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)

Relates to Senate Bill 6 and Senate Bill 12

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

SUMMARY

Synopsis of HFl#1 Amendment

House Floor amendment #1 strikes "general fund" and replaces it with "Legislative Council Cash Balances".

Synopsis of HEC Amendment

The House Education Committee amendment strikes the word "reform" from the name of the task force so the name is "Education Initiatives and Accountability Task Force". The amendment also corrects the spelling of accountability.

Synopsis of Bill

House 28 creates the Education Initiatives and Accountability Task Force and provides for its membership and duties. The bill has an emergency clause.

Significant Issues

The task force shall consist of twenty-three members as follows:

• Four members from the House of Representatives, three from the majority and one from the minority, appointed by the Speaker of the House;



• Four members from the Senate, three from the majority and one from the minority, appointed by the Committees' Committee or, if appointed in the interim, by the President Pro Tempore after consultation and agreement of a majority of the members of the Committees' Committee;
• Four members of the Executive Branch, appointed by the Governor;



• The Superintendent of Public Instruction (or his designee);



• The President of the State Board of Education (or his designee);



• Nine public members representing school administrators, teachers' organizations, parent-teacher organizations and business groups appointed by the governor, the Speaker of the House Of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate;




The task force members shall be appointed so as to provide representation from the various geographic areas of the state. The bill also provides that the appointments shall be made no later than twenty days after the effective date of this act. The Governor, with leadership concurrence, shall appoint the chairman. Also, the Governor, Speaker, and the President Pro Tempore may appoint advisory members.





The task force may not meet less than once a month, and must develop a plan to ensure effective education program initiatives and public school accountability.





The Emergency Clause makes the bill effective immediately after being signed by the Governor.





FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

House Bill28 appropriates $100.0 from the general fund to the Legislative Council Service for expenditure in fiscal years 1999 and 2000. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2000 will revert to the general fund.





Public members of the task force are entitled to reimbursement for per diem and mileage expenses as provided for public officers in the Per Diem and Mileage Act.





ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS





The Legislative Council Service shall staff the task force and will coordinate any other staff assistance required from the legislative and executive agencies as needed. Payments from the appropriation shall be made upon vouchers signed by the Director of the Legislative Council Service or an appointed representative.





CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP





House Bill 28 is similar to Senate Bill 12 and Senate Bill 6 which also create an education task force.





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