VACo opposed SB 1275 (Black), which requires any local school board that offers a Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) program to make it available to any student residing in the local school division receiving home instruction. The bill is problematic in that it prohibits the local school board from requiring any such student to enroll part or full-time in the local school division or to meet any other eligibility requirements and would impose an unfunded mandate on localities.
JROTC programs receive federal funds for partial reimbursement of program expenses. All other expenses incurred in the running of the program by a local school division are the responsibility of the locality.
The bill was referred to the House Education Committee where it was heard on February 13. After a lengthy procedural process that included several proposed amendments, the bill initially failed to report, 12-10. But then after another proposed amendment, the bill failed again to report when the second vote ended in an 11-11 tie.
Thank you to VACo Members who responded to our call to action and contacted their Delegates on the committee.
VACo Contact: Jeremy Bennett