1st Engrossment - 83rd Legislature (2003 - 2004) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
1.1 A bill for an act 1.2 relating to education; providing for prekindergarten 1.3 through grade 12 education, including general 1.4 education, education excellence, special programs, 1.5 libraries, and state agencies; providing for 1.6 rulemaking; amending Minnesota Statutes 2002, sections 1.7 13.321, subdivision 1, by adding a subdivision; 1.8 122A.20, subdivision 2; 123B.143, subdivision 1; 1.9 123B.49, subdivision 4; 123B.53, subdivision 6; 1.10 123B.76, by adding a subdivision; 123B.82; 124D.59, as 1.11 amended; 124D.61; 125A.023, subdivision 3; 125A.03; 1.12 127A.42, subdivision 6; 127A.47, subdivision 3; 1.13 134.31, by adding a subdivision; 134.45, subdivision 1.14 5; Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, sections 1.15 120B.021, subdivision 3; 120B.024; 120B.36; 123B.77, 1.16 subdivision 4; 124D.095, subdivision 4; 124D.11, 1.17 subdivision 1; 124D.454, subdivision 2; 125A.023, 1.18 subdivision 4; 126C.10, subdivision 3; 127A.42, 1.19 subdivision 2; 275.065, subdivision 1; 475.61, 1.20 subdivision 4; Laws 2003, First Special Session 1.21 chapter 9, article 3, section 19; proposing coding for 1.22 new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 120B; 127A; 1.23 repealing Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 126C.23. 1.24 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 1.25 ARTICLE 1 1.26 GENERAL EDUCATION 1.27 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 123B.143, 1.28 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 1.29 Subdivision 1. [CONTRACT; DUTIES.] All districts 1.30 maintaining a classified secondary school must employ a 1.31 superintendent who shall be an ex officio nonvoting member of 1.32 the school board. The authority for selection and employment of 1.33 a superintendent must be vested in the board in all cases. An 1.34 individual employed by a board as a superintendent shall have an 2.1 initial employment contract for a period of time no longer than 2.2 three years from the date of employment. Any subsequent 2.3 employment contract must not exceed a period of three years. A 2.4 board, at its discretion, may or may not renew an employment 2.5 contract. A board must not, by action or inaction, extend the 2.6 duration of an existing employment contract. Beginning 365 days 2.7 prior to the expiration date of an existing employment contract, 2.8 a board may negotiate and enter into a subsequent employment 2.9 contract to take effect upon the expiration of the existing 2.10 contract. A subsequent contract must be contingent upon the 2.11 employee completing the terms of an existing contract. If a 2.12 contract between a board and a superintendent is terminated 2.13 prior to the date specified in the contract, the board may not 2.14 enter into another superintendent contract with that same 2.15 individual that has a term that extends beyond the date 2.16 specified in the terminated contract. A board may terminate a 2.17 superintendent during the term of an employment contract for any 2.18 of the grounds specified in section 122A.40, subdivision 9 or 13. 2.19 A superintendent shall not rely upon an employment contract with 2.20 a board to assert any other continuing contract rights in the 2.21 position of superintendent under section 122A.40. 2.22 Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 122A.40, subdivision 2.23 10 or 11, 123A.32, 123A.75, or any other law to the contrary, no 2.24 individual shall have a right to employment as a superintendent 2.25 based on order of employment in any district. If two or more 2.26 districts enter into an agreement for the purchase or sharing of 2.27 the services of a superintendent, the contracting districts have 2.28 the absolute right to select one of the individuals employed to 2.29 serve as superintendent in one of the contracting districts and 2.30 no individual has a right to employment as the superintendent to 2.31 provide all or part of the services based on order of employment 2.32 in a contracting district. The superintendent of a district 2.33 shall perform the following: 2.34 (1) visit and supervise the schools in the district, report 2.35 and make recommendations about their condition when advisable or 2.36 on request by the board; 3.1 (2) recommend to the board employment and dismissal of 3.2 teachers; 3.3 (3) superintend school grading practices and examinations 3.4 for promotions; 3.5 (4) make reports required by the commissioner; and 3.6 (5)by January 10, submit an annual report to the3.7commissioner in a manner prescribed by the commissioner, in3.8consultation with school districts, identifying the expenditures3.9that the district requires to ensure an 80 percent student3.10passage rate on the basic standards test taken in the eighth3.11grade, identifying the highest student passage rate the district3.12expects it will be able to attain on the basic standards test by3.13grade 12, the amount of expenditures that the district requires3.14to attain the targeted student passage rate, and how much the3.15district is cross-subsidizing programs with special education,3.16basic skills, and general education revenue; and3.17(6)perform other duties prescribed by the board. 3.18 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 123B.49, 3.19 subdivision 4, is amended to read: 3.20 Subd. 4. [BOARD CONTROL OF EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.] 3.21 (a) The board may take charge of and control all extracurricular 3.22 activities of the teachers and children of the public schools in 3.23 the district. Extracurricular activities means all direct and 3.24 personal services for pupils for their enjoyment that are 3.25 managed and operated under the guidance of an adult or staff 3.26 member. The board shall allow all resident pupils receiving 3.27 instruction in a home school as defined in section 123B.36, 3.28 subdivision 1, paragraph (a), to be eligible to fully 3.29 participate in extracurricular activities on the same basis as 3.30 public school students. 3.31 (b) Extracurricular activities have all of the following 3.32 characteristics: 3.33 (1) they are not offered for school credit nor required for 3.34 graduation; 3.35 (2) they are generally conducted outside school hours, or 3.36 if partly during school hours, at times agreed by the 4.1 participants, and approved by school authorities; 4.2 (3) the content of the activities is determined primarily 4.3 by the pupil participants under the guidance of a staff member 4.4 or other adult. 4.5 (c) If the board does not take charge of and control 4.6 extracurricular activities, these activities shall be 4.7 self-sustaining with all expenses, except direct salary costs 4.8 and indirect costs of the use of school facilities, met by dues, 4.9 admissions, or other student fund-raising events. The general 4.10 fund must reflect only those salaries directly related to and 4.11 readily identified with the activity and paid by public funds. 4.12 Other revenues and expenditures for extra curricular activities 4.13 must be recorded according to the "Manual of Instruction for4.14Uniform Student Activities Accounting for Minnesota School4.15Districts and Area Vocational-Technical CollegesManual for 4.16 Activity Fund Accounting." Extracurricular activities not under 4.17 board control must have an annual financial audit and must also 4.18 be audited annually for compliance with this section. 4.19 (d) If the board takes charge of and controls 4.20 extracurricular activities, any or all costs of these activities 4.21 may be provided from school revenues and all revenues and 4.22 expenditures for these activities shall be recorded in the same 4.23 manner as other revenues and expenditures of the district. 4.24 (e) If the board takes charge of and controls 4.25 extracurricular activities, the teachers or pupils in the 4.26 district must not participate in such activity, nor shall the 4.27 school name or any allied name be used in connection therewith, 4.28 except by consent and direction of the board. 4.29 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 123B.53, 4.30 subdivision 6, is amended to read: 4.31 Subd. 6. [DEBT SERVICE EQUALIZATION AID.] (a) A district's 4.32 debt service equalization aid is the sum of the district's first 4.33 tier debt service equalization aid and the district's second 4.34 tier debt service equalization aid. 4.35 (b) A district's first tier debt service equalization aid 4.36 equals the difference between the district's first tier debt 5.1 service equalization revenue and the district's first tier 5.2 equalized debt service levy. 5.3 (c) A district's second tier debt service equalization aid 5.4 equals the difference between the district's second tier debt 5.5 service equalization revenue and the district's second tier 5.6 equalized debt service levy. 5.7 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 123B.76, is 5.8 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 5.9 Subd. 3. [EXPENDITURES BY BUILDING.] (a) For the purposes 5.10 of this section, "building" means education site as defined in 5.11 section 123B.04, subdivision 1. 