Minnesota Legislature
HF 4208
as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/26/2018 05:50pm
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A bill for an act
relating to education finance; creating a state fund to pay for unreimbursed special
education costs; requiring a report; appropriating money; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2016, sections 126C.20; 127A.47, subdivision 7, by adding subdivisions;
Minnesota Statutes 2017 Supplement, section 125A.11, subdivision 1.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2017 Supplement, section 125A.11, subdivision 1, is
amended to read:
Subdivision 1.
Nonresident tuition rate; other costs.
(a) For fiscal year deleted text begin 2015deleted text end new text begin 2019new text end and
later, when a school district provides special instruction and services for a pupil with a
disability as defined in section 125A.02 outside the district of residence, excluding a pupil
for whom an adjustment to special education aid is calculated according to section 127A.47,
deleted text begin subdivisiondeleted text end new text begin subdivisionsnew text end 7, paragraphs (b) to (d), new text begin and 7a, new text end special education aid paid to the
resident district must be reduced by an amount equal to (1) the actual cost of providing
special instruction and services to the pupil, including a proportionate amount for special
transportation, plus (2) the amount of general education revenue, excluding local optional
revenue, plus local optional aid and referendum equalization aid attributable to that pupil,
calculated using the resident district's average general education revenue and referendum
equalization aid per adjusted pupil unit excluding basic skills revenue, elementary sparsity
revenue and secondary sparsity revenue, minus (3) the amount of special education aid for
children with a disability under section 125A.76 received on behalf of that child, minus (4)
if the pupil receives special instruction and services outside the regular classroom for more
than 60 percent of the school day, the amount of general education revenue and referendum
equalization aid, excluding portions attributable to district and school administration, district
support services, operations and maintenance, capital expenditures, and pupil transportation,
attributable to that pupil for the portion of time the pupil receives special instruction and
services outside of the regular classroom, calculated using the resident district's average
general education revenue and referendum equalization aid per adjusted pupil unit excluding
basic skills revenue, elementary sparsity revenue and secondary sparsity revenue and the
serving district's basic skills revenue, elementary sparsity revenue and secondary sparsity
revenue per adjusted pupil unit. Notwithstanding clauses (1) and (4), for pupils served by
a cooperative unit without a fiscal agent school district, the general education revenue and
referendum equalization aid attributable to a pupil must be calculated using the resident
district's average general education revenue and referendum equalization aid excluding
compensatory revenue, elementary sparsity revenue, and secondary sparsity revenue. Special
education aid paid to the district or cooperative providing special instruction and services
for the pupil must be increased by the amount of the reduction in the aid paid to the resident
district. If the resident district's special education aid is insufficient to make the full
adjustment, the remaining adjustment shall be made to other state aid due to the district.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), when a charter school receiving special education
aid under section 124E.21, subdivision 3, provides special instruction and services for a
pupil with a disability as defined in section 125A.02, excluding a pupil for whom an
adjustment to special education aid is calculated according to section 127A.47, deleted text begin subdivisiondeleted text end new text begin
subdivisionsnew text end 7, paragraphs (b) to (e),new text begin 7a, and 7b,new text end special education aid paid to the resident
district must be reduced by an amount equal to that calculated under paragraph (a) as if the
charter school received aid under section 124E.21, subdivision 1. Notwithstanding paragraph
(a), special education aid paid to the charter school providing special instruction and services
for the pupil must not be increased by the amount of the reduction in the aid paid to the
resident district.
