SF 2717

3rd Engrossment - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 04/15/2016 08:45am

A bill for an act
relating to education; creating a task force to examine and recommend the
elimination of unfunded mandates in general education; requiring a report;
appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin GENERAL EDUCATION UNFUNDED MANDATES TASK FORCE.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Recommendations and duties. new text end

new text begin The General Education Unfunded
Mandates Task Force is established to investigate, examine, and recommend to the
legislature and the commissioner of education the elimination of unfunded mandates
related to general education in Minnesota schools.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin For the purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
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new text begin (a) "Mandate" means a requirement imposed by state law or rules or promulgated by
the commissioner of education or the Board of Teaching upon a school district, charter
school, or private school that, if not complied with, results in civil liability, injunctive
relief, a criminal penalty, or an administrative sanction, including reduction or loss of
funding. This definition does not include requirements imposed by federal law or rules.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Unfunded" means an expected additional cost to school districts, charter
schools, and private schools that exceeds the legislative appropriations to school districts,
charter schools, and private schools to cover these costs.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Membership. new text end

new text begin (a) The General Education Unfunded Mandates Task Force
shall have 11 members appointed by July 1, 2016, as follows:
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new text begin (1) two members appointed by the governor;
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new text begin (2) two members appointed by the commissioner of education;
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new text begin (3) one member of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the
house of representatives;
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new text begin (4) one member of the house of representatives appointed by the minority leader
of the house of representatives;
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new text begin (5) one senator appointed by the senate majority leader;
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new text begin (6) one senator appointed by the senate minority leader;
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new text begin (7) one member designated by Minnesota Association of School Administrators;
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new text begin (8) one member designated by Minnesota School Boards; and
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new text begin (9) one member designated by Minnesota Association of School Business Officials.
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new text begin (b) At least three members shall be current teachers.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Terms. new text end

new text begin Unless replaced by their appointing authority, each member shall
serve until the task force expires.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin First meeting. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of education must convene the first
meeting of the task force by August 1, 2016.
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new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Chair. new text end

new text begin The chair of the task force must be elected by the task force
membership at the first meeting and, unless replaced by a vote of the task force
membership, shall serve as chair until the task force expires.
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new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Assistance. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of education, upon request, must provide
meeting space, technical assistance, and administrative support to task force members,
including identifying past reports that have identified unfunded mandates that should
be eliminated.
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new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin By January 1, 2017, the task force must submit its
recommendations to the chairs of the committees in the house of representatives and the
senate with jurisdiction over education and the commissioner of education regarding
unfunded mandates that should be eliminated. The commissioner of education must
consider these recommendations when advising the governor on the governor's education
policy and funding budget recommendations.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 9. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin The task force expires January 2, 2017, or the day after
submitting its final report under subdivision 8, whichever is earlier.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; GENERAL EDUCATION UNFUNDED MANDATES
TASK FORCE.
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new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2017 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of education for the duties of the General Education Unfunded Mandates Task Force
established in section 1.
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