Support House Bill 513 “Every person has a fundamental right to life and to the conditions for living a decent life—with ample food, shelter, education, employment, health care, and housing. We have a duty to secure and respect these rights not only for ourselves, but also for others. Each of us has a responsibility to use our rights in ways that fulfill our responsibilities to our families, to each other, and to the larger society.” – Principle 4 of Catholic Social Teaching
House Bill 513
JACKSON – The Mississippi Senate has passed House Bill 513 which appropriates money to the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) for fiscal year 2009. It is scheduled to be sent back to the House of Representatives for concurrence before going to Gov. Haley Barbour for signing.
Originally, HB513 appropriated $2.29 billion from the State General Fund and $1.15 from any special funds in the State Treasury to fund programs such as the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) and other initiatives of the Quality Education Act (QEA) such as funding for Early Childhood Education programs.
While the Senate maintained the appropriated $2.29 billion from the State General Fund and $1.15 from any special funds in the State Treasury, major monetary changes were made to different programs throughout the bill—increasing funding for Vocational and Technical Education while removing funding for Early Childhood Education programs altogether.
Catholic Charities Parish Social Ministry is in support of House Bill 513, said Benjamin Russell, associate director of Parish Social Ministry for Catholic Charities. However, he said, it is our hope that some funding for Early Childhood Education will be included by the House of Representatives.
More updates will come on this bill as it progresses in the last stages of becoming law.
To view the current bill text or search for another bill, go to http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us and enter the bill number under “Quick Lookup.”
