2015 Wisconsin Act 55

120.13 (37) (a) (intro.) Notwithstanding s. 118.33 (1) and (1m), award a high school diploma to a person who meets all of the following requirements:

55,3391c Section 3391c. 120.13 (37) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

120.13 (37) (b) Award Notwithstanding s. 118.33 (1m), award a high school diploma to a person who received a high school equivalency diploma under s. 115.29 (4) after serving on active duty under honorable conditions if the person meets the conditions of par. (a) 1. to 3.

55,3391d Section 3391d. 120.14 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

120.14 (1) At the close of each fiscal year, the school board of each school district shall employ a licensed accountant to audit the school district accounts and certify the audit. The audit shall include information concerning the school district's self-insurance plan under s. 66.0137 (4m) or 120.13 (2) (b), as specified by the commissioner of insurance, and information about expenditures for community programs and services under s. 120.13 (19). If required by the state superintendent under s. 115.28 (18), the audit shall include an audit of the number of pupils reported for membership purposes under s. 121.004 (5). The cost of the audit shall be paid from school district funds. Annually by September 15, the school district clerk shall file a financial audit statement with the state superintendent.

55,3391dm Section 3391dm. 120.18 (1) (o) of the statutes is created to read:

120.18 (1) (o) The number of pupils enrolled in each school transferred to an opportunity schools and partnership program under subch. IX of ch. 115, as reported by the commissioner in the enrollment report submitted pursuant to s. 115.999 (4).

55,3391e Section 3391e. 120.42 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

120.42 (1) (a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and, (c), and (d), school board members in a unified school district shall be electors of the school district and shall be elected at large, at large to numbered seats or at large to an apportioned election district area by a plurality vote of the electors of the school district. School board members in a unified school district shall be elected under s. 120.06 at the spring election. All candidates for school board seats shall file a declaration of candidacy as provided in s. 120.06 (6) (b).

55,3391m Section 3391m. 120.42 (1) (d) of the statutes is created to read:

120.42 (1) (d) 1. School board members in a unified school district that encompasses a city with a population greater than 75,000 but less than 100,000 and that encompasses at least 2 villages may by resolution provide for the election of members from election districts established pursuant to a representation plan under sub. (1m) by a plurality of the electors of each election district within the school district.

2. Notwithstanding subd. 1., school board members in a unified school district that, on the effective date of this subdivision .... [LRB inserts date], encompasses a city with a population greater than 75,000 but less than 100,000 and that encompasses at least 2 villages shall be elected from election districts established pursuant to a representation plan under sub. (1m) by a plurality of the electors of each election district within the school district.

55,3391s Section 3391s. 120.42 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:

120.42 (1m) (a) The school board of a school district under sub. (1) (d) 1. that provides, pursuant to a resolution, for the election of members from election districts and the school board of a school district under sub. (1) (d) 2. shall establish a representation plan for the election of school board members by election district. The school board shall comply with all of the following in establishing the representation plan under this paragraph:

1. Provide for 9 election districts within the school district of substantially equal population.

2. Ensure that, to the extent practicable, each election district described in subd. 1. is compact.

3. Ensure that, to the extent practicable, the territory within each election district described in subd. 1. is contiguous.

4. Ensure that, to the extent practicable, the boundaries of each election district described in subd. 1. and the boundaries of municipalities encompassed within the school district are congruent.

5. Number the election districts and divide them into 3 classes such that one-third of the members of the school board shall be elected in each year.

(b) Within 60 days after establishing the representation plan under par. (a), and decennially thereafter within 60 days after the population count by census block, established in the decennial federal census of population, and maps showing the location and numbering of census blocks become available in printed form from the federal government or are published for distribution by an agency of this state, the school board shall adopt a district apportionment plan that apportions the territory of the school district into election districts pursuant to the representation plan.

(c) Upon adoption of the plan under par. (b), all of the following apply:

1. Candidates for school board member shall file as candidate for an identified election district.

2. Members of the school board shall reside in the election district within the school district from which they are elected.

(d) A district apportionment plan adopted under par. (b) after the spring election and before November 1 in any year shall be implemented at the spring election following adoption of the plan. A district apportionment plan adopted after November 1 in any year shall be implemented at the 2nd following spring election.

