Wyoming School Finance and Funding Changes (HB0236)
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Official record
Bill Summary Bill No.: HB0236 Effective : Multiple Dates LSO No.: 17LSO-0532 Enrolled Act No.: HEA No. 0125 Chapter No.: 205 Prime Sponsor: House Education Committee Catch Title: School finance-omnibus education funding. Subject: Education funding. Summary/Major Elements: This bill modifies the existing education funding formula by calibrating the non-personnel funding levels to cost-based levels and eliminating the external cost adjustment in school year 2017-2018 that was provided in the 2016 Budget Bill. The bill repeals the instructional facilitator categorical grant program in W.S. 21-13-335 and imbeds it within the education resource block grant model. It reduces the level of funding for instructional facilitators by 10% in school year 2017-2018 and then by 50% in school year 2018-2019 , and each school year thereafter. The bill also repeals the summer school and extended day categorical grant program in W.S. 21-13-334 and imbeds it within the education resource block grant model. The bill amends the 2016 Budget Bill to make conforming changes to the appropriations for school district payments and establishes that amendments in the bill that are in direct conflict with the 2017 budget bill shall prevail over amendments in the 2017 budget bill , except for court ordered placement program appropriations. The bill also prohibits school districts from purchasing or entering into a lease for a school bus on or after March 15, 2017, unless the Department of Education determines that an emergency exists. The bill also modifies the level of funding provided to school districts for transportation operations in school year 2018-2019 to be based upon the average a school district received in school years 2014-2015, 2015-2016 and 2016-2017. The bill modifies the calculation of average daily membership to be counted on a fractional basis for students enrolled in a school less than eighty percent (80%) of a full time equivalency basis. The bill provides that a school district may count among its average daily membership a child placed in a private treatment facility or group home as a result of a court order so long as the district provides education services directly to the child or pays another district to provide education services to the child pursuant to contract. The bill establishes a moratorium on the creation of alternative schools through June 30, 2019 and requires the Joint Education Interim Committee to conduct a study related to alternative schools and report findings not later than November 30, 2018. It prohibits design and construction funding to be expended on alternative schools until July 1, 2019. The bill also repeals the K-3 grades student-to- teacher ratio requirement of sixteen (16) students to one (1) teacher as a criterion to participate in the School Foundation Program. The bill, to the extent funds in the Legislative Stabilization Reserve Account (LSRA) are available, restores the School Foundation Program Account balance (SFPA) to $100,000,000. It repeals this requirement if the LSRA’s balance is less than $500,000,000. It also repeals the transfer of funds from the SFPA to the School Capital Construction Account (SCCA) and the SCCA to the Common School Account within the Permanent Land Fund. The bill establishes a select committee on school finance recalibration that will undertake a study of the state educational program and recalibrate the education resource block grant funding model. The recalibration is not limited to the existing cost-based model. The select committee must study and recommend solutions to the projected shortfall for funding related to public education. The select committee shall report its recommendations and any associated legislation not later than January 31, 2018. The bill appropriates $80,000 to the Legislative Service Office to provide salary, per diem and mileage for the select committee members. Comments: The bill amends major programs related to education funding and finance; The bill requires reports by the newly-created select committee; Appropriates funds to LSO; Creates a Select Committee with Legislative Members; Requires a Legislative Appointment. The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent. While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill .
Public statements
Last checked Aug 7, 5:12 AM
S18
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker explains that they removed legislative findings from the bill because such provisions are not normally used, despite legal counsel recommending them. They also note that other components like health insurance and revenue diversions were removed to ensure constitutionality.
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports an amendment because it allows any member of the Appropriations Committee to serve on a recalibration committee, rather than just the chairman. He believes other members may have more expertise in school funding and that this change gives the President more flexibility in appointments.
S08
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports an amendment because legal counsel identified that the word 'linearly' was added without a clear reason and is inconsistent with Appendix B of the funding model.
D · S09
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports an amendment adding a sales tax increase because he believes schools are not truly funded through savings and there is no other solution on the table for school capital construction.
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports an amendment to eliminate health insurance cuts because he believes immediate $71 million in cuts are too much for districts and removing the health piece allows time for recalibration while keeping constitutionally defensible reductions.
R · S27
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports an amendment removing health insurance cuts because he believes keeping them makes the bill too aggressive to pass and that this change gives districts breathing room.