5.12 (b) Each district shall maintain separate accounts to 5.13 identify general fund expenditures, excluding capital 5.14 expenditures and pupil transportation, for each building. All 5.15 expenditures for regular instruction, secondary vocational 5.16 instruction, and school administration must be reported to the 5.17 department separately for each building. All expenditures for 5.18 special education instruction, instructional support services, 5.19 and pupil support services provided within a specific building 5.20 must be reported to the department separately for each 5.21 building. Salary expenditures reported by building must reflect 5.22 actual salaries for staff at the building and must not be based 5.23 on districtwide averages. All other general fund expenditures 5.24 may be reported on a districtwide basis. 5.25 (c) The department must annually report information showing 5.26 school district general fund expenditures per pupil by program 5.27 category for each building and estimated school district general 5.28 fund revenue generated by pupils attending each building on its 5.29 Web site. For purposes of this report: 5.30 (1) expenditures not required to be reported by building 5.31 shall be allocated among buildings on a uniform per pupil basis; 5.32 (2) basic skills revenue shall be allocated according to 5.33 section 126C.10, subdivision 4; 5.34 (3) secondary sparsity revenue and elementary sparsity 5.35 revenue shall be allocated according to section 126C.10, 5.36 subdivisions 7 and 8; 6.1 (4) other general education revenue shall be allocated on a 6.2 uniform per pupil unit basis; 6.3 (5) first grade preparedness aid shall be allocated 6.4 according to section 124D.081; 6.5 (6) state and federal special education aid and Title I aid 6.6 shall be allocated in proportion to district expenditures for 6.7 these programs by building; and 6.8 (7) other general fund revenues shall be allocated on a 6.9 uniform per pupil basis, except that the department may allocate 6.10 other revenues attributable to specific buildings directly to 6.11 those buildings. 6.12 [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective the day 6.13 following final enactment and applies to reports for fiscal year 6.14 2004 and later. 6.15 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 6.16 123B.77, subdivision 4, is amended to read: 6.17 Subd. 4. [BUDGET APPROVAL.] Prior to July 1 of each year, 6.18 the board of each district must approve and adopt its revenue 6.19 and expenditure budgets for the next school year. The budget 6.20 document so adopted must be considered an 6.21 expenditure-authorizing or appropriations document. No funds 6.22 shall be expended by any board or district for any purpose in 6.23 any school year prior to the adoption of the budget document 6.24 which authorizes that expenditure, or prior to an amendment to 6.25 the budget document by the board to authorize the expenditure. 6.26 Expenditures of funds in violation of this subdivision shall be 6.27 considered unlawful expenditures. Prior to the appropriation of 6.28 revenue for the next school year in the initial budget, the 6.29 board shallcalculate the general education revenue, basic6.30skills revenue, and referendum revenue for that year that it6.31estimates will be generated by the pupils in attendance at each6.32site, and shallinform the principal or other responsible 6.33 administrative authority of each site ofthat estimate and6.34report this information tothe amount of general education and 6.35 referendum revenue that the Department of Education estimates 6.36 will be generated by the pupils in attendance at each site. For 7.1 purposes of this subdivision, a district may adjust the 7.2 department's estimates for school building openings, school 7.3 building closings, changes in attendance area boundaries, or 7.4 other changes in programs or student demographics not reflected 7.5 in the department's calculations. A district must report to the 7.6 department any adjustments it makes according to this 7.7 subdivision in the department's estimates of compensatory 7.8 revenue generated by the pupils in attendance at each site, and 7.9 the department must use the adjusted compensatory revenue 7.10 estimates in preparing the report required under section 7.11 123B.76, subdivision 3, paragraph (c). 7.12 [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective the day 7.13 following final enactment and applies to reports for fiscal year 7.14 2005 and later. 7.15 Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 123B.82, is 7.16 amended to read: 7.17 123B.82 [REORGANIZATION OPERATING DEBT.] 7.18 The "reorganization operating debt" of a school district 7.19 means the net negative undesignated fund balance in all school 7.20 district funds, other thancapital expenditure,building 7.21 construction, debt redemption, and trust and agency, calculated 7.22 in accordance with the uniform financial accounting and 7.23 reporting standards for Minnesota school districts as of: 7.24 (1) June 30 of the fiscal year before the first year that a 7.25 district receives revenue according to section 123A.39, 7.26 subdivision 3; or 7.27 (2) June 30 of the fiscal year before the effective date of 7.28 reorganization according to section 123A.46 or 123A.48. 7.29 Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 7.30 124D.11, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 7.31 Subdivision 1. [GENERAL EDUCATION REVENUE.] (a) General 7.32 education revenue must be paid to a charter school as though it 7.33 were a district. The general education revenue for each 7.34 adjusted marginal cost pupil unit is the state average general 7.35 education revenue per pupil unit, plus the referendum 7.36 equalization aid allowance in the pupil's district of residence, 8.1 minus an amount equal to the product of the formula allowance 8.2 according to section 126C.10, subdivision 2, times .0485, 8.3 calculated without basic skills revenue, extended time revenue, 8.4 transition revenue, and transportation sparsity revenue, plus 8.5 basic skills revenue, extended time revenue, and transition 8.6 revenue as though the school were a school district. 8.7 (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), for charter schools in 8.8 the first year of operation, general education revenue shall be 8.9 computed using the number of adjusted pupil units in the current 8.10 fiscal year. 8.11 [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective the day 8.12 following final enactment and applies to revenue for fiscal year 8.13 2004 and later. 8.14 Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 8.15 124D.454, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 8.16 Subd. 2. [DEFINITIONS.] For the purposes of this section, 8.17 the definitions in this subdivision apply. 8.18 (a) "Base year" means the second fiscal year preceding the 8.19 fiscal year for which aid will be paid. 8.20 (b) "Basic revenue" has the meaning given it in section 8.21 126C.10, subdivision 2. For the purposes of computing basic 8.22 revenue pursuant to this section, each child with a disability 8.23 shall be counted as prescribed in section 126C.05, subdivision 1. 8.24 (c) "Average daily membership" has the meaning given it in 8.25 section 126C.05. 8.26 (d) "Program growth factor" means 1.00 for fiscal year 1998 8.27 and later. 8.28 (e) "Aid percentage factor" means 100 percent for fiscal 8.29 year 2000 and later. 8.30 (f) "Essential personnel" means a licensed teacher, 8.31 licensed support services staff person, paraprofessional 8.32 providing direct services to students, or licensed personnel 8.33 under subdivision 12, paragraph (c). This definition is not 8.34 intended to change or modify the definition of essential 8.35 employee in chapter 179A. 8.36 Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 9.1 126C.10, subdivision 3, is amended to read: 9.2 Subd. 3. [COMPENSATORY EDUCATION REVENUE.] (a) The 9.3 compensatory education revenue for each building in the district 9.4 equals the formula allowance minus $415 times the compensation 9.5 revenue pupil units computed according to section 126C.05, 9.6 subdivision 3. Revenue shall be paid to the district and must 9.7 be allocated according to section 126C.15, subdivision 2. 