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HB0040 • 2020

School finance - model recalibration.

AN ACT relating to school finance; creating the select committee on school finance recalibration; providing for a study to recalibrate the education resource block grant model; authorizing the use of consultants; requiring a report; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date.

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Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Education
Last action
2020-03-26
Official status
enrolled
Effective date
3/26/2020

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about the appropriation of funds beyond mentioning it is appropriated. The exact amount and purpose were removed as they are not explicitly stated in the provided official summary or bill text.

School Finance Recalibration Act

The School Finance Recalibration Act creates a committee to study and recalibrate the education resource block grant model for K-12 schools, allowing use of consultants and requiring a report by December 31, 2020.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates a select committee on school finance recalibration with members from both houses of the legislature.
  • Requires the committee to study and recalibrate the education resource block grant model for K-12 schools.
  • Allows the committee to work with professional consultants to complete the study.
  • Requires the committee to report its findings and any necessary legislation by December 31, 2020.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Members of the Wyoming legislature who will serve on the select committee.
  • School districts and state agencies that must provide information to the committee.

Terms To Know

Education Resource Block Grant Model
A funding model used in Wyoming for distributing money to K-12 schools based on student needs and other factors.
Select Committee
A temporary committee created by the legislature to study a specific issue or topic, such as school finance recalibration.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how changes will be implemented after the report is submitted.
  • It is unclear what specific modifications may be recommended in the final report.
  • The effectiveness of the recalibrated model depends on future legislative action based on the committee's recommendations.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB0040H2001

2nd reading • Representative Wilson

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment adds the consideration of changing technologies to the conditions for recalibrating the education resource block grant model.

  • Adds 'including changing technologies' after the word 'conditions' in the bill.
  • The exact impact and scope of including changing technologies is not specified, so it's unclear how this will be implemented or what specific changes might result from considering new technologies.
HB0040JC001

Conference Committee

H Adopted, S Adopted

Plain English: The amendment removes several Senate amendments from the bill.

  • Removes specific Senate amendments (HB0040SS001/AE through HB0040S3002/AE) from the bill.
  • The exact content and impact of the removed Senate amendments are not detailed in this amendment text, so their specific effects cannot be explained here.
HB0040HS001

Standing Committee • House Education Committee

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment changes how members are selected for a committee by specifying that there will be one representative from each house of the legislature instead of allowing each house to choose its own number of representatives.

  • Changes the selection process for committee members to require one member from the House and one from the Senate.
  • The amendment does not specify how additional committee members beyond the two specified will be chosen, if any are needed.
HB0040S2001

2nd reading • Senator Dockstader

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment removes a requirement for one senator to be included in the select committee on school finance recalibration.

  • Removes the provision that requires one member of the select committee to come from the Senate.
  • This change does not specify how or if the composition of the select committee will be altered otherwise, only removing the requirement for a senator's inclusion.
HB0040S2002

2nd reading • Senator Hicks

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment adds a new advisory committee to assist the select committee on school finance recalibration with information and input from various stakeholders.

  • Adds an advisory committee to help the select committee gather necessary information for its work.
  • Specifies that the advisory committee will seek input from students, parents, teachers, administrators, school boards of trustees, and members of the public.
  • Lists specific representatives from different sectors such as education, agriculture, professional services, minerals/energy industry, tourism/hospitality, business, and early childhood development/literacy to be part of the advisory committee.
  • The exact nature and extent of the information gathering process by the advisory committee is not detailed in this amendment text.
HB0040S2003

2nd reading • Senator Kinskey

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment changes the original bill's process for recalibrating school funding models by adding a preliminary study phase before the main study.

  • Adds a new subsection (e) that requires a preliminary study to examine existing educational programs and their alignment with state laws.
  • Specifies that this preliminary study must involve professional consultants who are experts in national best practices for education delivery models.
  • Includes detailed requirements for the preliminary study, such as examining various alternative education delivery methods and assessing compliance with constitutional requirements.
  • The amendment does not specify how the preliminary study will be funded or what specific consultants will be used.
HB0040S3001

3rd reading • Senator Hicks

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment adds a new requirement for the select committee on school finance recalibration to include one member from the Wyoming State Board of Education.

  • Adds a new paragraph (xi) that requires selecting one member serving on the Wyoming State Board of Education to join the select committee.
  • The amendment does not specify how this new member will participate or influence the committee's work beyond their inclusion.
HB0040S3002

3rd reading • Senator Ellis

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment changes the composition of a committee related to school finance by adding one representative from the technology or manufacturing industry.

  • Removes paragraph (f)(ix) that was previously added.
  • Adds a new member from the technology or manufacturing sector to the committee, but does not specify their role or responsibilities beyond their appointment by the state superintendent of public instruction.
  • The amendment text is incomplete and does not provide context for why this change was made or how it affects other parts of the bill.
HB0040SW001

Committee of the Whole • Senator Ellis

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment adds new sections to a bill about school finance that require a select committee to study educational programs and develop alternative frameworks with the help of an advisory committee.

  • Adds a preliminary study for examining existing educational programs and developing alternatives, involving professional consultants.
  • Establishes an advisory committee consisting of various stakeholders such as superintendents, trustees, parents, students, and business representatives to assist the select committee.
  • Increases the funding from $80,000 to $160,000 for the study and related activities.
  • The exact details of how the advisory committee will operate are not fully explained in the amendment text.
HB0040SS001

Standing Committee • Senate Education Committee

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment adds a new section to the bill that requires the select committee to examine educational programs for schools established under Wyoming law and allows them to work with professional consultants.

