2015 -- S 1010

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LC002895

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX

RELIEF ACT

     Introduced By: Senators Pearson, Gallo, Satchell, DiPalma, and Picard

     Date Introduced: June 23, 2015

     Referred To: Placed on Senate Calendar

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 16-7.2 of the General Laws entitled "The Education Equity and

Property Tax Relief Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     16-7.2-5.1. Local share calculation commission. – Charter school strategy and

funding. -- (a) There is hereby created a commission consisting of nine (9) members as follows:

the governor shall appoint the chair of the board of education who shall serve as the chairperson;

the governor shall also appoint a representative from the department of elementary and secondary

education who has expertise relating to the funding formula and calculation of the local share, and

one member who is a representative from a Rhode Island mayoral academy. The president of the

senate shall appoint one member who currently serves on a school committee, one member who

is a current school superintendent and one member of the general public. The speaker of the

house shall appoint one member who is a current school business official, one member who is a

representative from an independent charter public school, and one member of the general public.

     (b) The purpose of the commission shall be to make a comprehensive study and issue

recommendations regarding the overall strategy of charter schools in Rhode Island as a method to

improve student achievement and the funding thereof, including, but not limited to, the local

share calculation prescribed by § 16-7.2-5 that accounts for the fixed and variable costs that are

incurred by the school districts but not by independent charter schools created pursuant to chapter

77.3 of title 16 and mayoral academies created pursuant to chapter 77.4 of title 16. The

commission shall consider methodologies that more accurately reflect and account for the

expenditures borne exclusively by the sending school districts. The commission shall also

consider whether the differentiation between the costs of educating students in elementary and

secondary school should be considered in calculating the local share to be appropriated to charter

schools and mayoral academies.

     (c) The department of elementary and secondary education shall provide to the president

of the senate, speaker of the house and the governor a report detailing the calculation and

expenses included in the current method of funding charter public schools, other methods used in

other states for funding charter schools, and any other information as requested by the chair, no

later than September 1, 2015, and shall further be prepared to present and provide the report to

the commission when requested by the chair.

     (d) The members of the commission shall meet at the call of the chair. The membership

of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services. The department of

elementary and secondary education shall furnish all of the necessary data relevant to the

commission’s charge. All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and

information, documentary and otherwise, to said commission. The commission shall report its

findings and recommendations to the general assembly on or before January 6, 2016, and said

commission shall expire on April 30, 2016.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX

RELIEF ACT

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     This act would create a nine (9) member commission to study and issue

recommendations regarding charter school strategy and funding, including, but not limited to, the

local share calculation related to the fixed and variable costs incurred by school districts, but not

by independent charter schools and mayoral academies, with a written report to the general

assembly on or before January 6, 2016.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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