AB344: Bill Text

LRB-2389/1

PG:wlj:rs

2007 - 2008 LEGISLATURE

2007 Assembly BILL 344

May 21, 2007 - Introduced by Representatives Mursau, M. Williams, Strachota, Gunderson, A. Ott, Gronemus, Vos, Musser, Bies, Garthwaite, Jeskewitz and Davis, cosponsored by Senator A. Lasee. Referred to Committee on Education.

AB344,1,3 An Act to create 20.255 (2) (fp) of the statutes; relating to: awarding grants to school districts for school district consolidation feasibility studies and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill provides that a consortium of two or more school districts may apply to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) for a grant to conduct a school district consolidation feasibility study. An applicant for a grant must submit a plan identifying the school districts engaged in the study, the issues the study will address, and how the grant funds will be expended. DPI must give priority to applications that demonstrate prior district attempts to address underlying issues associated with management and operation of school districts' programs.

The bill appropriates $250,000 in the 2008-09 fiscal year to fund the grants and limits an award to no more than $10,000 to an applicant in a fiscal year.

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:

AB344, s. 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

AB344, s. 2 Section 2. 20.255 (2) (fp) of the statutes is created to read:

AB344,2,5 20.255 (2) (fp) Grants for school district consolidation feasibility studies. The amounts in the schedule for grants for school district consolidation feasibility studies under 2007 Wisconsin Act .... [this act], section 3 . No funds may be encumbered from this appropriation after June 30, 2009.

AB344, s. 3 Section 3 . Nonstatutory provisions.

AB344,2,7 (1) Grants for school district consolidation feasibility studies.

AB344,2,12 (a) A consortium of 2 or more school districts may apply to the department for a grant to conduct a school district consolidation feasibility study. The consortium shall submit a plan identifying the school districts engaged in the study, the issues the study will address, and how the grant funds will be expended. A school district may not be a member of more than one consortium.

AB344,2,15 (b) In the 2008-09 school year, the department shall award grants to consortia from the appropriation under section 20.255 (2) (fp) of the statutes, as created by this act. The department may not award more than $10,000 to any consortium.

AB344,2,18 (c) The department shall give priority to applications that demonstrate prior attempts to address the underlying issues associated with management and operation of the school districts' programs.

AB344,3,2 (d) A consortium awarded a grant under paragraph (b) shall submit the results of the study to the department.

AB344,3,3 (End)