  • Adds a new subsection (e) requiring the select committee, along with the joint education interim committee, to review educational programs for schools in Wyoming.
  • Allows the select committee to hire professional consultant experts on national best practices or other helpful consultants.
  • Directs the legislative service office to retain these professional consulting experts as needed.
  • The amendment does not specify how many or what type of consultants can be hired, leaving this detail open-ended.

Bill History

  1. 2020-03-26 LSO

    Assigned Chapter Number 157

  2. 2020-03-26 Wyoming Legislature

    Became Law without Governor's Signature

  3. 2020-03-12 Senate

    S President Signed HEA No. 0096

  4. 2020-03-12 House

    H Speaker Signed HEA No. 0096

  5. 2020-03-12 LSO

    Assigned Number HEA No. 0096

  6. 2020-03-11 Senate

    S Appointed JCC01 Members

  7. 2020-03-11 House

    H Appointed JCC01 Members

  8. 2020-03-10 House

    H Concur:Failed 12-47-1-0-0

  9. 2020-03-09 House

    H Received for Concurrence

  10. 2020-03-09 Senate

    S 3rd Reading:Passed 29-1-0-0-0

  11. 2020-03-06 Senate

    S 2nd Reading:Passed

  12. 2020-03-05 Senate

    S COW:Passed

  13. 2020-03-04 Senate

    S Placed on General File

  14. 2020-03-04 Senate

    S02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0

  15. 2020-03-02 Senate

    :Rerefer to S02 - Appropriations

  16. 2020-03-02 Senate

    S04 - Education:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0

  17. 2020-02-26 Senate

    S Introduced and Referred to S04 - Education

  18. 2020-02-26 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  19. 2020-02-25 House

    H 3rd Reading:Passed 54-5-1-0-0

  20. 2020-02-24 House

    H 2nd Reading:Passed

  21. 2020-02-21 House

    H 2nd Reading:Laid Back

  22. 2020-02-20 House

    H COW:Passed

  23. 2020-02-17 House

    H Placed on General File

  24. 2020-02-17 House

    H02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 7-0-0-0-0

  25. 2020-02-14 House

    H COW:Rerefer to H02 - Appropriations

  26. 2020-02-13 House

    H Placed on General File

  27. 2020-02-13 House

    H04 - Education:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 9-0-0-0-0

  28. 2020-02-10 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H04 - Education 59-0-1-0-0

  29. 2020-02-07 House

    H Received for Introduction

  30. 2020-01-08 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 20LSO-0105
Bill No.:

HB0040

Effective:

Immediately

LSO No.:

20LSO-0105

Enrolled Act No.:

HEA No. 0096

Chapter No.:

157

Prime Sponsor:

Joint Education Interim Committee

Catch Title:

School finance - model recalibration.

Subject:

Recalibration of the school finance block grant model.

Summary/Major Elements:

The bill would create a select committee to oversee a K-12 recalibration study during the 2020 legislative interim to determine if modifications are necessary to ensure the model remains cost based in light of changing conditions, including changing technologies and modifications to law.

The bill authorizes the Select Committee to work with consultant experts to complete the preliminary study and recalibration study.

Comments:

Requires a report to the legislature with any associated legislation.

Appropriates funds to LSO for legislative salary, per diem and other Select Committee expenses.

Creates a Select Committee with Legislative Members.

Requires a Legislative Appointment to the Select Committee.

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.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
20LSO-0105

ORIGINAL House

Bill No
.
HB0040

ENROLLED ACT NO. 96,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2020 Budget Session

AN ACT relating to school finance; creating the select committee on school finance recalibration; providing for a study to recalibrate the education resource block grant model; authorizing the use of consultants; requiring a report; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

(a)

There is

created the select committee on school finance recalibration consisting of the following members:

(i)

Six (6) members of the Wyoming senate appointed by the president of the senate;

(ii)

Six (6) members of the Wyoming house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(b)

At least two (2) members from the house of representatives and one (1) member from the senate shall be from the minority party.

(c)

The president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives shall select the select committee co-chairmen. The legislative service office shall staff the select committee.

(d)

The select committee shall undertake a study to recalibrate the education resource block grant model as required by W.S. 21
‑
13
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309(t) to determine if modifications are necessary to ensure the model remains cost-based in light of changing conditions, including changing technologies and modifications to law. The select committee may work with professional consultant experts for model recalibration. The legislative service office, subject to the approval of management council, shall retain
professional consulting experts for the purposes of this act.

(e)

The select committee shall report its recommendations and any associated legislation to the legislature by December 31, 2020. The select committee may introduce legislation as provided in W.S. 28
‑
8
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104(e).

(f)

Appointments shall be made under this section not later than March 31, 2020. The select committee shall remain in existence until December 31, 2020. Any vacancy occurring on the select committee shall be filled without delay by the president or speaker, as appropriate.

(g)

The department of education, other state agencies, school districts and the school data advisory committee established under W.S. 21
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2
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203(d) shall collect and provide information requested by the committee or professional consultant experts working with the committee.

(h)

There is appropriated eighty thousand dollars ($80,000.00) from the general fund to the legislative service office for the purposes of providing salary,
including salary for the chairmen under W.S. 28
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5
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101(e)(i), mileage and per diem to members of the select committee on school finance recalibration and for other expenses of the select committee authorized by law or policy of the legislature. This appropriation shall be for the period beginning with the effective date of this act and ending June 30, 2021. This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as provided by law on June 30, 2021.

Section 2
.

This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

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