9.8 (b) When the district contracting with an alternative 9.9 program under section 124D.69 changes prior to the start of a 9.10 school year, the compensatory revenue generated by pupils 9.11 attending the program shall be paid to the district contracting 9.12 with the alternative program for the current school year, and 9.13 shall not be paid to the district contracting with the 9.14 alternative program for the prior school year. 9.15 (c) When the fiscal agent district for an area learning 9.16 center changes prior to the start of a school year, the 9.17 compensatory revenue shall be paid to the fiscal agent district 9.18 for the current school year, and shall not be paid to the fiscal 9.19 agent district for the prior school year. 9.20 Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 9.21 127A.42, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 9.22 Subd. 2. [VIOLATIONS OF LAW.] (a) The commissioner may 9.23 reduce or withhold the district's state aid for any school year 9.24 whenever the board of the district authorizes or permits 9.25 violations of law within the district by: 9.26 (1) employing a teacher who does not hold a valid teaching 9.27 license or permit in a public school; 9.28 (2) noncompliance with a mandatory rule of general 9.29 application promulgated by the commissioner in accordance with 9.30 statute, unless special circumstances make enforcement 9.31 inequitable, impose an extraordinary hardship on the district, 9.32 or the rule is contrary to the district's best interests; 9.33 (3) the district's continued performance of a contract made 9.34 for the rental of rooms or buildings for school purposes or for 9.35 the rental of any facility owned or operated by or under the 9.36 direction of any private organization, if the contract has been 10.1 disapproved, the time for review of the determination of 10.2 disapproval has expired, and no proceeding for review is 10.3 pending; 10.4 (4) any practice which is a violation of sections 1 and 2 10.5 of article 13 of the Constitution of the state of Minnesota; 10.6 (5) failure to reasonably provide for a resident pupil's 10.7 school attendance under Minnesota Statutes; 10.8 (6) noncompliance with state laws prohibiting 10.9 discrimination because of race, color, creed, religion, national 10.10 origin, sex, age, marital status, status with regard to public 10.11 assistance or disability, as defined in sections 363A.08 to 10.12 363A.19 and 363A.28, subdivision 10; or 10.13 (7) using funds contrary to the statutory purpose of the 10.14 funds. 10.15 (b) If a district does not submit audited financial data or 10.16 an audited financial statement according to section 123B.77, 10.17 subdivision 3, the commissioner may withhold the district's 10.18 state aid for the school year until the audited financial data 10.19 or an audited financial statement have been submitted to the 10.20 commissioner. 10.21 (c) The reduction or withholding must be made in the amount 10.22 and upon the procedure provided in this section. 10.23 (d) For the purposes of this section, "reduce" means a 10.24 permanent reduction in a district or charter school's state aid 10.25 for a fiscal year, and "withhold" means a temporary withholding 10.26 of a portion of a district or charter school's state aid 10.27 payments during the period in which a violation exists. Aids 10.28 withheld from a district or charter school must be paid to the 10.29 district or charter school within 30 days of the date the 10.30 violation of law has been corrected. 10.31 [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective the day 10.32 following final enactment and applies to audited financial data 10.33 and audited financial statements for fiscal year 2004 and later. 10.34 Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 127A.42, 10.35 subdivision 6, is amended to read: 10.36 Subd. 6. [VIOLATION; AID REDUCTION OR WITHHOLDING.] The 11.1 commissioner shall not reduce or withhold state aids payable to 11.2 the district if the violation specified is corrected within the 11.3 time permitted, or if the audited financial data or an audited 11.4 financial statement is submitted according to section 123B.77, 11.5 subdivision 3, or if the commissioner on being notified of the 11.6 district board's decision to dispute decides the violation does 11.7 not exist, or if the commissioner decides after hearing no 11.8 violation specified in the commissioner's notice existed at the 11.9 time of the notice, or that the violations were corrected within 11.10 the time permitted. Otherwise state aids payable to the 11.11 district for the year in which the violation occurred may be 11.12 reduced or withheld as follows: The total amount of state aids 11.13 to which the district may be entitled shall be reduced or 11.14 withheld in the proportion that the period during which a 11.15 specified violation continued, computed from the last day of the 11.16 time permitted for correction, bears to the total number of days 11.17 school is held in the district during the year in which a 11.18 violation exists, multiplied by up to 60 percent of the basic 11.19 revenue, as defined in section 126C.10, subdivision 2, of the 11.20 district for that year. 11.21 Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 127A.47, 11.22 subdivision 3, is amended to read: 11.23 Subd. 3. [REVENUE FOR CHILDREN OF DIVORCED OR LEGALLY 11.24 SEPARATED PARENTS.] (a) In those instances when the divorced or 11.25 legally separated parents share joint physical custody of the 11.26 child and the divorced or legally separated parents reside in 11.27 different school districts, for all school purposes, unless 11.28 otherwise specifically provided by law, the child must be 11.29 considered a resident of the school district, as indicated by 11.30 the child's parents. 11.31 (b) When the child of divorced or legally separated parents 11.32 under paragraph (a) resides with each parent on alternate weeks, 11.33 the parents shall be responsible for the transportation of the 11.34 child to the border of the resident school district during those 11.35 weeks when the child resides in the nonresident school district. 11.36 Sec. 13. [127A.52] [CROSS-SUBSIDY REPORTS.] 12.1 By January 30 each year, the commissioner must estimate how 12.2 much each district cross-subsidized the cost of special 12.3 education and basic skills programs with general education 12.4 revenue during the fiscal year ending on June 30 of the previous 12.5 year. The commissioner must make the cross-subsidy estimates 12.6 available to all districts and the public by posting the 12.7 cross-subsidy reports on the department's Web site. 12.8 Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 12.9 275.065, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 12.10 Subdivision 1. [PROPOSED LEVY.] (a) Notwithstanding any 12.11 law or charter to the contrary, on or before September 15, each 12.12 taxing authority, other than a school district, shall adopt a 12.13 proposed budget and shall certify to the county auditor the 12.14 proposed or, in the case of a town, the final property tax levy 12.15 for taxes payable in the following year. 12.16 (b) On or before September 30, each school district shall 12.17 certify to the county auditor the proposed property tax levy for 12.18 taxes payable in the following year. The school district shall 12.19 certify the proposed levy as: 12.20 (1)the state determined school levy amount as prescribed12.21under section 126C.13, subdivision 2;a specific dollar amount 12.22 by school district fund, broken down between voter-approved and 12.23 non-voter-approved levies and between referendum market value 12.24 and tax capacity levies; or 12.25 (2)voter approved referendum and debt levies; and12.26(3) the sum of the remaining school levies, orthe maximum 12.27 levy limitation certified by the commissioner of education 12.28 according to section 126C.48, subdivision 1, less the amounts12.29levied under clauses (1) and (2). 12.30 (c) If the board of estimate and taxation or any similar 12.31 board that establishes maximum tax levies for taxing 12.32 jurisdictions within a first class city certifies the maximum 12.33 property tax levies for funds under its jurisdiction by charter 12.34 to the county auditor by September 15, the city shall be deemed 12.35 to have certified its levies for those taxing jurisdictions. 12.36 (d) For purposes of this section, "taxing authority" 13.1 includes all home rule and statutory cities, towns, counties, 13.2 school districts, and special taxing districts as defined in 13.3 section 275.066. Intermediate school districts that levy a tax 13.4 under chapter 124 or 136D, joint powers boards established under 13.5 sections 123A.44 to 123A.446, and Common School Districts No. 13.6 323, Franconia, and No. 815, Prinsburg, are also special taxing 13.7 districts for purposes of this section. 13.8 Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 13.9 475.61, subdivision 4, is amended to read: 13.10 Subd. 4. [SURPLUS FUNDS.] (a) All such taxes shall be 13.11 collected and remitted to the municipality by the county 13.12 treasurer as other taxes are collected and remitted, and shall 13.13 be used only for payment of the obligations on account of which 13.14 levied or to repay advances from other funds used for such 13.15 payments, except that any surplus remaining in the debt service 13.16 fund when the obligations and interest thereon are paid may be 13.17 appropriated to any other general purpose by the municipality. 