HF 2937

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 04/07/2016 04:30pm

A bill for an act
relating to education finance; authorizing staff development funding for
intermediate school districts and other school cooperatives serving certain
children with disabilities; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes
2014, section 122A.61, by adding a subdivision; Minnesota Statutes 2015
Supplement, section 122A.61, subdivision 1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2015 Supplement, section 122A.61, subdivision 1,
is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Staff development revenue new text begin for school districts new text end .

A district is
required to reserve an amount equal to at least two percent of the basic revenue under
section 126C.10, subdivision 2, for:

(1) teacher development and evaluation under section 122A.40, subdivision 8, or
122A.41, subdivision 5;

(2) principal development and evaluation under section 123B.147, subdivision 3;

(3) professional development under section 122A.60; and

(4) in-service education for programs under section 120B.22, subdivision 2.

To the extent extra funds remain, staff development revenue may be used for
staff development plans, including plans for challenging instructional activities and
experiences under section 122A.60, and for curriculum development and programs, other
in-service education, teachers' mentoring under section 122A.70 and evaluation, teachers'
workshops, teacher conferences, the cost of substitute teachers for staff development
purposes, preservice and in-service education for special education professionals and
paraprofessionals, and other related costs for staff development efforts. A district may
annually waive the requirement to reserve their basic revenue under this section if a
majority vote of the licensed teachers in the district and a majority vote of the school board
agree to a resolution to waive the requirement. A district in statutory operating debt is
exempt from reserving basic revenue according to this section. Districts may expend an
additional amount of unreserved revenue for staff development based on their needs.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for revenue for fiscal year 2017
and later.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.61, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 1a. new text end

new text begin Staff development aid for intermediate school districts and other
cooperative units. new text end

new text begin (a) An intermediate school district or other cooperative unit providing
instruction to students in federal instructional settings of level 4 or higher qualifies for
staff development aid equal to $1,000 times the full-time equivalent number of licensed
instructional staff and nonlicensed classroom aides employed by the intermediate school
district or other cooperative unit during the previous fiscal year.
new text end

new text begin (b) Staff development aid received under this subdivision must be used for activities
related to enhancing services to students who may have challenging behaviors or mental
health issues or be suffering from trauma. Specific qualifying staff development activities
include but are not limited to:
new text end

new text begin (1) proactive behavior management;
new text end

new text begin (2) personal safety training;
new text end

new text begin (3) de-escalation techniques; and
new text end

new text begin (4) adaptation of published curriculum and pedagogy for students with complex
learning and behavioral needs.
new text end

new text begin (c) The aid received under this subdivision must be reserved and spent only on
the activities specified in this subdivision.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for revenue for fiscal year 2017
and later.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATION; STAFF DEVELOPMENT AID FOR
COOPERATIVE UNITS.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2017 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of education for payment of staff development aid to intermediate school districts and
other cooperative units under Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.61, subdivision 1a.
new text end