With two motions pending in the Senate Education Committee on HB 303, one from Sen. Gary Schroeder to hold the bill in committee and a substitute motion from Sen. Monty Pearce to send it to the full Senate with a recommendation that it "do-pass," committee Chairman John Goedde passed the gavel so he could make a motion himself. His amended substitute motion proposed to send the bill to the amending order. Goedde said he wants to make two changes: He wants to add a two-year expiration, or "sunset clause," to the entire bill, and he wants to add temporary relief for school districts from the current requirement that they contribute a set amount of their funds into a maintenance fund. School districts need that flexibility with the current budget crunch, Goedde said, and the House isn't willing, at this point, to consider a stand-alone bill to give them that. "If we send the maintenance money over with no other cover, we are pretty much assured it's gone," he said. Goedde noted that any amendment can be added to a bill in the 14th Order, but, he said, "I think that's a chance we need to take to move forward and have an end to this folly - session, I mean."

Goedde's motion, seconded by Sen. Dick Sagness, D-Pocatello, passed in a dramatic 5-4 vote. Voting in favor were Sens. Andreason, Sagness, Goedde, Schroeder and Kelly. Voting against were Sens. Fulcher, Pearce, Winder and Mortimer. HB 303 is sponsored by state Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna.

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