The Education Committee of the California Senate has approved a bill that would provide extra payments to parents who purchase state-issued college-savings bonds.
The bill calls for the state to give families $4 per year, on top of regular interest, for each $1,000 worth of tax-exempt bonds purchased. The measure also would let bondholders exclude up to $25,000 worth of income from the formula used to determine eligibility for state financial aid.
An aide to Senator Gary Hart, sponsor of the bill, said the payments and the income exclusion were intended to correlate the bonds and their use as a source of college tuition. Purchasers would not be re4quired to use the bonds to pay for college, however.
The legislature last year approved a bill creating a savings-bond program limited specifically to college expenses, but it was vetoed by then-Gov. George Deukmejian.
The education panel last month voted 8 to 0 for the bill. If enacted, the program would start in 1992.
Howard L. Fuller, a former vocal critic of the Milwaukee school system, would be eligible to become its superintendent, under a bill signed last week by Gov. Tommy G. Thompson of Wisconsin.
Mr. Fuller, who led a push several years ago to carve out a separate, mostly black school district in Milwaukee, has been a leading candidate for the job for months. But he lacks the three years of classroom-teaching experience state law requires for superintendents.
The new measure eliminates that requirement, effectively paving the way for Mr. Fuller, who is currently director of the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services, to take the job if the local school board selects him.
An unexpected drop in lottery profits has left Ohio $61 million short of funds earmarked for school subsidies.
Gov. George V. Voinovich and the legislature were working last month to overcome the budget shortfall, caused by a sharp drop in lottery sales occurring after the odds on the Super Lotto game were raised.
Lottery profits, which were expected to provide $604 million for schools, now are seen generating only $543 million.
The introduction of a new lottery game in January has increased sales, however, and may make up some of the shortfall before end of the fiscal year, officials said.
