Senate Education Committee took testimony for several days last week on the pre-k bill,

H. 534.  There will be additional testimony and committee discussion this week and, hopefully, the committee will vote "yes" before the week ends. 

 

The bill would then go to the full Senate next week.  If it is different from the House version, which it almost definitely will be, the House could vote to "concur" and vote yes on the Senate version  or else they would vote to form a conference committee to iron out the differences between the two bills. 

 

While there is a good chance, it is by no means a sure thing that this bill will pass. It is important to continue to contact Senators on the Senate Education Committee to urge them to vote yes and to move quickly so that this process can move ahead before the legislature adjourns.  If and when the bill makes it to the full Senate, we will be asking everyone to contact their senators to urge the full Senate to support the bill.

 

For your convenience summary and talking points for H. 534 are once again attached and  members of the Senate Education Committee are listed below.

 

Calling is much better than email, even if you leave a brief message saying  “Please support H.534.” Legislators are having trouble keeping up with the large volume of emails they receive. 

In addition to the home numbers listed below, you can leave a message at the Sgt-at-Arms at the State House at 1-800-322-5616

Senator Collins (D-Franklin)

868-7975

dcollins@leg. state.vt. us

Senator Doyle (R-Washington)

223-2851

wdoyle@leg.state. vt.us

Senator Giard (D-Addison)

758-2577

hgiard@leg.state. vt.us

Senator Nitka (D-Windsor)

228-8432

anitka@leg.state. vt.us

Senator Starr (D-Essex/Orleans)

988-2877

rstarr@leg.state. vt.us