13.18 However, the amount of any surplus remaining in the debt service 13.19 fund of a school district when the obligations and interest 13.20 thereon are paid shall be used to reduce the general fund levy 13.21 authorized pursuant to chapters 122A, 123A, 123B, 124D, and 126C 13.22 and the state aids authorized pursuant to chapters 122A, 123A, 13.23 123B, 124D, 125A, 126C, and 127A. 13.24 (b) If the district qualified for second tier debt service 13.25 equalization aid in the last year that it qualified for debt 13.26 service equalization aid, the reduction to state aids equals the 13.27 lesser of (1) the amount of the surplus times the ratio of the 13.28 district's second tier debt service equalization aid to the 13.29 district's second tier debt service equalization revenue for the 13.30 last year that the district qualified for debt service 13.31 equalization aid; or (2) the district's cumulative amount of 13.32 debt service equalization aid. If the district did not qualify 13.33 for second tier debt service equalization aid in the last year 13.34 that it qualified for debt service equalization aid, the 13.35 reduction to state aids equals the lesser of (1) the amount of 13.36 the surplus times the ratio of the district's debt service 14.1 equalization aid to the district's debt service equalization 14.2 revenue for the last year that the district qualified for debt 14.3 service equalization aid; or (2) the district's cumulative 14.4 amount of debt service equalization aid. 14.5 (c) The reduction to the general fund levy equals the total 14.6 amount of the surplus minus the reduction to state aids. 14.7 Sec. 16. [REPEALER.] 14.8 Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 126C.23, is repealed. 14.9 ARTICLE 2 14.10 EDUCATION EXCELLENCE 14.11 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 13.321, 14.12 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 14.13 Subdivision 1. [SCOPE.] The sections referred to in 14.14 subdivisions 2 to910 are codified outside this chapter. Those 14.15 sections classify prekindergarten to grade 12 educational data 14.16 as other than public, place restrictions on access to government 14.17 data, or involve data sharing. 14.18 [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective the day 14.19 following final enactment. 14.20 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 13.321, is 14.21 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 14.22 Subd. 10. [SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY.] Data involving school 14.23 performance report cards and data involving adequate yearly 14.24 progress determinations are governed by section 120B.36. 14.25 [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective the day 14.26 following final enactment. 14.27 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 14.28 120B.021, subdivision 3, is amended to read: 14.29 Subd. 3. [RULEMAKING.] (a) The commissioner, consistent 14.30 with the requirements of this section and section 120B.022, must 14.31 adopt statewide rules under section 14.389 for implementing 14.32 statewide rigorous core academic standards in language arts, 14.33 mathematics, social studies, science, and the arts. After the 14.34 rules authorized under this paragraph are initially adopted, the 14.35 commissioner may not amend or repeal these rules nor adopt new 14.36 rules on the same topic without specific legislative 15.1 authorization.TheseThe academic standards for language arts, 15.2 mathematics, and the arts must be implemented for all students 15.3 beginning in the 2003-2004 school year. The academic standards 15.4 for science must be implemented for all students beginning in 15.5 the 2004-2005 school year and for social studies for the 15.6 2005-2006 school year. 15.7 (b) The rules authorized under this section are not subject 15.8 to section 14.127. 15.9 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 15.10 120B.024, is amended to read: 15.11 120B.024 [GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS; COURSE CREDITS.] 15.12 Subdivision 1. [REQUIRED NUMBER OF COURSE CREDITS.] 15.13 Students beginning 9th grade in the 2004-2005 school year and 15.14 later must successfully complete the following high school level 15.15 course credits for graduation: 15.16 (1) four credits of language arts; 15.17 (2) three credits of mathematics, encompassing at least 15.18 algebra, geometry, statistics, and probability sufficient to15.19satisfy the academic standard; 15.20 (3) three credits of science, including at least one credit 15.21 in biology; 15.22 (4) three and one-half credits of social studies,including15.23 encompassing at leastone credit ofUnited States history,one15.24credit ofgeography,0.5 credits ofgovernment and citizenship, 15.250.5 credits ofworld history, and0.5 credits ofeconomics; and 15.26 (5) a minimum of eight elective course credits, including 15.27 at least one credit in the arts. 15.28 A course credit is equivalent to a student's successful 15.29 completion of an academic year of study or a student's mastery 15.30 of the applicable subject matter, as determined by the local 15.31 school district. 15.32 Subd. 2. [RIGOROUS COURSE OF STUDY; WAIVER.] (a) Upon 15.33 receiving a student's application approved by the student's 15.34 parent or guardian, and with the recommendation of the student's 15.35 teacher, a school district, area learning center, or charter 15.36 school must declare that a student has completed a content 16.1 standard if the local school board, the school board of the 16.2 school district in which the area learning center is located, or 16.3 charter school board of directors determines that: 16.4 (1) the student is participating in a course of study 16.5 including an advanced placement or international baccalaureate 16.6 course or a learning opportunity outside the curriculum of the 16.7 district, area learning center, or charter school that is 16.8 equally or more rigorous than the academic standard required by 16.9 the district, area learning center, charter school, or the state 16.10 required academic standards; and 16.11 (2) completing the grade-level benchmarks of the required 16.12 academic standards to be waived would preclude the student from 16.13 participating in the rigorous course of study or learning 16.14 opportunity. 16.15 (b) A student who satisfactorily completes a postsecondary 16.16 enrollment options course or program under section 124D.09, that 16.17 has been approved under paragraph (c), is not required to 16.18 complete other requirements of the required academic standards 16.19 corresponding to that specific rigorous course of study. 16.20 (c) By August 15, 2004, and each year thereafter, the Board 16.21 of Regents of the University of Minnesota, the Board of Trustees 16.22 of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, and the 16.23 governing boards of Minnesota private colleges shall determine 16.24 the courses offered at each postsecondary institution under the 16.25 postsecondary enrollment options program that meet the 16.26 requirements of paragraph (a) and shall notify the commissioner 16.27 of those courses offered that meet the requirements. The 16.28 commissioner shall make available a listing of the postsecondary 16.29 enrollment options courses offered at postsecondary institutions 16.30 meeting the requirements of this section. 16.31 (d) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) or (b), a student who 16.32 entered ninth grade before the 2003-2004 school year and 16.33 satisfactorily completes an advanced placement or international 16.34 baccalaureate course, or a postsecondary enrollment options 16.35 course under section 124D.09, satisfies the requirements of the 16.36 required academic standards corresponding to that specific 17.1 rigorous course of study. 17.2 Sec. 5. [120B.131] [GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAM 17.3 DEVELOPMENT AND STUDENT IDENTIFICATION.] 17.4 Subdivision 1. [PURPOSE.] The legislature finds that it is 17.5 critical for gifted and talented students to be identified and 17.6 appropriately served. 17.7 Subd. 2. [STUDENT IDENTIFICATION.] School districts are 17.8 strongly encouraged to identify and assess students for possible 17.9 placement in appropriate gifted and talented educational 17.10 services. Consideration in student identification includes: 17.11 (1) balance of multiple objective and subjective criteria, 17.12 which may include performances as well as test results; 17.13 (2) ongoing, comprehensive district assessment system that 17.14 guides instruction and services offered; 17.15 (3) use of assessment instruments and procedures that are 17.16 valid and reliable and based on current theory and research; 17.17 (4) placement decisions that are fair and consistent, 17.18 valid, and reliable; 17.19 (5) provisions for informed consent, retention, 17.20 reassessment, exiting, and appeals; 17.21 (6) an open process available to all students; and 17.22 (7) an identification process and collected information 17.23 shared with parents educational staff, and students themselves. 