SB185: Bill Text

LRB-2591/1

EAW:skw&wlj

2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE

2023 Senate BILL 185

April 3, 2023 - Introduced by Joint Legislative Council. Referred to Committee on Utilities and Technology.

SB185,1,3 An Act to create 20.255 (2) (bz) and 115.384 of the statutes; relating to: aid to school districts that share services for costs associated with student information systems 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 specifically provide state aid to school districts for purchasing and implementing student information systems.

The bill creates a categorical aid program, administered by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), for school districts that apply for reimbursement for costs associated with purchasing and implementing a new student information system. In order to be eligible for this aid, a school district must either be (1) a union high school district or one of its included elementary school districts that purchases a new student information system to streamline communications between the districts; or (2) a school district that enters into a shared services agreement with one or more other school districts and purchases a new student information system in order to accommodate those shared services. Aid provided to a school district under this program may be used to pay for purchasing a new student information system, data migration to a new student information system, and training staff on the use of a new student information system. A school district may apply for this aid one time.

The bill creates an annual sum certain appropriation of $450,000 in fiscal years 2023-24 and 2024-25 for this program. The amounts must be prorated if total eligibility exceeds the appropriated amount. Aid provided to a school district may not exceed $75,000. The bill takes effect on the day after publication, or the 2nd day after publication of the 2023 biennial budget act, whichever is later.

SB185,1 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

SB185,2 Section 2 . 20.255 (2) (bz) of the statutes is created to read:

SB185,2,5 20.255 (2) (bz) Aid for student information systems. The amounts in the schedule for aid to school districts under s. 115.384 for student information systems.

SB185,3 Section 3 . 115.384 of the statutes is created to read:

SB185,2,11 115.384 Aid for student information systems. (1) From the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (bz), the department shall award onetime aid to school districts that apply for reimbursement for costs associated with purchasing and implementing a new student information system if one of the following conditions is met:

SB185,2,14 (a) The school district enters into an agreement to share services with one or more other school districts and the school district purchases new student information system software in order to accommodate shared services.

SB185,3,5 (b) The school district is a union high school district or a school district operating only elementary grades with territory that is included in the union high school district and the school district purchases new student information system software in order to streamline communications between the union high school district and its included elementary school districts.

SB185,3,7 (2) Aid provided to a school district under this section may be used to pay for any of the following costs:

SB185,3,8 (a) Purchasing a new student information system.

SB185,3,9 (b) Data migration.

SB185,3,10 (c) Training staff on the use of the new student information system.

SB185,3,12 (3) A school district may apply for aid under this section only once. Aid provided to a school district under this section may not exceed $75,000.

SB185,3,16 (4) If the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (bz) in any fiscal year is insufficient to pay the full amount awarded under sub. (1), the department shall prorate the amount of its payments among school districts that are eligible for aid under this section.

SB185,4 Section 4 . Effective date.

SB185,3,19 (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.

SB185,3,20 (End)