Top Line Election Results
As predicted, both the federal election and the California state election will not be decided until later. It is possible that the White House will not be decided until Friday if Pennsylvania is the swing state to elect the President. However, it is possible that by late today or noon tomorrow the presidential election will be decided if voting is faster in swing states, other than Pennsylvania.
CSFA Offers Additional TRAN Pools for K-12 Deferrals Cash Management
The California School Finance Authority offers a Tax and Revenue Anticipation Note (TRAN) pool for K-12 schools, providing a lower cost alternative to the single-district TRAN. CSFA estimates that districts are expected to receive only about 70% of their State apportionment payments for 2020-21, with deferrals from February 2021 to June 2021. Deferrals may continue into 2021-22. Absent significant cash reserves, districts will need to borrow from external sources like their counties or investors by issuing a TRAN.
Assembly Bill 841 (Ting): School Energy Efficiency Stimulus Program
AB 841 (Ting) is important legislation that would help school facility and maintenance departments by providing grants to improve HVAC systems, which is a critical healthy air quality issue to schools reopening in the COVID-19 era, as well as grants to improve drinking water quality. CASH is in strong support of this legislation (click here to view CASH support letter). Yesterday, AB 841 was approved and passed off the Senate Appropriations Committee Suspense File. The following is a brief summary of the primary provisions of the bill, including the August 20, 2020 amendments which add new provisions.
Message from the Chair – Following the Science – Reopening and Operating in the COVID-19 Environment
As I noted in my last Message from the Chair, COVID-19 has had an immediate and significant impact for K-12 education in California and across the nation. The school facilities and maintenance communities have been focused on preparing staff and buildings for reopening and operating in the COVID-19 environment and beyond. CASH has focused on advocacy for funding and programs to help address the unknown cost impacts of COVID-19, as well as providing timely information and education programs to assist our members navigate uncertain environments that have been created in the wake of COVID-19.
Call to Action: Contact the Legislature to Support AB 1384 and COVID-19 Liability Protection
We need your help on an important piece of legislation supported by CASH: AB 1384 (O’Donnell). This bill provides K-12 schools with limited liability protection from COVID-19 lawsuits. AB 1384 is pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee, and we recently found out that the Committee is not planning to schedule the bill for a hearing. Without a hearing, the bill does not have a chance at passage.
Please email the Senate Judiciary Committee and urge them to schedule AB 1384 for a hearing. A sample email is included below for your use. There is still time for the Committee to change its mind and add AB 1384 to the agenda for its August 12th hearing.