17.24 Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 17.25 120B.36, is amended to read: 17.26 120B.36 [SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY; APPEALS PROCESS.] 17.27 Subdivision 1. [SCHOOL PERFORMANCE REPORT CARDS.] (a) The 17.28 commissioner shall use objective criteria based on levels of 17.29 student performance to identify four to six designations 17.30 applicable to high and low performing public schools. The 17.31 objective criteria shall include at least student academic 17.32 performance, school safety, and staff characteristics, with a 17.33 value-added growth component added by the 2006-2007 school year. 17.34 (b) The commissioner shall develop, annually update, and 17.35 post on the department Web site school performance report cards. 17.36 A school's designation must be clearly stated on each school 18.1 performance report card. 18.2 (c) The commissioner must make available the first school 18.3 designations and school performance report cards by November 18.4 2003, and during the beginning of each school year thereafter. 18.5 (d) A school or district may appeal in writing a 18.6 designation under this section to the commissioner within 30 18.7 days of receiving the designation. The commissioner's decision 18.8 to uphold or deny an appeal is final. 18.9 (e) School performance report cards are nonpublic data 18.10 under section 13.02, subdivision 9, until the department posts 18.11 the data to its public Web site. The department shall annually 18.12 post school performance report cards to its public Web site no 18.13 later than September 1. 18.14 Subd. 2. [ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS DATA.] All data the 18.15 department receives, collects, or creates for purposes of 18.16 determining adequate yearly progress designations under Public 18.17 Law 107-110, section 1116, are nonpublic data under section 18.18 13.02, subdivision 9, until the department posts the results of 18.19 its determinations concerning yearly progress designations to 18.20 its public Web site. Districts must provide parents 18.21 sufficiently detailed summary data to permit parents to appeal 18.22 under Public Law 107-110, section 1116(b)(2). The department 18.23 shall annually post adequate yearly progress data to its public 18.24 Web site no later than September 1. 18.25 [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective the day 18.26 following final enactment. 18.27 Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 124D.59, as 18.28 amended by Laws 2003, First Special Session chapter 9, article 18.29 1, section 13, is amended to read: 18.30 124D.59 [DEFINITIONS.] 18.31 Subdivision 1. [GENERALLY.] For purposes of sections 18.32 124D.58 to 124D.65, the terms defined in this section shall have 18.33 the meanings given them. 18.34 Subd. 1a. [PRIMARY LANGUAGE.] "Primary language" means a 18.35 language other than English which is the language normally used 18.36 by the child or the language which is spoken in the child's home 19.1 environment. A pupil's primary language as declared by a parent 19.2 or guardian shall be deemed to be a language other than English 19.3 if: 19.4 (1) the pupil first spoke a language other than English; 19.5 (2) the primary language spoken in the home of the pupil is 19.6 not English; or 19.7 (3) the language most often spoken by the pupil is not 19.8 English. 19.9 The primary language of each student, regardless of 19.10 proficiency status, must be determined with a home language 19.11 questionnaire the first time that student enrolls in the 19.12 district. 19.13 Subd. 1b. [LANGUAGE MINORITY STUDENT.] A "language 19.14 minority student" means a pupil in kindergarten through grade 12 19.15 who has a primary language other than English. 19.16 Subd. 2. [PUPIL OF LIMITEDENGLISHPROFICIENCYLANGUAGE 19.17 LEARNER.] (a) "Pupil of limitedEnglishproficiencylanguage 19.18 learner" means a pupilin kindergarten through grade 12who 19.19 meets the following requirements: 19.20 (1) the pupil, as declared by a parent or guardian first19.21learned a language other than English, comes from a home where19.22the language usually spoken is other than English, or usually19.23speaks a language other than Englishis a language minority 19.24 student as defined in subdivision 1b; and 19.25 (2) the pupil is determined by developmentally appropriate 19.26 measures, which might include observations, teacher judgment, 19.27 parent recommendations, or developmentally appropriate 19.28 assessment instruments, to lack the necessary English skills to 19.29 participate fully in classes taught in English. 19.30 (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), a pupil in grades 4 19.31 through 12 who was enrolled in a Minnesota public school on the 19.32 dates during the previous school year when a commissioner 19.33 provided assessment that measures the pupil's emerging academic 19.34 English was administered, shall not be counted asa pupil of19.35limitedan Englishproficiencylanguage learner in calculating 19.36limitedEnglishproficiencylanguage learner pupil units under 20.1 section 126C.05, subdivision 17, and shall not generate 20.2 statelimitedEnglishproficiencylanguage learner aid under 20.3 section 124D.65, subdivision 5, unless the pupil scored below 20.4 the state cutoff score on an assessment measuring emerging 20.5 academic English provided by the commissioner during the 20.6 previous school year. 20.7 (c) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b), a pupil in 20.8 kindergarten through grade 12 shall not be counted asa pupil of20.9limitedan Englishproficiencylanguage learner in calculating 20.10limitedEnglishproficiencylanguage learner pupil units under 20.11 section 126C.05, subdivision 17, and shall not generate 20.12 statelimitedEnglishproficiencylanguage learner aid under 20.13 section 124D.65, subdivision 5, if: 20.14 (1) the pupil is not enrolled during the current fiscal 20.15 year in an educational program forpupils of limitedEnglish 20.16proficiencylanguage learners in accordance with sections 20.17 124D.58 to 124D.64; or 20.18 (2) the pupil has generated five or more years of average 20.19 daily membership in Minnesota public schools since July 1, 1996. 20.20 Subd. 2a. [TRANSITIONAL LANGUAGE LEARNER.] "Transitional 20.21 language learner" means a pupil who meets the following 20.22 requirements: 20.23 (1) the pupil is a language minority student; 20.24 (2) the pupil has received scores indicating attainment of 20.25 English proficiency on a test of English language acquisition 20.26 approved by the commissioner; and 20.27 (3) the pupil has not scored in the proficient level on the 20.28 state reading assessment aligned with the state academic 20.29 standards for three years, or for as many times as the state 20.30 reading assessment is given during the three-year window after 20.31 the pupil receives scores indicating English proficiency on a 20.32 test of English language acquisition approved by the 20.33 commissioner. 20.34 Subd. 2b. [FLUENT LANGUAGE LEARNER.] "Fluent language 20.35 learner" means a pupil in kindergarten through grade 12 who 20.36 meets the following requirements: 21.1 (1) the pupil is a language minority student; 21.2 (2) the pupil has received scores indicating attainment of 21.3 English proficiency on a test of English language acquisition 21.4 approved by the commissioner; and 21.5 (3) the pupil has scored in the proficient level on the 21.6 state reading assessment aligned with the state academic 21.7 standards for three years, or for as many times as the state 21.8 reading assessment is given during the three-year window after 21.9 the pupil receives scores indicating attainment of English 21.10 proficiency on a test of English language acquisition approved 21.11 by the commissioner. 21.12 Subd. 3. [ESSENTIAL INSTRUCTIONAL PERSONNEL.] "Essential 21.13 instructional personnel" means the following: 21.14 (1) a teacher licensed by the state Board of Teaching to 21.15 teach bilingual education or English as a second language; 21.16 (2) a teacher with an exemption from a teaching license 21.17 requirement pursuant to section 124D.62 who is employed in a 21.18 school district's English as a second language or bilingual 21.19 education program;21.20(3) any teacher as defined in section 122A.15 who holds a21.21valid license from the state Board of Teaching, if the district21.22assures the department that the teacher will obtain the21.23preservice and in-service training the department considers21.24necessary to enable the teacher to provide appropriate service21.25to pupils of limited English proficiency. 