NOTE: As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended 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 in any other situation.

The LFC is only preparing FIRs on bills referred to the Senate Finance Committee, the Senate Ways and Means Committee, the House Appropriations and Finance Committee and the House Taxation and Revenue Committee. The chief clerks are responsible for preparing and issuing all other bill analyses.

Only the most recent FIR version, excluding attachments, is available on the Intranet. Previously issued FIRs and attachments may be obtained from the LFC office in Room 416 of the State Capitol Building.

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates House Bill 194.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

State Department of Public Education (SDE)

LFC files

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

This bill appropriates $750.0 to the Vocational Education Division of SDE for the purpose of providing a high school education program for at-risk teenage parents statewide. The appropriation shall be used to provide courses in basic parenting, nutrition and hygiene skills and child care for teenage parents.

Significant Issues

This bill will provide funding for the expansion of the Graduation, Reality And Dual-Role Skills GRADS program a teen parent program currently operating in 27 high schools with on-site child care. Programs that offer on-site child care are significant to prevention of drop-outs and recruitment of previous drop-outs.

According to SDE, the primary focus of the GRADS program is to reduce teenage pregnancy and to provide education and support for teen parents to enable them to graduate from high school, have healthy babies, improve parenting skills, and to develop employability skills that will enable them to advance to post-secondary education and gainful employment.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

Senate Bill 82 appropriates $750.0 in general fund to the Vocational Education Division of the State Department of Public Education for expenditure in fiscal year 2000. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of the fiscal year 2000 shall revert to the general fund.

In FY99, the GRADS program is funded with non-recurring general fund in the amount of $200.0.

SDE indicates that under the current GRADS funding cycle, eligible school districts receive funding over a three year period to implement the program. Districts will be required to sustain the program beyond the initial funding period.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The State Department Of Education indicates that this legislation would provide for the continuation of an on-going project currently administered by the department and administrative costs will be absorbed through the agency operating budget.

DUPLICATION

This bill duplicates HB 194.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

SDE can provide statistical data on the GRADS program upon request.

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