The Attack on Teachers Continues.
SB102 (note that Campfield has been allowed to sign-on as co-sponsor) is a first move to enable a change in our retirement system.
Right now, we have a defined amount that, once we retire, will be paid to us until we die. The governor and others want to change this so that we receive only what we have paid-in upon retirement. This relieves the state of any responsibility so the money can be used for something else. State workers get this same retirement for free. They pay nothing – and there has been no mention of doing this to them. TCRS is self-supporting and is the only thing in state government that is truly solvent.
HB 130/SB 113 – sponsored by Rep. Debra Maggart (R-Hendersonville) and Sen. Jack Johnson (R-College Grove). Simply put, this bill would completely repeal the Tennessee Professional Negotiations Act.
- This bill is an attempt to silence the voice of teachers regarding all aspects of employment, including working conditions, salaries, and benefits.
- Teacher working conditions are, in fact, student learning conditions.
SB 102 sponsored by Sen. Dolores Gresham (R-Somerville). This bill would remove from TEA the right to elect teacher representatives on the Board of Trustees of the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS).
- Teachers have every right to be involved in decision-making regarding their hard-earned retirement benefits.
- This change in law would weaken the teacher voice by making retirement board members political appointments.
HB 159/SB 136 sponsored by Rep. Glen Casada (R-College Grove) and Sen. Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro). This bill would prohibit payroll dues deduction for public employees.
- This bill has nothing to do with education reform.
- It is obviously an attempt to weaken the rights of employees and their association.
HB 160/SB 139 sponsored by Rep. Glen Casada (R-College Grove) and Sen. Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro). This bill would make it illegal for TEA’s political action committee to make contributions to any candidate.
- This bill is an overt attempt to silence the collective voice of our Association.
- It is blatantly discriminatory: only affects employee organizations not business groups in any other special interest.
This is the time to speak out — if you wait it may be too late! Contact your legislators now by going to TEA’s Legislative Action Center http://capwiz.com/nea/tn/home/.
Senate Education Committee, Wednesday, February 23, 10:00 a.m.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: GRESHAM (R) CHAIRMAN BERKE (D)) SUMMERVILLE (R) TATE (D) VICE CHAIRMAN BURKS (D TRACY (R) KELSEY (R) SECRETARY CROWE (R) WOODSON (R)
*SB 0102 by *Gresham, Summerville, Kelsey, Tracy, Campfield, Ketron, Bell, Watson, Beavers, Johnson
(HB 0565 by *Hensley) Pensions and Retirement Benefits -
As introduced, changes the method of selection of trustees of TCRS representing teachers and retired teachers from election by the representative assemblies of the Tennessee Education Association and the Tennessee Retired Teachers Association respectively to appointment by the speakers of the senate and the house. – Amends TCA Section 8-34-302 and Section 8-34-303.
SB 0294 by *Gresham (*HB 0179 by *Casada)
Local Education Agencies – As introduced, prohibits LEAs from denying equal access to LEA employees to all domestic professional employees’ organizations offering membership to all certificated personnel. – Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 2.
SB 0330 by *Summerville, Gresham (*HB 0233 by *Brooks H) Education, Higher – As introduced, requires public institutions of higher education to give equal access to any domestic professional educators’ organization if access to students in teacher training programs is granted to any other professional educators’ organization. – Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 5; Title 49, Chapter 7; Title 49, Chapter 8 and Title 49, Chapter 9.
SB 0309 by *Gresham (*HB 0202 by *Casada) Education, Dept. of – As introduced, authorizes department to request assistance, regarding matters related to the Volunteer Public Education Trust Fund Act, from any state-licensed classroom instructor instead of the Tennessee Education Association in general. – Amends TCA Section 49-3-404.
SB 0311 by *Gresham (*HB 0203 by *Casada) Education – As introduced, replaces the Tennessee Education Association’s recommendations with any state-licensed classroom instructor for consideration by speaker of the house for appointment on the Tennessee financial literacy commission’s board of directors. – Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 7, Part 31.
SB 0061 by *Gresham (*HB 0037 by *Dunn) Education – As introduced, removes annual reporting requirement of the state board of education on the weight of textbooks. – Amends TCA Title 49.
General Sub-Committee on Education
Wednesday, February 23, 2011 – 03:30 PM
Hensley, Chair; Carr, Vice-Chair;
Brooks H , Brooks K, DeBerry J, DeBerry L, Dunn, Fitzhugh, Lollar, Maggart, Montgomery, Naifeh, Pitts,
*HB 0146 by *Casada (SB 0873 by *Gresham)
Education, Dept. of – As introduced, adds representative of the Professional Educators of Tennessee to current eligibility list for appointment by commissioner of education to state-level safety team to assist with compliance with the SAVE Act. – Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 8.
*HB 0179 by *Casada (SB 0294 by *Gresham)
Local Education Agencies – As introduced, prohibits LEAs from denying equal access to LEA employees to all domestic professional employees’ organizations offering membership to all certificated personnel. – Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 2.
*HB 0368 by *Dunn (SB 0893 by *Watson)
Teachers, Principals and School Personnel – As introduced, protects a teacher from discipline for teaching scientific subjects in an objective manner. – Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 10.
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