2023 -- S 0851

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LC002279

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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 -- DISTRICT CHARTER SCHOOL

     

     Introduced By: Senator Samuel D. Zurier

     Date Introduced: March 30, 2023

     Referred To: Senate Education

     (Dept. of Revenue)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 16-77.2-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-77.2 entitled "District

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Charter School [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby

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amended to read as follows:

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     16-77.2-8. Charter school reporting.

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     (a) All district charter schools shall continuously monitor their financial operations by

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tracking actual versus budgeted revenue and expense. The chief financial officer of the district

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charter school shall submit a report on a quarterly basis to the state office of municipal affairs

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commissioner certifying the status of the district charter school budget.

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     (b) The quarterly reports shall be in a format prescribed by the state office of municipal

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affairs commissioner and the state auditor general. The reports shall contain a statement as to

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whether any actual or projected shortfalls in budget line items are expected to result in a year-end

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deficit, the projected impact on year-end financial results including all accruals and encumbrances,

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and how the district charter school plans to address any such shortfalls. The auditor general or the

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state director of administration may petition the superior court to order the district charter school

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to file said reports. The director of administration may also direct the state controller and general

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treasurer to withhold any funding to the district charter school until the school complies with the

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reporting requirements hereunder. Failure to comply with this section shall be cause for the

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revocation of the school charter.

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     SECTION 2. Section 16-77.3-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-77.3 entitled

 

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"Independent Charter Schools [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education

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Act]" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     16-77.3-8. Charter school reporting.

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     (a) All independent charter schools shall continuously monitor their financial operations

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by tracking actual versus budgeted revenue and expense. The chief financial officer of the

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independent charter school shall submit a report on a quarterly basis to the state office of municipal

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affairs commissioner certifying the status of the independent charter school budget. The quarterly

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reports shall be in a format prescribed by the state office of municipal affairs commissioner and the

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state auditor general. The reports shall contain a statement as to whether any actual or projected

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shortfalls in budget line items are expected to result in a year-end deficit, the projected impact on

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year-end financial results including all accruals and encumbrances, and how the independent

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charter school plans to address any such shortfalls.

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     (b) The auditor general or the state director of administration may petition the superior

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court to order the independent charter school to file said reports. The director of administration may

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also direct the state controller and general treasurer to withhold any funding to the independent

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charter school until the school complies with the reporting requirements hereunder. Failure to

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comply with this section shall be cause for the revocation of the school charter.

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     SECTION 3. Section 16-77.4-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-77.4 entitled "Mayoral

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Academies [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby

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amended to read as follows:

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     16-77.4-8. Mayoral academy reporting.

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     (a) All mayoral academies shall continuously monitor their financial operations by tracking

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actual versus budgeted revenue and expense. The chief financial officer of a mayoral academy shall

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submit a report on a quarterly basis to the state office of municipal affairs commissioner certifying

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the status of that mayoral academy’s budget. The quarterly reports shall be in a format prescribed

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by the state office of municipal affairs commissioner and the state auditor general. The reports shall

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contain a statement as to whether any actual or projected shortfalls in budget line items are expected

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to result in a year-end deficit, the projected impact on year-end financial results including all

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accruals and encumbrances, and how the mayoral academy plans to address any such shortfalls.

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     (b) The auditor general or the state director of administration may petition the superior

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court to order a mayoral academy to file said reports. The director of administration may also direct

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the state controller and general treasurer to withhold any funding to a mayoral academy until the

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school complies with the reporting requirements hereunder. Failure to comply with this section

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shall be cause for the revocation of the school charter.

 

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     SECTION 4. 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 -- DISTRICT CHARTER SCHOOL

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     This act would require that certain quarterly reports required to be filed by district charter

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schools, mayoral academies and independent charter schools be submitted to the commissioner of

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elementary and secondary education.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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