SLS 10RS-927 ORIGINAL
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
Regular Session, 2010
SENATE BILL NO. 509
BY SENATOR LONG
SCHOOLS. Includes the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts in the MFP.
(gov sig)
AN ACT1
To enact R.S. 17:1968.1 and to repeal R.S. 17:1969, relative to funding for the Louisiana2
School for Math, Science, and the Arts; to provide for the inclusion of the school in3
the minimum foundation program formula; to provide for the allocation of minimum4
foundation program funds attributable to such inclusion; to provide relative to5
appropriations from the state general fund; to repeal the requirement that the school's6
board of directors prepare and adopt a formula to adequately fund the school's7
educational programs; and to provide for related matters.8
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:9
Section 1. R.S. 17:1968.1 is hereby enacted to read as follows: 10
ยง1968.1. Funding; inclusion in the minimum foundation program formula;11
other appropriated state funds12
A. (1) The state shall annually fund the Louisiana School for Math,13
Science, and the Arts at a level that shall not be less than the average funding14
on a per student basis at peer institutions in other states having similar15
programs.16
(2) Such funding level shall be achieved through appropriations made17 SB NO. 509
SLS 10RS-927 ORIGINAL
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
directly to the school from the state general fund and through funds1
appropriated for the minimum foundation program and allocated to the school2
by the Department of Education.3
B.(1) For the purposes of this Section, the Louisiana School for Math,4
Science, and the Arts shall be considered a public secondary school and, as such,5
shall be included by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education6
in the formula required by Article VIII, Section 13 of the Constitution of7
Louisiana used to determine the cost of a minimum foundation program of8
education in all public elementary and secondary schools.9
(2) Minimum foundation program funds allocated to the school shall be10
based upon the school's enrollment on October first of the preceding school year11
and each student shall be funded at one hundred percent of the base per pupil12
amount as contained in the minimum foundation program budget letter13
approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.14
C. Funding allocated to the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the15
Arts through the minimum foundation program formula shall not supplant or16
replace funds otherwise appropriated to the school based upon prior years'17
funding levels.18
Section 2. R.S. 17:1969 is hereby repealed in its entirety.19
Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not20
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature21
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If22
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become23
effective on the day following such approval.24 SB NO. 509
SLS 10RS-927 ORIGINAL
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jeanne C. Johnston.
DIGEST
Proposed law (R.S. 17:1968.1) provides with respect to the Louisiana School for Math,
Science, and the Arts as follows:
1. Requires the state to annually fund the school at a level not less than the average per
student funding at peer institutions in other states having similar programs. Such
funding level shall be achieved through appropriations made directly to the school
from the state general fund and through funds appropriated for the minimum
foundation program and allocated to the school by the Dept. of Education.
2. For purposes of proposed law, the school will be considered a public secondary
school and included by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
(BESE) in the minimum foundation program formula (MFP). MFP funds allocated
to the school will be based upon the school's enrollment on October first of the
preceding school year and each student shall be funded at 100% of the base per pupil
amount as contained in the MFP budget letter approved by BESE.
3. Funding allocated to the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts through
the MFP shall not supplant or replace funds otherwise appropriated to the school
based upon prior years' funding levels.
Present law (R.S. 17:1969) requires the board of directors of the Louisiana School for Math,
Science, and the Arts to annually prepare and adopt a recommended formula to adequately
fund the school's educational programs. The goal of this formula is to provide state funding
for the school which is not less than the average per student funding at peer institutions in
other states having similar programs and enrollments and may provide for achieving its goal
over a multi-year period.
Provides that, prior to approval, BESE may return the formula adopted by the board of
directors and may recommend an amended formula for consideration by the board for
submission to BESE for approval.
Provides that if BESE fails to approve the formula most recently adopted by the board of
directors, the last formula adopted by the board and approved by BESE shall be used to
adequately fund the educational programs at the school.
Requires the board of directors of the school to annually request sufficient monies to fully
fund the cost to the state for the school based on the adopted and approved formula and to
submit their budget request to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget.
Provides that if the BESE fails to approve the formula developed by the school's board of
directors, the board shall prepare its annual budget request as otherwise provided by law.
Provides that the amount of funding for any budget request submitted by the board shall be
determined by the legislature.
Proposed law repeals present law.
Effective upon signature by the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 17:1968.1; repeals R.S. 17:1969)