(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) and section 127A.47, deleted text begin subdivisiondeleted text end new text begin subdivisionsnew text end 7,
paragraphs (b) to (d)new text begin , 7a, and 7bnew text end :
(1) an intermediate district or a special education cooperative may recover unreimbursed
costs of serving pupils with a disability, including building lease, debt service, and indirect
costs necessary for the general operation of the organization, by billing membership fees
and nonmember access fees to the resident district;
(2) a charter school where more than 30 percent of enrolled students receive special
education and related services, a site approved under section 125A.515, an intermediate
district, a site constructed according to Laws 1992, chapter 558, section 7, subdivision 7,
to meet the educational needs of court-placed adolescents, or a special education cooperative
may apply to the commissioner for authority to charge the resident district an additional
amount to recover any remaining unreimbursed costs of serving pupils with a disability;
(3) the billing under clause (1) or application under clause (2) must include a description
of the costs and the calculations used to determine the unreimbursed portion to be charged
to the resident district. Amounts approved by the commissioner under clause (2) must be
included in the aid adjustments under paragraph (a), or section 127A.47, deleted text begin subdivisiondeleted text end new text begin
subdivisionsnew text end 7, paragraphs (b) to (d),new text begin and 7a,new text end as applicable.
(d) For purposes of this subdivision and section 127A.47, subdivision 7, paragraph (b),
"general education revenue and referendum equalization aid" means the sum of the general
education revenue according to section 126C.10, subdivision 1, excluding the local optional
levy according to section 126C.10, subdivision 2e, paragraph (c), plus the referendum
equalization aid according to section 126C.17, subdivision 7.
Sec. 2.
Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 126C.20, is amended to read:
126C.20 ANNUAL GENERAL EDUCATION new text begin AND SPECIAL EDUCATION
TUITION REIMBURSEMENT new text end AID APPROPRIATION.
There is annually appropriated from the general fund to the department the amount
necessary for general education aid under deleted text begin sectiondeleted text end new text begin sectionsnew text end 126C.13new text begin , and 127A.47, subdivision
7bnew text end . This amount must be reduced by the amount of any money specifically appropriated
for the same purpose in any year from any state fund.
Sec. 3.
Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 127A.47, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
Subd. 7.
Alternative attendance programs.
(a) The general education aid and special
education aid for districts must be adjusted for each pupil attending a nonresident district
under sections 123A.05 to 123A.08, 124D.03, 124D.08, and 124D.68. The adjustments
must be made according to this subdivision.
(b) For purposes of this subdivision, the "unreimbursed cost of providing special
education and services" means the difference between: (1) the actual cost of providing
special instruction and services, including special transportation and unreimbursed building
lease and debt service costs for facilities used primarily for special education, for a pupil
with a disability, as defined in section 125A.02, or a pupil, as defined in section 125A.51,
who is enrolled in a program listed in this subdivision, minus (2) if the pupil receives special
instruction and services outside the regular classroom for more than 60 percent of the school
day, the amount of general education revenue, excluding local optional revenue, plus local
optional aid and referendum equalization aid as defined in section 125A.11, subdivision 1,
paragraph (d), attributable to that pupil for the portion of time the pupil receives special
instruction and services outside of the regular classroom, excluding portions attributable to
district and school administration, district support services, operations and maintenance,
capital expenditures, and pupil transportation, minus (3) special education aid under section
125A.76 attributable to that pupil, that is received by the district providing special instruction
and services. For purposes of this paragraph, general education revenue and referendum
equalization aid attributable to a pupil must be calculated using the serving district's average
general education revenue and referendum equalization aid per adjusted pupil unit.
(c) For fiscal year deleted text begin 2015 and laterdeleted text end new text begin 2018new text end , special education aid paid to a resident district
must be reduced by an amount equal to 90 percent of the unreimbursed cost of providing
special education and services.new text begin For fiscal year 2019 and later, special education aid paid to
a resident district must be reduced according to subdivision 7a.
new text end
(d) new text begin For fiscal year 2018, new text end notwithstanding paragraph (c), special education aid paid to a
resident district must be reduced by an amount equal to 100 percent of the unreimbursed
cost of special education and services provided to students at an intermediate district,
cooperative, or charter school where the percent of students eligible for special education
services is at least 70 percent of the charter school's total enrollment.
(e) new text begin For fiscal year 2018, new text end notwithstanding paragraph (c), special education aid paid to a
resident district must be reduced under paragraph (d) for students at a charter school receiving
special education aid under section 124E.21, subdivision 3, calculated as if the charter school
received special education aid under section 124E.21, subdivision 1.
