State Budget – Governor’s Line-Item Veto
The Senate introduced 39 Senate Concurrent Resolutions (SCR) to override many of Governor Christie’s specific line-item vetoes of the state budget. The following are bills introduced in the Senate that would impact public education; however, have not been voted on to date:
SCR-208 (Greenstein, Gordon)
. To restore $85,755,000 in State Aid to public schools called: “Additional Formula Aid – Above Adequacy Districts.”
SCR-209 (Whelan, Gill).
To restore $404,090,000 in State Aid to public schools called: “Additional Formula Aid – Below Adequacy districts.”
SCR-214 (Sarlo, Lesniak).
To restore $6,480,000 cut by Governor Christie for non-public Technology Initiative aid to provide non-public school pupils with computers, educational software, distance learning equipment and other technologies that can improve their education.
SCR-223 (Sweeney).
To restore $7.9 million cut by Governor Christie to the $100.5 million
Early Childhood Intervention Program. This program provides funds to developmentally disabled children under three years of age.
SCR-224 (Turner, Whelan).
To restore appropriations language eliminated by Governor Christie’s line-item veto of the budget. This language would allow a school district receiving State Aid greater than its original State Aid notification to increase the district’s general fund expenditures for student-focused priorities and not on administrative expenses.
SCR-225 (Sacco, Stack).
To restore appropriation language that was eliminated by Governor Christie’s line-item veto of the budget. This language would prohibit the State (commissioner of education) from using a school district’s surplus funds as a factor in the allocation of State Aid.
Two bills, SCR-211 and SCR-226 came up for a vote on the floor of the Senate; however, did not receive sufficient votes to override the governor’s line-item veto of the budget.
SCR-211 (Ruiz, Rice). This concurrent resolution would restore the total amount of State funding that was included in the budget bill ($31,019,000) to the New Jersey Higher Education Commission for Opportunity Program Grants. The Opportunity Program Grants are administered by the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education in conjunction with the Educational Opportunity Fund. These grants are awarded to students during the academic year to assist qualified students in meeting certain college expenses, such as fees, books, room, and transportation - - those expenses not covered by other State tuition and grant programs. NJEA supported the concurrent resolution.
SCR-226 (Lesniak, Whelan).
This concurrent resolution would restore the elimination of an appropriation and a related budget language provision in the annual appropriations act for Fiscal Year 2012 that were eliminated by the Governor's line-item veto. The Grants-In-Aid appropriation of $3,000,000 for New Jersey After 3, and the related language provision, provide for the awarding of grants by New Jersey After 3, Inc, for funding programs, activities, functions and facilities consistent with recommendations and proposals of the New Jersey After 3 Advisory Committee. New Jersey After 3 is a private, non-profit organization that is dedicated to expanding and improving after school opportunities for New Jersey's children. New Jersey After 3 programs expand learning time in public schools by more than 40% each school day across urban, suburban, and rural communities through a specific, evidence-based program model. New Jersey After 3 serves more than 5,000 students in 35 public schools. NJEA supported the concurrent resolution.