SENATE TO TAKE UP EDUCATION REFORM BILL THURSDAY

Lt. Governor David Dewhurst announced today that the Senate intends to consider its version of the plan to reform public education in Texas on Thursday. Late Tuesday night, the House passed its own version of the plan in the form of House Bill 2. According to Dewhurst, the Senate Education committee will take up and consider HB 2 early tomorrow morning, and will substitute the Senate's plan for the House's. The Senate will then vote to suspend the posting rule, which requires that all bills lay out on the intent calendar for two days before they can be considered. If that vote prevails by a four-fifth's majority, then the Senate as a whole will consider the Committee Substitute to House Bill 2.

Dewhurst said that the Senate's plan is essentially the same as what the body approved at the end of last session, with a few changes to reflect some of the agreements made with the House in conference committee. The Senate plan would increase funding to schools, said Dewhurst, by between eight and ten percent over the next biennium.

The Senate will reconvene Thursday, June 30, at 9 a.m.

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