(e) Notwithstanding sub. (2), at the first election in which a district apportionment plan adopted under par. (b) is implemented, all of the following apply:

1. The first class of election districts from which members of the school board are elected shall be elected to serve a term of one year.

2. The 2nd class of election districts from which members of the school board are elected shall be elected to serve a term of 2 years.

3. The 3rd class of election districts from which members of the school board are elected shall be elected to serve a term of 3 years.

4. The incumbent members of the school board who hold office at the time of the first election shall cease to hold office at the time the members elected in that first election take office.

55,3393 Section 3393. 121.02 (1) (L) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

121.02 (1) (L) 3. In grades 9 to 12, provide access to an educational program that enables pupils each year to study English, social studies, mathematics, science, vocational education, foreign language, physical education, art and music. In this subdivision, "access" means an opportunity to study through school district course offerings, independent study, cooperative educational service agencies, or cooperative arrangements between school boards or between school boards and postsecondary educational institutions.

55,3393s Section 3393s. 121.05 (1) (a) 9. of the statutes is amended to read:

121.05 (1) (a) 9. Pupils enrolled in a charter school, other than a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x).

55,3394 Section 3394. 121.05 (1) (a) 11. of the statutes is amended to read:

121.05 (1) (a) 11. Pupils residing in the school district but attending a public school in another school district under s. 118.50, 118.51, 121.84 (4), or 121.85 (3) (a).

55,3395d Section 3395d. 121.07 (2) of the statutes is created to read:

121.07 (2) Membership. For the purposes of ss. 121.08, 121.09, 121.095, 121.105, and 121.137, a school district's membership is the sum of all of the following:

(a) The school district's membership, as defined in s. 121.004 (5), in the previous school year.

(b) The number of pupils residing in the school district in the previous school year who were incoming choice pupils, as defined in s. 118.60 (4d) (a), and for whom a payment was made under s. 118.60 (4) (bg) in the previous school year.

(c) The number of pupils residing in the school district in the previous school year for whom a payment was made under s. 115.7915 (4m) (a) or (e) in the previous school year.

(d) The number of pupils residing in the school district in the previous school year for whom a payment was made under s. 118.40 (2r) (e) to an operator of a charter school established under contract with an entity under s. 118.40 (2r) (b) 1. e. or f. in the previous school year.

(e) The number of pupils residing in the school district in the previous school year for whom a payment was made under s. 118.40 (2r) (f) in the previous school year.

(f) The number of pupils residing in the school district in the previous school year for whom a payment was made under s. 118.40 (2x) (e) in the previous school year.

55,3395m Section 3395m. 121.07 (6) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

121.07 (6) (a) (intro.) "Shared cost" is the sum of the net cost of the general fund and the net cost of the debt service fund, except that "shared cost" excludes any costs, including attorney fees, incurred by a school district as a result of its participation in a lawsuit commenced against the state, beginning with such costs incurred in the fiscal year in which the lawsuit is commenced, excludes any expenditures from a capital improvement fund created under s. 120.135 or a capital improvement trust fund created under s. 120.137, excludes any debt service costs associated with an environmental remediation project under s. 67.05 (7) (er), and excludes the costs of transporting those transfer pupils for whom the school district operating under ch. 119 does not receive intradistrict transfer aid under s. 121.85 (6) as a result of s. 121.85 (6) (am). In this paragraph:

55,3395t Section 3395t. 121.07 (6) (e) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

121.07 (6) (e) 1. For a school district created by a consolidation under s. 117.08 or 117.09, in the school year in which the consolidation takes effect and in each of the subsequent 4 school years, the amounts under pars. (b) and (d) shall be multiplied by 1.15 and rounded to the next lowest dollar. In the 5th school year following the school year in which the consolidation took effect, the amounts under pars. (b) and (d) shall be multiplied by 1.10 and rounded to the next lower dollar. In the 6th school year following the school year in which the consolidation took effect, the amounts under pars. (b) and (d) shall be multiplied by 1.05 and rounded to the next lower dollar.

