AB805: Bill Text

LRB-4283/2

PG:kjf:rs&md

2009 - 2010 LEGISLATURE

2009 Assembly BILL 805

March 4, 2010 - Introduced by Representatives Clark, Hraychuck, Pope-Roberts, Hilgenberg, Dexter, Milroy, Zigmunt, Garthwaite, Smith, Molepske Jr., Mursau and M. Williams, cosponsored by Senators Vinehout, Holperin, Kreitlow and Olsen. Referred to Committee on Education.

AB805,1,4 An Act to amend 20.255 (2) (bs); to create 117.40 (5) of the statutes; and to affect 2007 Wisconsin Act 20, section 9137 (3k); relating to: grants to school districts for efficiency and consolidation feasibility studies, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill authorizes the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to award grants of up to $10,000 to consortia of two or more school districts to study ways of improving efficiency and reducing costs by working cooperatively or to study the feasibility of consolidating the school districts. A consortium awarded a grant to study ways of improving efficiency must provide an amount equal to 20 percent of the amount of the grant. The bill prohibits DPI from awarding more than one grant to the same consortium in the same school 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:

AB805, s. 1 Section 1. 20.255 (2) (bs) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB805,2,4 20.255 (2) (bs) School district efficiency and consolidation grants. The amounts in the schedule for grants for school district efficiency and consolidation feasibility studies under 2007 Wisconsin Act 20, section 9137 (3k). No funds may be encumbered from this appropriation after June 30, 2009 s. 117.40.

AB805, s. 2 Section 2. 117.40 (5) of the statutes is created to read:

AB805,2,7 117.40 (5) The department shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this section.

AB805, s. 3 Section 3. 2007 Wisconsin Act 20, section 9137 (3k) is renumbered 117.40 of the statutes and amended to read:

AB805,2,20 117.40 Grants for school district efficiency and consolidation studies. (1) A consortium of 2 or more school districts may apply to the department of public instruction for a grant to conduct a school district consolidation feasibility study ways for the school districts to improve efficiency and reduce costs by working cooperatively or to study the feasibility of consolidating the school districts. 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. The department shall ensure that a consortium awarded a grant to study ways to improve efficiency and reduce costs allocates an amount to the study equal to 20 percent of the amount of the grant.

AB805,2,25 (2) In the 2008-09 school year, the The department of public instruction shall award grants to consortia from the appropriation under section s. 20.255 (2) (bs) of the statutes, as created by this act. The department may not award more than $10,000 to any consortium in the same school year nor award more than one grant to any consortium in the same school year.

AB805,3,3 (3) The department of public instruction shall give priority to applications that demonstrate prior attempts to address the underlying issues associated with management and operation of the school districts' programs.

AB805,3,5 (4) A consortium awarded a grant under paragraph (b) sub. (2) shall submit the results of the study to the department of public instruction.

AB805, s. 4 Section 4. Nonstatutory provisions.

AB805,3,11 (1) Grant allocations. Of the moneys appropriated to the department of public instruction under section 20.255 (2) (bs) of the statutes, as affected by this act, in the 2010-11 fiscal year, the department of public instruction shall allocate $100,000 for studies on ways to improve efficiency and $50,000 for consolidation feasibility studies.

AB805, s. 5 Section 5. Fiscal changes.

AB805,3,13 (1) Funding for grants.

AB805,3,18 (a) In the schedule under section 20.005 (3) of the statutes for the appropriation to the department of public instruction under section 20.255 (2) (cr) of the statutes, as affected by the acts of 2009, the dollar amount is decreased by $150,000 for the first fiscal year of the fiscal biennium in which this paragraph takes effect for the purposes for which the appropriation is made.

AB805,3,23 (b) In the schedule under section 20.005 (3) of the statutes for the appropriation to the department of public instruction under section 20.255 (2) (bs) of the statutes, as affected by the acts of 2009, the dollar amount is increased by $150,000 for the second fiscal year of the fiscal biennium in which this paragraph takes effect for the purpose for which the appropriation is made.

AB805,3,24 (End)