To provide a “template” or “place holder” for the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Community Colleges budget. This bill contains no appropriations, but may be amended at a later date to include them.   Official Text and Analysis.

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

To adopt a version of this budget that expresses the fiscal and policy preferences of the Republican-majority in the Senate on various spending details.

To not use tax revenues earmarked to the state School Aid Fund in community college budget, but instead use non-earmarked (general fund) revenue. Although the state constitution explicitly authorizes using SAF money for higher education, the public school establishment contends that the 1994 Proposal A initiative earmarking a sales tax increase to the SAF means it can only be used for K-12 schools.

The Senate version of the community colleges budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, 2013. This would appropriate $335.0 million in gross spending, compared to $294.1 million the previous year.

To adopt a version of the budget that contains no appropriations, but is instead intended to launch negotiations to work out the differences between the House and Senate budgets.

To send the bill back to the Senate "stripped" of all actual appropriations. This vote is basically a procedural method of launching negotiations to work out the differences between the House and Senate budgets.

To concur with a House-passed version of the bill. The vote sends the bill to a House-Senate conference committee to work out the differences.