A bill to reduce the mandates Virginia places on local governments moved closer to approval Tuesday, but leaves intact a requirement that teachers of government classes prove their qualifications.
Sen. Steve Newman and Del. Kathy Byron, Lynchburg-area lawmakers sponsoring the measure at the request of Gov. Bob McDonnell, both wanted to end the state-imposed requirement for teaching civics courses.
But former Del. Jim Dillard, a one-time Fairfax County legislator, came back Tuesday to persuade a House of Delegates committee to put the civics requirement back in the bill.
“This is not an unfunded mandate,” he told the Courts of Justice committee. Dillard was a champion for civics courses during his 32 years as a delegate.
An online course for civics teachers has been developed by Virginia Tech at a cost of $60,000 and there’s no cost to teachers or the locality, he said.
Newman said later there is a local cost, and Stafford County estimated it would spend $200,000 to meet the requirement.
Working teachers will require substitutes in their classroom while they receive the training, opponents argued.
Newman said afterward “I hope we would have the courage to relieve these local mandates, because they have a direct impact on personal property taxes in localities.”
The committee sent the bill to the full House of Delegates, and Newman said he’s happy most of the omnibus bill is intact.
“I am extremely pleased that we have gotten so much of the package through” the legislative process, Newman said.
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