R · S01
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports an amendment removing health insurance cuts, stating his name is not on it but he favors the measure to reduce immediate burdens.
S18
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports an amendment to allow the Senate President and Speaker to appoint a committee member instead of automatically assigning the Appropriations Chairman, citing that the chairman is overworked.
D · S09
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the amendment because it reduces the potential to solve education funding problems during the current session.
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the amendment to reduce financial burdens on districts that have successfully lowered their health insurance costs, pending a future recalibration.
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the amendment to include legislative findings recommended by legal counsel regarding education finance and student performance data.
R · S30
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the amendment because it includes accurate findings recommended by legal counsel to help defend against potential school litigation.
R · S16
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the amendment because he believes the legislative findings regarding spending increases and student achievement levels are directly related to the bill's purpose.
S18
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the amendment because he believes these specific legislative findings lay the necessary groundwork for a comprehensive reexamination of education finance and recalibration.
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports Amendment Three to correct unintended consequences regarding fractional ADM definitions and funding reductions that would destroy good programs.
R · H54
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes Amendment Three due to personal concern that drawing down reserves will lead to increased local property taxes (PIE tax) once those funds are depleted.
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the bill because it lacks provisions to study budget efficiencies, which their constituents believe are necessary.
R · H34
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the bill because they feel their time is being wasted by its introduction after working late on other business.
R · H09
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes cutting teacher salaries, arguing that it breaks promises made to educators who relied on those funds for major purchases and suggests looking at other funding areas instead.
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker is undecided on voting for this specific amendment alone, noting that teachers expressed willingness to take a pay cut only if it does not negatively impact student-teacher ratios or occur without other state measures.
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the measure because he believes it unfairly targets large school districts while exempting small ones, making it an unequal way to make cuts.
R · H11
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the amendment because his county is already operating with larger class sizes, meaning this change would not negatively impact them and could save money in rural areas.
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the amendment because research suggests larger class sizes do not harm learning, and districts are currently being paid for smaller classes they do not actually staff.
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the amendment because cutting teacher pay while asking them to stay sends a contradictory message that could lead to high turnover and difficulty finding qualified educators.
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the amendment based on an example from another state where a similar model saved money and allowed children to return to school faster after a disaster.
H31
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the amendment because it encourages thinking outside established boundaries and allows a committee to examine innovative ideas that could save money for the state.
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports studying this option because he believes the committee should examine whether it is constitutional or saves money rather than removing it from consideration.
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the amendment as a conservative solution that empowers parents with school choice and avoids tax increases, citing precedents of third-party accounts used in other legislation.
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the amendment because he believes court decisions regarding education funding have driven up costs and this measure is necessary to stop school districts from challenging the state's finance system.
If a lawmaker is not listed, we couldn't find a published reason.
Wyoming roll calls
15 roll calls
Official activity
Changes
34 stored
Corrected, Adopted 2nd reading by Larsen
Corrected, Adopted 2nd reading by Barlow
Adopted 2nd reading by Sommers
Adopted 2nd reading by Henderson
Corrected, Failed 2nd reading by Clem
Failed 2nd reading by Pownall
Corrected, Adopted 2nd reading by Gray
Withdrawn 2nd reading by Steinmetz
Failed 2nd reading by Winters
Adopted 3rd reading by Greear
Adopted 3rd reading by Harshman
Adopted 3rd reading by Eyre
Withdrawn 3rd reading by Steinmetz
Failed 3rd reading by Steinmetz
Adopted 3rd reading by Edwards
Adopted Committee of the Whole by Northrup
Adopted Committee of the Whole by Sommers
Corrected, Adopted Committee of the Whole by Sommers
H Adopted, S Adopted Conference Committee
Adopted Standing Committee by HEducation
Failed 2nd reading by Burns
Adopted 2nd reading by Coe
Adopted 2nd reading by Landen
Adopted 2nd reading by Coe
Failed 2nd reading by Kinskey
Adopted 2nd reading by Wasserburger
Adopted 3rd reading by Burns
Adopted 3rd reading by Ellis
Failed 3rd reading by Rothfuss
Adopted 3rd reading by Kinskey
Adopted 3rd reading by Coe
Divided Standing Committee by SEducation
Corrected, Adopted Standing Committee by SEducation
Corrected, Failed Standing Committee by SEducation