ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

HB2670: study committee; special education; gifted

PRIME SPONSOR: Representative Bolick, LD 20

BILL STATUS: Senate Engrossed

Overview

Establishes a study committee on special education weights and funding for gifted pupils.

History

Statute establishes a formula through which a school district budgets, and the state General Fund provides funding, for special education. A school district's Basic State Aid formula funding entitlement (referred to as its Equalization Base) is calculated in part by its:

· Base Support Level, which includes a school district's weighted student count. Specifically, this formula includes several Group B support level weights for programs that serve pupils with various disabilities (A.R.S. §§ 15-901(17) et seq. and 15-943).

· District Additional Assistance, which is calculated by multiplying a statutorily set amount by a school district's unweighted student count for certain grade ranges. In particular, this formula includes a special amount for programs for preschool children with disabilities (A.R.S. § 15-961).

The state General Fund will provide funding to a school district through Basic State Aid based on that district's Equalization Base as well as its Qualifying Tax Rate (A.R.S. § 41-1276) and the State Equalization Tax Rate.

The state General Fund provides funding for gifted pupils in two ways:

· Group A weights for Base Support Level include educational programs that focus on gifted pupils (A.R.S. §§ 15-901(B)(11) and 15-943).

· The Superintendent of Public Instruction was appropriated $1 million from the state general Fund in FY 2019 for gifted education (Laws 2018, Ch. 276, §124). Pursuant to A.R.S. § 15-779.03(A), school districts that comply with A.R.S. § 15-799.01 and submit evidence that all district teachers who have primary responsibility for teaching gifted pupils have obtained or are working toward obtaining the appropriate certification endorsement may apply to ADE for additional funding for gifted programs. This funding is equal to $75 per pupil for 4% of the district's student count or $2,000, whichever is more.

Provisions

1. Establishes a study committee (committee) to examine and make recommendations on special education weights and funding for gifted pupils.

2. Requires the committee to consist of the following members:

a. Five members of the House of Representatives who are appointed by the Speaker of the House, three of whom are members of the majority party and two of whom are members of the minority party.

b. Five members of the Senate who are appointed by the President of the Senate, three of whom are members of the majority party and two of whom are members of the minority party.

3. Directs the Speaker of the House to designate one committee member from the House of Representatives as the committee chair, and the President of the Senate to appoint one committee member from the Senate as the committee vice-chair.

4. Directs the House of Representatives and Senate to provide staff assistance to the committee as directed by the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate.

5. Requires the committee to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate, and to provide a copy of the report to the Secretary of State, by January 1, 2020.

6. Repeals the study committee session law from and after January 15, 2020.

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10. Fifty-fourth Legislature                       HB 2670

11. First Regular Session                            Version 4: Senate Engrossed

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