Chapter 192
2008 -- S 2128 SUBSTITUTE A

Enacted 07/02/08

 

A N A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND SUPERINTENDENTS

          

     Introduced By: Senators Tassoni, Jabour, and Doyle

     Date Introduced: January 30, 2008

 

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

 

     SECTION 1. Section 16-2-9.3 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-2 entitled "School

Committees and Superintendents" is hereby amended to read as follows:

 

     16-2-9.3. The advisory council on school finances. -- (a) The legislature hereby finds

and declares that there is a need for an advisory council on school finances to strengthen the fiscal

accountability of school districts, regional school districts, state schools and charter schools in

Rhode Island. The council shall be composed of five (5) members as follows:

      (1) The auditor general of the state of Rhode Island or his or her designee;

      (2) The executive director of the Rhode Island association of school committees or his or

her designee;

      (3) The president of the Rhode Island association of school business officials or his or

her designee;

      (4) The commissioner of elementary and secondary education or his or her designee; and

      (5) The director of the department of administration or his or her designee. The auditor

general or his or her designee shall serve as chair of the council. By July 1, 2005, the council shall

develop recommendations for a uniform system of accounting, including a chart of accounts for

all school districts, regional school districts, state schools and charter schools. By July 1, 2009 the

council shall develop recommendations for a uniform system of accounting for all educational

regional collaboratives identified in section 16-3.1. Said recommendations shall be advisory in

nature and may be adopted by the office of auditor general and the department of elementary and

secondary education in part or in whole.

      (b) The council shall meet no less than annually and recommend changes in accounting

procedures to be adopted by school districts, regional school districts, state schools and charter

schools as well as apprise school business officials, charter school officials, school committees

and school superintendents, school administrators and state school officials about professional

development opportunities that promotes sound fiscal practices and a knowledge of current state

and federal rules and regulations regarding school finance. The council shall also report, annually,

its activities and recommendations to the house committee on education accountability, the senate

committee on education and the office of the governor.

 

     SECTION 2. Section 16-3.1-13 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-3.1 entitled

"Cooperative Service Among School Districts" is hereby amended to read as follows:

 

     16-3.1-13. Reporting. -- Any collaborative established under this chapter shall

implement a uniform system of accounting in compliance with section 16-2-9.3 program to track

their expenditures and investments and file a report on said expenditures and investments by

October 1, of each year, with the Rhode Island board of regents for elementary and secondary

education, the office of the auditor general, the Rhode Island senate committee on education and

finance, the Rhode Island house of representatives committee on education accountability

committee on health, education and welfare and finance and local school committees. Each

collaborative shall also file periodic reports, to the board of regents, the senate education

committee and the house education accountability health, education and welfare committee,

detailing their activities and programs.

 

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

     

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LC00850/SUB A

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