2023 -- H 5423

========

LC001158

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- COOPERATIVE SERVICE AMONG SCHOOL DISTRICTS

     Introduced By: Representatives J. Lombardi, Hull, Ajello, Cruz, and Stewart

     Date Introduced: February 08, 2023

     Referred To: House Education

     (Dept. of Education (RIDE)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-3.1-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-3.1 entitled

"Cooperative Service Among School Districts [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board

of Education Act]" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     16-3.1-11. Urban collaborative.

     Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the school

committees of the cities of Providence, Pawtucket, East Providence, Central Falls The Urban

Collaborative shall be governed by a board of trustees; with the exception of those powers and

duties reserved by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, the board of

education, and the school committees of Providence and other Rhode Island school districts as may

be approved for inclusion by existing member districts in accordance with collaborative bylaws are

authorized and empowered to continue and/or initiate cooperative efforts to provide alternate

education programs and/or diagnostic services required by law or regulation for students achieving

limited success in traditional settings and to do all things necessary including, but not limited to

utilization of technology, including television, all on a collaborative basis. The various school

committees may assign and delegate to their respective school committee chairs or designee or

superintendents of schools or designee, acting as a regional board any duties, responsibilities, and

powers that the committees may deem necessary for the conduct, administration, and management

of the urban collaborative. Beginning on July 1, 2013 the urban collaborative shall be funded

pursuant to the provisions of § 16-7.2-3. The state share of the permanent foundation education

aid shall be paid directly to the urban collaborative pursuant to the provisions of § 16-7.2-7. The

local school district shall transfer the difference between the calculated state share of the permanent

foundation education aid and the amount calculated pursuant to the provisions of § 16-7.2-7 to the

urban collaborative, until the transition of the state share is complete. In addition, the local school

district shall pay the local share of education funding to the urban collaborative as outlined in § 

16-7.2-5.

     The urban collaborative shall be eligible to receive other aids, grants, Medicaid revenue,

and any other revenue according to Rhode Island law, as though it were a school district. Federal

aid received by the state shall be used to benefit students in the urban collaborative, if the school

qualifies for the aid, as though it were a school district.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC001158

========

LC001158 - Page 2 of 3

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- COOPERATIVE SERVICE AMONG SCHOOL DISTRICTS

***

     This act would amend the composition of the Urban Collaborative and provide that the

collaborative be governed by a board of trustees.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC001158

========

LC001158 - Page 3 of 3