55,3395v Section 3395v. 121.07 (7) (e) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

121.07 (7) (e) 1. For a school district created by a consolidation under s. 117.08 or 117.09, in the school year in which the consolidation takes effect and in each of the subsequent 4 school years, the amounts under pars. (a) to (bm) shall be multiplied by 1.15 and rounded to the next lower dollar. In the 5th school year following the school year in which the consolidation took effect, the amounts under pars. (a) to (bm) shall be multiplied by 1.10 and rounded to the next lower dollar. In the 6th school year following the school year in which the consolidation took effect, the amounts under pars. (a) to (bm) shall be multiplied by 1.05 and rounded to the next lower dollar.

55,3395w Section 3395w. 121.08 (4) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

121.08 (4) (a) 1. Add the amounts paid under s. 118.40 (2r) in the current school year for pupils attending a charter school established by or under a contract with an entity under s. 118.40 (2r) (b) 1. a. to d.

55,3396n Section 3396n. 121.085 of the statutes is created to read:

121.085 State aid; other reductions. (1) The department shall make state aid adjustments under s. 118.51 (16) and (17) before making a reduction under s. 115.7915 (4m) (f), 118.40 (2r) (g) or (2x) (f), or 118.60 (4d) (b).

(2) For purposes of ss. 115.7915 (4m) (f) 2., 118.40 (2r) (g) 2. and (2x) (f) 2., and 118.60 (4d) (b) 2., a school district's aid under s. 121.08 is insufficient to cover a reduction if, after making state aid adjustments under s. 118.51 (16) and (17), the amount of the school district's aid under s. 121.08 is insufficient to cover all of the reductions under ss. 115.7915 (4m) (f) 1., 118.40 (2r) (g) 1. and (2x) (f) 1., and 118.60 (4d) (b) 1.

(3) The state superintendent shall ensure that the aid reductions under ss. 115.7915 (4m) (f) 1., 118.40 (2r) (g) 1. and (2x) (f) 1., and 118.60 (4d) (b) 1. lapse to the general fund.

55,3396p Section 3396p. 121.105 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

121.105 (3) In the school year in which a school district consolidation takes effect under s. 117.08 or 117.09 and in each of the subsequent 4 school years, the consolidated school district's state aid shall be an amount that is not less than the aggregate state aid to which the consolidating school districts were eligible in the school year prior to the school year in which the consolidation takes effect. In the 5th school year following the school year in which the consolidation took effect, the consolidated school district is entitled to a payment under this subsection in an amount that is equal to 66 percent of the payment that the consolidated school district received under this subsection in the prior school year. In the 6th school year following the school year in which the consolidation took effect, the consolidated school district is entitled to a payment under this subsection in an amount that is equal to 33 percent of the payment that the consolidated school district received in the 4th school year following the school year in which the consolidation took effect. The additional state aid shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ac).

55,3397 Section 3397. 121.105 (4) of the statutes is created to read:

121.105 (4) In the school year in which a whole grade sharing agreement under s. 118.50 first takes effect and in each of the subsequent 4 school years, the department shall pay additional aid to each school district that is participating in the agreement to ensure that the school district receives no less state aid than the amount of state aid to which the school district was eligible in the school year prior to the school year in which the whole grade sharing agreement took effect. In the 5th school year following the school year in which a whole grade sharing agreement first takes effect, the department shall pay additional aid to each school district that is participating in the whole grade sharing agreement in an amount that is equal to 66 percent of the payment that the school district received under this subsection in the prior school year. In the 6th school year following the school year in which the whole grade sharing agreement first takes effect, the department shall pay to each school district that is participating in the whole grade sharing agreement an amount that is equal to 33 percent of the payment that the school district received in the 4th school year following the school year in which the whole grade sharing agreement took effect. The department shall pay additional aid under this paragraph from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ac). This subsection does not apply to the renewal of an existing whole grade sharing agreement under s. 118.50.

55,3398 Section 3398. 121.136 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

121.136 (2) (a) In the 2009-10 school year and annually thereafter, the department shall pay additional state aid to a school district if at least 50 percent of the district's enrollment on the 3rd Friday of September in the immediately preceding even-numbered year, as rounded to the nearest whole percentage point, was eligible satisfied the income eligibility criteria for a free or reduced-price lunch in the federal school lunch program under 42 USC 1758 (b) (1).

