency to pupils or staff suspected of having an opioid-related drug overdose by school personnel. This act would also provide immunity to school personnel for the administration of an opioid antagonist in a school setting. The bill passed the House on June 17th and was sent to the Senate Education Committee on June 18th. The Senate version passed the Senate June 4th and was sent to the House Health, Education and Welfare Committee on June 5th.
• School Closing Days – Virtual Education (S0366A Picard, House Health, Education and Welfare) This act would provide for the establishment of a virtual education plan by school districts for use during inclement weather, with the approval and consent of the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education. The bill passed the Senate on June 17th and was sent to the House Health, Education and Welfare Committee on June 18th.
• Storage of Epinephrine in Schools (S0084A Felag, House Health, Education and Welfare) This act would allow the storage of epinephrine injections by school departments for the purposes of administration on an emergency basis to students who do not have prior written authorization of a parent. The bill passed the Senate on June 17th and was sent to the House Health, Education and Welfare Committee on June 18th.
• Special Education Services – Age (H6022 Azzinaro, Senate Education) This act would make clear that a disabled child would have all statutory rights available to them until their twenty-first birthday or until completion of the program or school year in which they were enrolled before their twenty-first birthday, whichever occurs later. The bill passed the House on June 18th and was sent to the Senate Education Committee the same day.
• Teacher Terminations – Full Board (S0201A DiPalma, Passed) (H6049A Ruggiero, Senate Floor) This act provides that any teacher who has received a statement of cause for dismissal could request a hearing before the school committee or school board. This hearing would not have to be before the full committee or board, but any decisions rendered would have to be approved by a majority of the full board. Members voting on such a decision would need to have been present at the original hearing. The bill was signed into law by the Governor on June 19th. The House version is scheduled for a vote on the Senate Floor on June 23rd.