21.26 Subd. 4. [ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE PROGRAM.] "English 21.27 as a second language program" means a program for the 21.28 instruction ofpupils of limitedEnglishproficiencylanguage 21.29 learners in the following English language skills: reading, 21.30 writing, listening and speaking. 21.31 Subd. 5. [BILINGUAL EDUCATION PROGRAM.] "Bilingual 21.32 education program" means an educational program in which 21.33 instruction is given in both English and the primary language of 21.34 thepupil of limitedEnglishproficiencylanguage learner to the 21.35 extent necessary to allow the pupil to progress effectively 21.36 through the educational system and to attain the basic skills of 22.1 reading, writing, listening, and speaking in the English 22.2 language so that the pupil will be able to perform ordinary 22.3 classwork successfully in English. 22.4Subd. 6. [PRIMARY LANGUAGE.] "Primary language" means a22.5language other than English which is the language normally used22.6by the child or the language which is spoken in the child's home22.7environment.22.8 Subd. 7. [PARENT.] "Parent" includes a child's legal 22.9 guardian. 22.10 Subd. 8. [EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FORPUPILS OF LIMITED22.11 ENGLISHPROFICIENCYLANGUAGE LEARNERS.] "Educational program for 22.12pupils of limitedEnglishproficiencylanguage learners" means 22.13 an English as a second language program, bilingual education 22.14 program, or both an English as a second language and a bilingual 22.15 education program. 22.16 Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 124D.61, is 22.17 amended to read: 22.18 124D.61 [GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PROGRAMS.] 22.19 (a) A districtwhich receives aid pursuant to section22.20124D.65that enrolls one or more English language learners must 22.21 comply with thefollowingprogram requirements:under paragraphs 22.22 (b) and (c). 22.23 (b) A district must implement an educational program for 22.24 English language learners if one or more English language 22.25 learners are enrolled in the district. 22.26 (c) An educational program for English language learners 22.27 must meet the following requirements: 22.28 (1) entrance and exit criteria must be documented by the 22.29 district, applied uniformly to English language learners, and 22.30 made available to parents and other stakeholders upon request; 22.31 (2) the curriculum of the educational program for English 22.32 language learners must be coordinated with the mainstream 22.33 curriculum in which the English language learners are involved 22.34 and must be consistent with standards set forth by the 22.35 commissioner; 22.36 (3) the amount of service offered English language learners 23.1 through an educational program specifically for English language 23.2 learners must be designed to meet varying student needs across 23.3 English proficiency levels; 23.4(1)(4) to the extent possible, the district must avoid 23.5 isolatingchildren of limited English proficiencyEnglish 23.6 language learners for a substantial part of the school day; and 23.7(2)(5) in predominantly nonverbal subjects, such as art, 23.8 music, and physical education,pupils of limited English23.9proficiencyEnglish language learners shall be permitted to 23.10 participate fully and on an equal basis with their 23.11 contemporaries in public school classes provided for these 23.12 subjects. To the extent possible, the district must assure to 23.13 pupils enrolled ina program for limited English proficient23.14studentsan education program for English language learners an 23.15 equal and meaningful opportunity to participate fully with other 23.16 pupils in all extracurricular activities. 23.17 Sec. 9. [MINNESOTA'S HIGH ACADEMIC STANDARDS.] 23.18 The K-12 standards documents must be deposited with the 23.19 Minnesota revisor of statutes, the Legislative Reference 23.20 Library, and the Minnesota State Law Library, where the 23.21 documents shall be maintained until the commissioner adopts 23.22 rules for implementing statewide rigorous core academic 23.23 standards in social studies and science under Minnesota 23.24 Statutes, section 120B.021, subdivision 3. The revisor must 23.25 determine that the rules are identical to the documents 23.26 deposited with it under this section before the revisor approves 23.27 the form of the rules. In approving the form of the rules, the 23.28 revisor may make any needed grammatical and form changes. 23.29 [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective the day 23.30 following final enactment. 23.31 Sec. 10. [RULEMAKING AUTHORITY.] 23.32 Subdivision 1. [SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATION SERVICE PROVIDERS.] 23.33 The commissioner of education shall adopt rules under Minnesota 23.34 Statutes, chapter 14, making permanent the supplemental 23.35 education service provider exempt rules authorized under Laws 23.36 2003, chapter 129, article 2, section 3. 24.1 Subd. 2. [STATEWIDE TESTING.] The commissioner of 24.2 education shall adopt rules under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 24.3 13, for the administration of statewide accountability tests 24.4 under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.30, to ensure security 24.5 and integrity of the tests and test results. 24.6 [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective the day 24.7 following final enactment. 24.8 Sec. 11. [REVISOR'S INSTRUCTION.] 24.9 In Minnesota Statutes and Minnesota Rules, the revisor of 24.10 statutes shall change the terms and phrases "pupil of limited 24.11 English proficiency," "limited English proficiency," "individual 24.12 students whose first language is not English," "the limited 24.13 English speaking children," "those for whom English is a second 24.14 language," "persons for whom English is a second language," "of 24.15 pupils known to speak English as a second language," and similar 24.16 terms and phrases to "English language learners" where 24.17 appropriate. 24.18 ARTICLE 3 24.19 SPECIAL PROGRAMS 24.20 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 24.21 124D.095, subdivision 4, is amended to read: 24.22 Subd. 4. [ON-LINE LEARNING PARAMETERS.] (a) An on-line 24.23 learning student must receive academic credit for completing the 24.24 requirements of an on-line learning course or program. 24.25 Secondary credits granted to an on-line learning student must be 24.26 counted toward the graduation and credit requirements of the 24.27 enrolling district. The enrolling district must apply the same 24.28 graduation requirements to all students, including on-line 24.29 learning students, and must continue to provide nonacademic 24.30 services to on-line learning students. If a student completes 24.31 an on-line learning course or program that meets or exceeds a 24.32 graduation standard or grade progression requirement at the 24.33 enrolling district, that standard or requirement is met. The 24.34 enrolling district must use the same criteria for accepting 24.35 on-line learning credits or courses as it does for accepting 24.36 credits or courses for transfer students under section 124D.03, 25.1 subdivision 9. The enrolling district may reduce the teacher 25.2 contact time of an on-line learning student in proportion to the 25.3 number of on-line learning courses the student takes from an 25.4 on-line learning provider that is not the enrolling district. 25.5 (b) An on-line learning student may: 25.6 (1) enroll during a single school year in a maximum of 12 25.7 semester-long courses or their equivalent delivered by an 25.8 on-line learning provider or the enrolling district; 25.9 (2) complete course work at a grade level that is different 25.10 from the student's current grade level; and 25.11 (3) enroll in additional courses with the on-line learning 25.12 provider under a separate agreement that includes terms for 25.13 payment of any tuition or course fees. 25.14 (c) A student with a disability may enroll in an on-line 25.15 learning course or programif the student's IEP team determines25.16that on-line learning is appropriate education for the student. 25.17 The student's IEP must then be adapted to reflect the on-line 25.18 learning option. 25.19 (d) An on-line learning student has the same access to the 25.20 computer hardware and education software available in a school 25.21 as all other students in the enrolling district. An on-line 25.22 learning provider must assist an on-line learning student whose 25.23 family qualifies for the education tax credit under section 25.24 290.0674 to acquire computer hardware and educational software 25.25 for on-line learning purposes. 