SB182: Bill Text

2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE

2023 Senate BILL 182

April 3, 2023 - Introduced by Joint Legislative Council. Referred to Committee on Education.

SB182,1,3 An Act to create 20.255 (2) (bt) and 115.448 of the statutes; relating to: grants for feasibility studies of school district consolidation or whole grade sharing and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill is explained in the Notes provided by the Joint Legislative Council in the bill.

For further information see the state and 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:

Joint Legislative Council prefatory note: This bill was prepared for the Joint Legislative Council's Study Committee on Shared School District Services.

Current law does not provide state assistance to fund feasibility studies for school districts considering consolidation or whole grade sharing agreements.

The bill requires the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to award grants of up to $25,000 to consortia of 2 or more school boards to fund feasibility studies of school district consolidation or whole grade sharing agreements. Grant moneys must be used for a professional financial analysis, which may include a population study, of the effects of consolidation or whole grade sharing on the school districts. In order to be eligible for a grant for a consolidation feasibility study, each school board in a consortium must demonstrate that it has adopted a resolution to consider consolidation.

The bill provides a continuing appropriation of $200,000 in the 2023-2024 fiscal year. The bill takes effect on the day after publication, or the 2nd day after publication of the 2023 biennial budget act, whichever is later.

SB182,1 Section 1 . 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table

SB182,2 Section 2. 20.255 (2) (bt) of the statutes is created to read:

SB182,2,6 20.255 (2) (bt) Grants for feasibility studies of consolidation or whole grade sharing. As a continuing appropriation, the amounts in the schedule for the grant program under s. 115.448.

SB182,3 Section 3. 115.448 of the statutes is created to read:

SB182,2,10 115.448 Grants for feasibility studies of consolidation or whole grade sharing. (1) In this section, “eligible applicant” means an applicant for a grant under this section that is a consortium of 2 or more school boards.

SB182,2,15 (2) (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (bt) and subject to sub. (3), the department shall award grants to eligible applicants to fund feasibility studies of school district consolidation or whole grade sharing agreements under s. 118.50. The department may not award a grant to an eligible applicant in an amount exceeding $25,000.

SB182,3,4 (b) An eligible applicant receiving a grant under this section shall use the grant moneys for a professional financial analysis, which may include a population study, of how school district consolidation or a whole grade sharing agreement under s. 118.50 would affect the school districts governed by the eligible applicant.

SB182,3,8 (3) To receive a grant under this section to fund a feasibility study of school district consolidation, an eligible applicant shall demonstrate to the department that each school board that is a member of the consortium has adopted a resolution under s. 117.08 (1) or 117.09 (1).

SB182,4 Section 4. Effective date.

SB182,3,11 (1) This act takes effect on the day after publication, or on the 2nd day after publication of the 2023 biennial budget act, whichever is later.

SB182,3,12 (End)