This bill restructures the School Finance Accountability Board by clarifying its powers to reduce school funding, impose penalties on districts that don't follow budget rules, and waive those penalties if districts face special circumstances. The changes specify that the board can now require accreditation reviews and condition any funding waivers on the district meeting certain ongoing requirements. Overall, the bill gives the board more detailed authority to enforce school finance accountability while providing a clearer process for districts to request relief.
The amendment substantially restructures the School Finance Accountability Board's authority by replacing a system where the board makes recommendations subject to legislative committee approval with one where the board directly implements penalties, reductions, and waivers—while clarifying that the board must establish rules for the waiver process and consider employee retirements. This change STRENGTHENS the board's independent authority while NARROWING the legislature's direct oversight role from approving waivers to simply receiving annual reports.
The amendment removes the requirement that the Joint Committee on Appropriations review and approve waivers recommended by the School Finance Accountability Board, giving the Board autonomous authority to grant waivers to school districts without legislative oversight. This substantially **weakens** the legislative check on the Board's waiver authority.
Signed by the Governor H.J. 580
Delivered to the Governor H.J. 562
Signed by the President S.J. 526
Signed by the Speaker H.J. 553
Senate Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 33, NAYS 0. S.J. 497
Education Do Pass Passed, YEAS 5, NAYS 2. S.J. 17
Education Scheduled for hearing
First read in Senate and referred to Senate Education S.J. 398
House of Representatives Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 61, NAYS 5. H.J. 423
Committee on Appropriations Certified uncontested, placed on consent H.J. 2
Committee on Appropriations Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 8, NAYS 0. H.J. 2
Committee on Appropriations Motion to amend H.J. 1
Committee on Appropriations Scheduled for hearing
House of Representatives Referred to House Committee on Appropriations H.J. 223
First Reading House H.J. 193
Prime sponsor · Rep.
R
Cosponsors
Do Pass Amended
Education — Do Pass
Do Pass Amended
Committee on Appropriations — Do Pass Amended