hb 1281

CHAPTER 244

HB 1281 – FINAL VERSION

AN ACT permitting the adoption of an alternative cost apportionment method in a cooperative school district, establishing a legislative oversight committee for the school administrative unit system, and relative to notification of education grant amounts to municipalities.

SPONSORS: Rep. Hunt, Ches 28

The bill allows a cooperative school district to adopt an alternative method of apportioning the operating costs.

This bill establishes a legislative oversight committee to oversee the school administrative unit system.

This bill requires the department of education to notify a municipality of the estimated education grant amount to which it is entitled for the following school year on November 15.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

244:1 New Section; Cooperative School Districts; Alternative Method of Apportioning Operating Costs. Amend RSA 195 by inserting after section 14 the following new section:

I. As an alternative to the apportionment of operating costs set forth in RSA 195:14, the cooperative school board may fix a specific percentage of the state education grant amount received in a given year to be applied to the operating costs of the cooperative school district, before the apportionment of remaining cooperative school district operating costs. Such percentage shall not be less than zero percent and not more than 100 percent and shall be the same in each city or town in the cooperative school district.

II. The question on the adoption of an alternative method of apportioning operating costs shall be proposed as an article in the warrant of the next cooperative school district annual or special meeting pursuant to RSA 195:13. A majority of voters present and voting on the question in each city or town in the cooperative school district shall be required to approve the alternative method of apportioning operating costs. Upon approval, the clerk of the cooperative school district shall send to the state board of education a certified copy of the warrant.

III. The procedure for modification or recission of an alternative method of apportioning operating costs shall be as set forth in the alternative method of apportioning operating costs and shall not be subject to the provisions of RSA 195:18, III(i). A majority of voters present and voting on the question in each city or town in the cooperative school district shall be required to approve the modification or recission.

244:2 New Sections; School Administrative Units; Legislative Oversight Committee. Amend RSA 194-C by inserting after section 10 the following new sections:

194-C:11 Legislative Oversight Committee. An oversight committee shall be established consisting of:

III. One member of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

V. One member of the house finance committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

VI. One member of the senate finance committee, appointed by the senate president.

194-C:12 Duties of the Legislative Oversight Committee. The oversight committee shall monitor the process of organization and withdrawal of school districts from school administrative units and shall oversee the general operation, creation, or dissolution of school administrative units. The committee shall submit an annual report to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, and the state board of education summarizing its findings.

244:3 New Paragraph; Determination of Education Grants; Notification. Amend RSA 198:41 by inserting after paragraph II the following new paragraph:

III. The department of education shall notify municipalities of the estimated amount of aid to which they are entitled for the following school year on November 15.

244:4 New Paragraph; Determination of Education Grants; Notification. Amend RSA 198:41 by inserting after paragraph IV the following new paragraph:

V. The department of education shall notify municipalities of the estimated amount of aid to which they are entitled for the following school year on November 15.

244:5 Contingency. If section 8 of SB 302-FN-LOCAL of the 2004 legislative session becomes law, section 4 of this act shall take effect July 1, 2005 and section 3 of this act shall not take effect. If section 8 of SB 302-FN-LOCAL of the 2004 legislative session does not become law, section 3 of this act shall take effect July 1, 2005 and section 4 of this act shall not take effect.

I. Sections 3 and 4 of this act shall take effect as provided in section 5 of this act.

(Effective Date: I. Sections 3 and 4 shall take effect as provided in section 5.

II. Remainder shall take effect June 15, 2004.)