(f) Special education aid paid to the district or cooperative providing special instruction
and services for the pupil, or to the fiscal agent district for a cooperative, must be increased
by the amount of the reduction in the aid paid to the resident district under paragraphs (c)
and (d)new text begin , subdivision 7a, and by the state aid payment under subdivision 7bnew text end . If the resident
district's special education aid is insufficient to make the full adjustment under paragraphs
(c), (d), and (e)new text begin , and subdivision 7anew text end , the remaining adjustment shall be made to other state
aids due to the district.
(g) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), general education aid paid to the resident district of
a nonspecial education student for whom an eligible special education charter school receives
general education aid under section 124E.20, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), must be reduced
by an amount equal to the difference between the general education aid attributable to the
student under section 124E.20, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), and the general education aid
that the student would have generated for the charter school under section 124E.20,
subdivision 1, paragraph (a). For purposes of this paragraph, "nonspecial education student"
means a student who does not meet the definition of pupil with a disability as defined in
section 125A.02 or the definition of a pupil in section 125A.51.
(h) An area learning center operated by a service cooperative, intermediate district,
education district, or a joint powers cooperative may elect through the action of the
constituent boards to charge the resident district tuition for pupils rather than to have the
general education revenue paid to a fiscal agent school district. Except as provided in
paragraph (f), the district of residence must pay tuition equal to at least 90 and no more than
100 percent of the district average general education revenue per pupil unit minus an amount
equal to the product of the formula allowance according to section 126C.10, subdivision 2,
times .0466, calculated without compensatory revenue, local optional revenue, and
transportation sparsity revenue, times the number of pupil units for pupils attending the area
learning center.
Sec. 4.
Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 127A.47, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:
new text begin Subd. 7a. new text end
new text begin Resident district responsibility. new text end
new text begin
(a) Special education aid paid to a resident
district must be reduced by the amounts specified in paragraph (b) for the unreimbursed
cost of special education and services provided to students.
new text end
new text begin
(b) The reduction under paragraph (a) equals 80 percent of the unreimbursed costs for
fiscal year 2019, 70 percent of the unreimbursed costs for fiscal year 2020, 60 percent of
the unreimbursed costs for fiscal year 2021, 50 percent of the unreimbursed costs for fiscal
year 2022, and 40 percent of the unreimbursed costs for fiscal year 2023 and later.
new text end
Sec. 5.
Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 127A.47, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:
new text begin Subd. 7b. new text end
new text begin State payment. new text end
new text begin
(a) The state must pay an amount to the charter school, school
district, or cooperative providing special instruction and services for the pupil, or to the
fiscal agent district for a cooperative as specified in paragraph (b).
new text end
new text begin
(b) The amount paid under paragraph (a) equals ten percent of the unreimbursed costs
for fiscal year 2019, 20 percent of the unreimbursed costs for fiscal year 2020, 30 percent
of the unreimbursed costs for fiscal year 2021, 40 percent of the unreimbursed costs for
fiscal year 2022 and 50 percent of the unreimbursed costs for fiscal year 2023 and later.
new text end
new text begin
(c) In addition to the amounts paid by the state under paragraph (b), the state must pay
to the serving school district, charter school, or cooperative an amount equal to ten percent
of the unreimbursed costs of special education and services provided to students at an
intermediate district, cooperative, or charter school where the percent of students eligible
for special education services is at least 70 percent of the charter school's total enrollment.
new text end
Sec. 6.
Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 127A.47, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:
new text begin Subd. 7c. new text end
new text begin Annual Report. new text end
new text begin
By January 15 of each year, the commissioner of education
must report to the legislative committees having jurisdiction over kindergarten through
grade 12 education on the amount of unreimbursed tuition paid to serving districts during
the previous year. The annual report must also make recommendations on how to reduce
the unreimbursed special education costs.
new text end