2023 -- H 6128 SUBSTITUTE A

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LC002209/SUB A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Edwards, Casimiro, Cortvriend, Messier, and Bennett

     Date Introduced: March 06, 2023

     Referred To: House Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 16-97 of the General Laws entitled "The Rhode Island Board of

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Education Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     16-97-11. American Rescue Plan fiscal accountability and transparency.

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     (a) The board of education and council on elementary and secondary education shall

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require all school districts and local education agencies to report on a standardized form each fiscal

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year, relating to any and all of the American Rescue Plan, elementary and secondary school

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emergency relief, and state and local recovery funds, the following information:

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     (1) Amounts received;

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     (2) Amounts allocated with project/program description;

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     (3) Amounts spent on hiring staff;

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     (4) Job titles hired or retained with aforesaid funds;

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     (5) Premium pay amount issued to employees and type of employees compensated;

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     (6) Total amount of funds not spent and remaining, if any; and

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     (7) Copies of all progress reports submitted to federal government agencies concerning the

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use of "ESSER III" proceeds.

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     (b) Said reports shall be published on the department of education's website for public

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inspection and review.

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     SECTION 2. Chapter 44-35 of the General Laws entitled "Property Tax and Fiscal

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Disclosure — Municipal Budgets" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

 

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     44-35-11. American rescue plan fiscal accountability and transparency.

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     (a) All cities and towns shall provide to the division of municipal finance a report on a

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standardized form each fiscal year, any and all of the American Rescue Plan funds received through

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the "local fiscal recovery fund" program including the following information:

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     (1) Amounts received;

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     (2) Amounts allocated with project/program description;

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     (3) Amounts spent on hiring staff;

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     (4) Job titles hired or retained with aforesaid funds;

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     (5) Premium pay amount issued to employees and type of employees compensated;

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     (6) Total amount of funds not spent and remaining, if any; and

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     (7) Copies of all progress reports submitted to federal government agencies concerning the

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use of "local fiscal recovery fund" proceeds.

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     (b) Said reports shall be published on the division of municipal finance's website for public

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inspection and review.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT

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     This act would require every school district, local education agency, city and town to report

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each fiscal year relating to funding, administrative and program information from the American

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Rescue plan, elementary and secondary school emergency relief, and state and local recovery funds.

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The school district reports would be published on the department of education website and city and

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town reports on the division of municipal finance website.

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     This act would take effect on July 1, 2023.

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