NOTE:  As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended only for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used for other purposes.

 

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F I S C A L   I M P A C T   R E P O R T

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Coll

 

DATE TYPED:

3/06/03

 

HB

12a/HEC/aHAFC

 

SHORT TITLE:

Fine Arts Education Act

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

L. Baca

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

 

 

See Narrative

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Responses Received From

 

State Department of Education (SDE)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of HAFC Amendment

 

The amendments adopted by HAFC strike the appropriation from the bill.

 

     Synopsis of HEC Amendment

 

The House Education Amendment stipulates that the appropriation for the fine arts programs will flow through the state equalization guarantee.

 

     Synopsis of Original Bill

 

House Bill 12 creates a new section in the Public School Code that enacts the Fine Arts Education Act, provides the powers and duties for implementing the provisions of the Act, provides funding for fine arts in public schools through the funding formula, and appropriates $9,000.0 from the general fund for the purposes of the Act.

 

     Significant Issues

 

The purpose of the Fine Arts Education Act is to encourage public school districts to offer opportunities for elementary school students to participate in fine arts activities, including visual arts, music, theater and dance.  Through the fine arts, student cognitive and affecting learning can be enhanced, different learning styles can be addressed, and complex and creating problem solving can be developed.  There is a body of research whose results and recommendations strongly support the use of fine arts to enhance the overall learning opportunities for elementary school

students. 

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $9,000.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2004 shall not revert to the general fund.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

 

The SDE will administer and enforce the implementation of the Act and assist local boards in developing and evaluating programs.   In addition, the Act requires the SDE to engage in an annual review of local arts education plans in collaboration local school board and a local art advisory committee. The SDE analysis, however, makes no indication that additional staff will be needed.

 

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

 

  1. This bill addresses the need at the elementary school level.  How are high school fine arts programs funded?
  2. Will school districts be required to offer fine arts programs at the elementary school level?
  3. What if funds generated by the Act are insufficient to fund program offerings in a school district?
  4. Will a school district receive funding for fine arts even if a program is not offered?

 

LRB/prr :yr