25.26 (e) An enrolling district may offer on-line learning to its 25.27 enrolled students. Such on-line learning does not generate 25.28 on-line learning funds under this section. An enrolling 25.29 district that offers on-line learning only to its enrolled 25.30 students is not subject to the reporting requirements or review 25.31 criteria under subdivision 7. A teacher with a Minnesota 25.32 license must assemble and deliver instruction to enrolled 25.33 students receiving on-line learning from an enrolling district. 25.34 The instruction may include curriculum developed by persons 25.35 other than a teacher with a Minnesota license. 25.36 (f) An on-line learning provider that is not the enrolling 26.1 district is subject to the reporting requirements and review 26.2 criteria under subdivision 7. A teacher with a Minnesota 26.3 license must assemble and deliver instruction to on-line 26.4 learning students. The instruction may include curriculum 26.5 developed by persons other than a teacher with a Minnesota 26.6 license. Unless the commissioner grants a waiver, a teacher 26.7 providing on-line learning instruction must not instruct more 26.8 than 40 students in any one on-line learning course or program. 26.9 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 125A.023, 26.10 subdivision 3, is amended to read: 26.11 Subd. 3. [DEFINITIONS.] For purposes of this section and 26.12 section 125A.027, the following terms have the meanings given 26.13 them: 26.14 (a) "Health plan" means: 26.15 (1) a health plan under section 62Q.01, subdivision 3; 26.16 (2) a county-based purchasing plan under section 256B.692; 26.17 (3) a self-insured health plan established by a local 26.18 government under section 471.617; or 26.19 (4) self-insured health coverage provided by the state to 26.20 its employees or retirees. 26.21 (b) For purposes of this section, "health plan company" 26.22 means an entity that issues a health plan as defined in 26.23 paragraph (a). 26.24 (c) "Individual interagency intervention plan" means a 26.25 standardized written plan describing those programs or services 26.26 and the accompanying funding sources available to eligible 26.27 children with disabilities. 26.28 (d) "Interagency intervention service system" means a 26.29 system that coordinates services and programs required in state 26.30 and federal law to meet the needs of eligible children with 26.31 disabilities agesthree tobirth through 21, including: 26.32 (1) services provided under the following programs or 26.33 initiatives administered by state or local agencies: 26.34 (i) the maternal and child health program under title V of 26.35 the Social Security Act, United States Code, title 42, sections26.36701 to 709; 27.1 (ii) the Minnesota Children with Special Health Needs 27.2 program under sections 144.05 and 144.07; 27.3 (iii) the Individuals with Disabilities Education Actunder27.4United States Code, title 20, chapter 33, subchapter II,27.5sections 1411 to 1420, Part B, section 619, and Part C as 27.6 amended; 27.7(iii)(iv) medical assistance under title 42, chapter 7, of 27.8 the Social Security Act, United States Code, title 42, chapter27.97, subchapter XIX, section 1396, et seq.; 27.10(iv)(v)thedevelopmental disabilitiesAssistance and Bill27.11of Rights Act, United States Code, title 42, chapter 75,27.12subchapter II, sections 6021 to 6030, Part Bservices under 27.13 chapter 256B; 27.14(v)(vi) the Head Start Act, United States Code, title 42,27.15chapter 105, subchapter II, sections 9831 to 9852under title 27.16 42, chapter 105, of the Social Security Act; 27.17(vi)(vii) vocational rehabilitation services provided 27.18 underchapterchapters 248 and 268A and the Rehabilitation Act 27.19 of 1973; 27.20(vii)(viii) Juvenile Court Act services provided under 27.21 sections 260.011 to 260.91; 260B.001 to 260B.446; and 260C.001 27.22 to 260C.451; 27.23(viii) the children's mental health collaboratives under27.24section 245.493;27.25(ix) the family service collaboratives under section27.26124D.23;27.27(x) the family community support plan under section27.28245.4881, subdivision 4;27.29(xi) the MinnesotaCare program under chapter 256L;27.30(xii)(ix) Minnesota Comprehensive Children's Mental Health 27.31 Act under section 245.487; 27.32 (x) the community health services grants underchapter27.33145sections 145.88 to 145.9266; 27.34(xiii) the Community Social Services Act funding under the27.35Social Security Act, United States Code, title 42, sections 139727.36to 1397f; and28.1(xiv) the community transition interagency committees under28.2section 125A.22;28.3 (xi) the Local Public Health Act under chapter 145A; and 28.4 (xii) the Children and Community Services Act, sections 28.5 256M.60 to 256M.80; 28.6 (2) service provision and funding that can be coordinated 28.7 through: 28.8 (i) the children's mental health collaborative under 28.9 section 245.493; 28.10 (ii) the family services collaborative under section 28.11 124D.23; 28.12 (iii) the community transition interagency committees under 28.13 section 125A.22; and 28.14 (iv) the interagency early intervention committees under 28.15 section 125A.259; 28.16 (3) financial and other funding programs to be coordinated 28.17 including medical assistance under title 42, chapter 7, of the 28.18 Social Security Act, the MinnesotaCare program under chapter 28.19 256L, Supplemental Social Security Income, Developmental 28.20 Disabilities Assistance, and any other employment-related 28.21 activities associated with the Social Security Administration; 28.22 and services provided under a health plan in conformity with an 28.23 individual family service plan or an individual education 28.24 plan or an individual interagency intervention plan; and 28.25(3)(4) additional appropriate services that local agencies 28.26 and counties provide on an individual need basis upon 28.27 determining eligibility and receiving a request from the 28.28 interagency early intervention committee and the child's parent. 28.29 (e) "Children with disabilities" has the meaning given in 28.30 section 125A.02. 28.31 (f) A "standardized written plan" means those individual 28.32 services or programs available through the interagency 28.33 intervention service system to an eligible child other than the 28.34 services or programs described in the child's individual 28.35 education plan or the child's individual family service plan. 28.36 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 29.1 125A.023, subdivision 4, is amended to read: 29.2 Subd. 4. [STATE INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE.] (a) The governor 29.3 shall convenea 19-memberan interagency committee to develop 29.4 and implement a coordinated, multidisciplinary, interagency 29.5 intervention service system for children agesthree tobirth 29.6 through 21 with disabilities. The commissioners ofcommerce,29.7 education, health,human rights,human services,economic29.8security,andcorrectionsemployment and economic development 29.9 shall each appoint two committee members from their departments; 29.10 the commissioners of corrections, human rights, and commerce 29.11 shall each appoint one member from their departments; the 29.12 Association of Minnesota Counties shall appoint two county 29.13 representatives, one of whom must be an elected official, as 29.14 committee members; and the Minnesota School Boards Association, 29.15 the Minnesota Administrators of Special Education, and the 29.16 School Nurse Association of Minnesota shall each appoint one 29.17 committee member; the governor shall appoint two parent 29.18 representatives of a child or youth who is eligible for special 29.19 education and is receiving coordinated services from public 29.20 agencies. The committee shall select a chair from among its 29.21 members. 29.22 (b) The committee shall: 29.23 (1) identify and assist in removing state and federal 29.24 barriers to local coordination of services provided to children 29.25 with disabilities; 29.26 (2) identify adequate, equitable, and flexible funding 29.27 sources to streamline these services; 29.28 (3) develop guidelines for implementing policies that 29.29 ensure a comprehensive and coordinated system of all state and 29.30 local agency services, including multidisciplinary assessment 29.31 practices for children with disabilities ages three to 21; 29.32 (4) develop, consistent with federal law, a standardized 29.33 written plan for providing services to a child with 29.34 disabilities; 29.35 (5) identify how current systems for dispute resolution can 29.36 be coordinated and develop guidelines for that coordination; 30.1 (6) develop an evaluation process to measure the success of 30.2 state and local interagency efforts in improving the quality and 30.3 coordination of services to children with disabilities ages 30.4 three to 21; 30.5 (7) develop guidelines to assist the governing boards of 30.6 the interagency early intervention committees in carrying out 30.7 the duties assigned in section 125A.027, subdivision 1, 30.8 paragraph (b); and 30.9 (8) carry out other duties necessary to develop and 30.10 implement within communities a coordinated, multidisciplinary, 30.11 interagency intervention service system for children with 30.12 disabilities. 