1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to education finance; strengthening the 
  1.3             commissioner of education's role in recommending 
  1.4             school finance changes; amending Minnesota Statutes 
  1.5             2003 Supplement, section 127A.06. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
  1.8   127A.06, is amended to read: 
  1.9      127A.06 [RECOMMENDATIONS; BUDGET.] 
  1.10     (a) The commissioner of education shall recommend to the 
  1.11  governor and legislature such modification and unification of 
  1.12  laws relating to the state system of education as shall make 
  1.13  those laws more readily understood and more effective in 
  1.14  execution.  
  1.15     (b) The commissioner of education shall prepare a biennial 
  1.16  education budget which shall be submitted to the governor and 
  1.17  legislature, such budget to contain a complete statement of 
  1.18  finances pertaining to the maintenance of the state department 
  1.19  and to the distribution of state aid.  
  1.20     (c) The commissioner of education may convene task forces 
  1.21  and otherwise assemble school finance experts to examine 
  1.22  Minnesota's school finance system.  The commissioner shall 
  1.23  submit any school finance recommendations to the governor and 
  1.24  legislature.  The commissioner must include in these 
  1.25  recommendations: 
  2.1      (1)  an analysis of how these recommendations will affect 
  2.2   school district and charter school budgets; 
  2.3      (2) a description of how these recommendations will improve 
  2.4   student performance; 
  2.5      (3) a summary of how these recommendations will close the 
  2.6   achievement gap among students; and 
  2.7      (4) an analysis of how these recommendations will 
  2.8   compensate school programs for state and federally mandated 
  2.9   services including special education programs and assessment 
  2.10  activities. 
  2.11     <b>[EFFECTIVE DATE.]</b> This section is effective the day 
  2.12  following final enactment.