2018 -- S 2371

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LC003920

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - FOUNDATION LEVEL SCHOOL SUPPORT

     Introduced By: Senators Raptakis, Jabour, Kettle, Sheehan, and Morgan

     Date Introduced: February 15, 2018

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-7-20 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-7 entitled "Foundation

Level School Support [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board Of Education Act]" is

hereby amended to read as follows:

     16-7-20. Determination of state's share.

     (a) For each community the state's share shall be computed as follows: Let

     R = state share ratio for the community.

     v = adjusted equalized weighted assessed valuation for the community, as defined in

      § 16-7-21(3).

     V = sum of the values of v for all communities.

     m = average daily membership of pupils in the community as defined in§ 16-7-22(3).

     M = total average daily membership of pupils in the state.

     E = approved reimbursable expenditures for the community for the reference year minus

      the excess costs of special education, tuitions, federal and state receipts, and other

      income.

     Then the state share entitlement for the community shall be RE where

     R = 1 - 0.5vM/(Vm) through June 30, 2011, and R = 1 - 0.475 vM/(Vm) beginning on

July 1, 2011 and thereafter.

     Except that in no case shall R be less than zero percent (0%). Excepting further, that in

any fiscal year, the aid provided pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall in no event be less

than the amount provided in the community in the previous fiscal year.

     (b) Whenever any funds are appropriated for educational purposes, the funds shall be

used for educational purposes only and all state funds appropriated for educational purposes must

be used to supplement any and all money allocated by a city or town for educational purposes and

in no event shall state funds be used to supplant, directly or indirectly, any money allocated by a

city or town for educational purposes. The courts of this state shall enforce this section by writ of

mandamus.

     (c) Notwithstanding the calculations in subsection (a), the hospital school at the Hasbro

Children's Hospital shall be reimbursed one hundred percent (100%) of all expenditures approved

by the board of regents for elementary and secondary education in accordance with currently

existing rules and regulations for administering state aid, and subject to annual appropriations by

the general assembly including, but not limited to, expenditures for educational personnel,

supplies, and materials in the prior fiscal year.

     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 - FOUNDATION LEVEL SCHOOL SUPPORT

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     This act would provide that in determining local school aid, the state would annually

provide each community no less than an amount equal to the aid given in the preceding fiscal

year.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC003920

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