30.13 (c) The committee shall consult on an ongoing basis with 30.14 the state Education Advisory Committee for Special Education and 30.15 the governor's Interagency Coordinating Council in carrying out 30.16 its duties under this section, including assisting the governing 30.17 boards of the interagency early intervention committees. 30.18 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 125A.03, is 30.19 amended to read: 30.20 125A.03 [SPECIAL INSTRUCTION FOR CHILDREN WITH A 30.21 DISABILITY.] 30.22 (a) As defined in paragraph (b), every district must 30.23 provide special instruction and services, either within the 30.24 district or in another district, for all children with a 30.25 disability, including providing required services under Code of 30.26 Federal Regulations, title 34, section 300.121(d), to those 30.27 children suspended or expelled from school for more than ten 30.28 school days in that school year, who are residents of the 30.29 district and who are disabled as set forth in section 125A.02. 30.30 For purposes of state and federal special education laws, the 30.31 phrase "special instruction and services" in the state education 30.32 code means a free and appropriate public education provided to 30.33 an eligible child with disabilities and includes special 30.34 education and related services defined in the Individuals with 30.35 Disabilities Education Act, subpart A, section 300.24. 30.36 (b) Notwithstanding any age limits in laws to the contrary, 31.1 special instruction and services must be provided from birth 31.2 until July 1 after the child with a disability becomes 21 years 31.3 old but shall not extend beyond secondary school or its 31.4 equivalent, except as provided in section 124D.68, subdivision 31.5 2. Local health, education, and social service agencies must 31.6 refer children under age five who are known to need or suspected 31.7 of needing special instruction and services to the school 31.8 district. Districts with less than the minimum number of 31.9 eligible children with a disability as determined by the 31.10 commissioner must cooperate with other districts to maintain a 31.11 full range of programs for education and services for children 31.12 with a disability. This section does not alter the compulsory 31.13 attendance requirements of section 120A.22. 31.14 Sec. 5. Laws 2003, First Special Session chapter 9, 31.15 article 3, section 19, is amended to read: 31.16 Sec. 19. [DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITY.] 31.17 ByJanuary 1June 1, 2004, the commissioner of education 31.18 must adopt rules that: 31.19 (1) establish criteria for selecting hearing officers, the 31.20 standards of conduct to which a hearing officer must adhere, and 31.21 a process to evaluate the hearing system; 31.22 (2) ensure that appropriately trained and knowledgeable 31.23 persons conduct due process hearings in compliance with federal 31.24 law; and 31.25 (3) create standards for expedited due process hearings 31.26 under federal law. 31.27 By March 1, 2004, the commissioner of education must 31.28 develop and make available a notice for participants in 31.29 state-provided dispute resolution processes that informs 31.30 participants of their rights concerning dispute resolution. 31.31 [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective retroactive to 31.32 July 1, 2003. 31.33 ARTICLE 4 31.34 LIBRARIES 31.35 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 134.31, is 31.36 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 32.1 Subd. 6. [ADVISORY COMMITTEE.] The commissioner shall 32.2 appoint an advisory committee of five members to advise the 32.3 staff of the Minnesota Library for the Blind and Physically 32.4 Handicapped on long-range planning and library services. 32.5 Members shall be people who use the library. Section 15.059 32.6 governs this committee except that the committee expires June 32.7 30, 2007. 32.8 [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective June 30, 2004. 32.9 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 134.45, 32.10 subdivision 5, is amended to read: 32.11 Subd. 5. [QUALIFICATION.] A public library jurisdiction 32.12 may apply for a grant in an amount up to$150,000$200,000 or 50 32.13 percent of the approved costs of removing architectural barriers 32.14 from a building or site, whichever is less. Grants may be made 32.15 only for projects in existing buildings used as a library, or to 32.16 prepare another existing building for use as a library. 32.17 Renovation of an existing building may include an addition to 32.18 the building if the additional space is necessary to provide 32.19 accessibility or if relocating public spaces to the ground level 32.20 provides improved overall accessibility. Grants must not be 32.21 used to pay part of the cost of meeting accessibility 32.22 requirements in a new building. 32.23 ARTICLE 5 32.24 STATE AGENCIES 32.25 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 122A.20, 32.26 subdivision 2, is amended to read: 32.27 Subd. 2. [MANDATORY REPORTING.] A school board must report 32.28 to the Board of Teaching, the Board of School Administrators, or 32.29 the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and 32.30 Universities, whichever has jurisdiction over the teacher's or 32.31 administrator's license, when its teacher or administrator is 32.32 discharged or resigns from employment after a charge is filed 32.33 with the school board under section 122A.41, subdivisions 6, 32.34 clauses (1), (2), and (3), and 7, or after charges are filed 32.35 that are ground for discharge under section 122A.40, subdivision 32.36 13, paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (5), or when a teacher or 33.1 administrator is suspended or resigns while an investigation is 33.2 pending under section 122A.40, subdivision 13, paragraph (a) 33.3 clauses (1) to (5); 122A.41, subdivisions 6, clauses (1), (2), 33.4 and (3), and 7; or 626.556, or when a teacher or administrator 33.5 is suspended without an investigation under section 122A.41, 33.6 subdivisions 6, paragraph (a), clauses (1), (2), and (3), and 7; 33.7 or 626.556. The report must be made to the appropriate 33.8 licensing board within ten days after the discharge, suspension, 33.9 or resignation has occurred. The licensing board to which the 33.10 report is made must investigate the report for violation of 33.11 subdivision 1 and the reporting board must cooperate in the 33.12 investigation. Notwithstanding any provision in chapter 13 or 33.13 any law to the contrary, upon written request from the licensing 33.14 board having jurisdiction over the license, a board or school 33.15 superintendent shall provide the licensing board with 33.16 information about the teacher or administrator from the 33.17 district's files, any termination or disciplinary proceeding, 33.18 any settlement or compromise, or any investigative file. Upon 33.19 written request from the appropriate licensing board, a board or 33.20 school superintendent may, at the discretion of the board or 33.21 school superintendent, solicit the written consent of a student 33.22 and the student's parent to provide the licensing board with 33.23 information that may aid the licensing board in its 33.24 investigation and license proceedings. The licensing board's 33.25 request need not identify a student or parent by name. The 33.26 consent of the student and the student's parent must meet the 33.27 requirements of chapter 13 and Code of Federal Regulations, 33.28 title 34, section 99.30. The licensing board may provide a 33.29 consent form to the district. Any data transmitted to any board 33.30 under this section is private data under section 13.02, 33.31 subdivision 12, notwithstanding any other classification of the 33.32 data when it was in the possession of any other agency. 33.33 The licensing board to which a report is made must transmit 33.34 to the Attorney General's Office any record or data it receives 33.35 under this subdivision for the sole purpose of having the 33.36 Attorney General's Office assist that board in its 34.1 investigation. When the Attorney General's Office has informed 34.2 an employee of the appropriate licensing board in writing that 34.3 grounds exist to suspend or revoke a teacher's license to teach, 34.4 that licensing board must consider suspending or revoking or 34.5 decline to suspend or revoke the teacher's or administrator's 34.6 license within 45 days of receiving a stipulation executed by 34.7 the teacher or administrator under investigation or a 34.8 recommendation from an administrative law judge that 34.9 disciplinary action be taken.