55,3398d Section 3398d. 121.15 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

121.15 (1) (c) For the payments from December to June, the total aid entitlement for each district shall be computed on the basis of the budget and membership report under s. 121.05 school district's membership, as calculated under s. 121.07 (2).

55,3398f Section 3398f. 121.15 (1g) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

121.15 (1g) (c) For the payments from November to June, the total aid entitlement shall be computed on the basis of the budget and membership report under s. 121.05 school district's membership, as calculated under s. 121.07 (2).

55,3399 Section 3399. 121.53 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

121.53 (3) (c) When the school bus is used as specified in s. 340.01 (56) (am) for the purpose of transporting elderly seniors or disabled persons individuals with disabilities in connection with a transportation assistance program for such persons.

55,3400 Section 3400. 121.58 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 121.58 (1) (a).

55,3401 Section 3401. 121.58 (1) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

121.58 (1) (b) Annually, by the time the department prescribes under s. 120.18, an operator of a charter school authorized under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) that provides transportation to and from the charter school shall provide a report to the department that includes the number of pupils for whom transportation is provided and any other information the department requires related to the transportation of those pupils.

55,3402 Section 3402. 121.58 (2) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

121.58 (2) (a) (intro.) A school district which that provides transportation to and from a school under ss. 118.50 (3) (a), 121.54 (1) to (3), (5), and (6), and 121.57, and the a nonresident school district that a pupil attends under s. 118.51 or 121.84 (4) which elects to provide transportation under s. 121.54 (10), and an operator of a charter school authorized under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) that provides transportation under s. 118.40 (2r) (dm) shall be paid state aid for such transportation at the following rates:

55,3403 Section 3403. 121.58 (2) (a) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

121.58 (2) (a) 4. For each pupil so transported whose residence is more than 12 miles from the school attended, $220 per school year in the 2012-13 school year and $275 per school year in the 2014-15 school year and $300 per school year thereafter.

55,3404 Section 3404. 121.58 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

121.58 (4) State aid for summer class transportation. Annually on or before October 1 of the year in which transportation is provided under s. 118.50 (3) (b) or 121.54 (4), or under s. 121.54 (10) if the transportation is provided by the nonresident school district that a pupil attends under s. 118.51 or 121.84 (4), the school district clerk shall file with the department a report, containing such information as the department requires, on transportation provided by the school board to and from summer classes. Upon receipt of such report and if the summer classes meet the requirements of s. 121.14 (1) (a) 1. or 2., state aid shall be paid for such transportation. A school district which provides such transportation shall be paid state aid for such transportation at the rate of $4 per pupil transported to and from public school whose residence is at least 2 miles and not more than 5 miles by the nearest traveled route from the public school attended, and $6 per pupil transported to and from public school whose residence is more than 5 miles by the nearest traveled route from the public school attended, if the pupil is transported 30 days or more. The state aid shall be reduced proportionately if the pupil is transported less than 30 days.

55,3405 Section 3405. 121.58 (6) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

121.58 (6) (b) If the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (cr) in any fiscal year exceeds the amount of approved claims paid in full under this section and s. 121.575, the department shall distribute the balance to those school districts and charter school operators entitled to state aid under this section, with each school district entitled recipient receiving a percentage of the balance equal to its percentage of the total approved claims.

55,3406 Section 3406. 121.58 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

121.58 (7) Payment. Each school district and charter school operator entitled to state aid under this section shall receive its total aid entitlement in January.

55,3407 Section 3407. 121.59 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 121.59 (1) (intro.) and amended to read:

121.59 (1) (intro.) In this section, "transportation:

(b) "Transportation costs" means costs that are eligible for reimbursement under s. 121.58.

55,3408 Section 3408. 121.59 (1) (a) of the statutes is created to read:

121.59 (1) (a) "Eligible school district" means a school district the membership of which in the previous school year, when divided by the school district's area in square miles, is 50 or less.

55,3409 Section 3409. 121.59 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

121.59 (2) (intro.) Annually the department shall pay to each eligible school district the amount determined as follows:

55,3410 Section 3410. 121.59 (2) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

121.59 (2) (e) Divide the product under par. (d) for the school district by the product under par. (d) for all eligible school districts.