LRB-1220/P2
FFK:kms
2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Kretschmann, BB0229 - High-Cost Transportation Aid Stopgap Aid Change
For 2023-2025 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
An Act ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
education
Primary and secondary education
High cost transportation aid; stop-gap payments
Under current law, a school district is eligible for high cost transportation aid if 1) the school district has a pupil population density of 50 or fewer pupils per square mile and 2) the school district's per pupil transportation cost exceeds 140 percent of the statewide average per pupil transportation cost. Current law also provides aid, known as a “stop-gap payment,” to any school district that qualified for high cost transportation aid in the immediately preceding school year but is ineligible to receive aid in the current school year. The stop-gap payment is equal to 50 percent of the amount the school district received in the preceding school year. Current law specifies that no more than a total of $200,000 may be paid in stop-gap payments in any fiscal year. The bill removes the $200,000 limitation on high cost transportation aid stop-gap payments. The bill also specifies that, if the amount appropriated for all high cost transportation aid payments, including stop-gap payments, in any fiscal year is insufficient, all high cost transportation aid payments must be prorated.
For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1
. 121.59 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.59 (2) (intro.) Annually, subject to sub. (3), the department shall pay to each eligible school district the amount determined as follows:
Section 2
. 121.59 (2) (em) of the statutes is created to read:
121.59 (2) (em) Subtract from the amount appropriated under s. 20.255 (2) (cq) the total amount of aid school districts are entitled to under sub. (2n).
Section 3
. 121.59 (2) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.59 (2) (f) Multiply the quotient under par. (e) by the amount appropriated under s. 20.255 (2) (cq) determined under par. (em).
Section 4
. 121.59 (2m) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 121.59 (2n), and 121.59 (2n) (intro.) and (b), as renumbered, are amended to read:
121.59 (2n) (intro.) Beginning in the 2017-18 school year and in any school year thereafter, if If a school district was eligible to receive aid under sub. (2) in the immediately preceding school year but is ineligible to receive aid in the current school year because the number under sub. (2) (d) is not a positive number, the state superintendent shall, subject to par. (b) sub. (3), pay to that school district the amount determined as follows:
(b) Multiply the amount under subd. 1. par. (a) by 0.5.
Section 5
. 121.59 (2m) (b) of the statutes is repealed.
Section 6
. 121.59 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.59 (3) Aid under this section shall be paid from If the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (cq) in any fiscal year is insufficient to pay the full amount under subs. (2) and (2n), the department shall prorate the payments among the school districts entitled to aid under this section.
(End)
