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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 provide relative to the school's annual6
budget; and to provide for related matters.7
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:8
Section 1. R.S. 17:1968.1 is hereby enacted to read as follows: 9
ยง1968.1. Funding; inclusion in the minimum foundation program formula;10
other appropriated state funds11
A.(1)The board of directors of the Louisiana School for Math, Science,12
and the Arts annually shall prepare and adopt a recommended formula to13
adequately fund the educational programs at the school. The formula shall14
have as its goal to provide state funding for the school which shall not be less15
than the average funding on a per student basis at peer institutions in other16
states having similar programs and enrollments and may provide for achieving17 SB NO. 509
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
its goal over a multi-year period. The recommended formula shall be submitted1
to the Division of Administration as the total budget request for the school.2
(2) Funding for the school shall be provided through appropriations3
made directly to the school from the state general fund and through funds4
appropriated for the minimum foundation program and allocated to the school5
by the Department of Education.6
B.(1) For the purposes of this Section, the Louisiana School for Math,7
Science, and the Arts shall be considered a public secondary school and, as such,8
shall be included by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education9
in the formula required by Article VIII, Section 13 of the Constitution of10
Louisiana used to determine the cost of a minimum foundation program of11
education in all public elementary and secondary schools.12
(2) Minimum foundation program funds allocated to the school shall be13
based upon the school's enrollment, which shall be determined in the same14
manner as for other public schools, and each student shall be funded at one15
hundred percent of the base per pupil amount as contained in the minimum16
foundation program budget letter approved by the State Board of Elementary17
and Secondary Education.18
C. The amount of funding for any budget request submitted as provided19
in this Section that is not provided through the minimum foundation program20
formula shall be determined by the legislature.21
Section 2. R.S. 17:1969 is hereby repealed in its entirety.22
Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not23
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature24
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If25
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become26
effective on the day following such approval.27 SB NO. 509
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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
Long (SB 509)
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 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 such 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. The recommended formula shall be
submitted to the Div. of Administration as the total budget request for the school.
2. Specifies that funding for the school 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.
3. 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 in
the minimum foundation program formula (MFP). MFP funds allocated to the school
will be based upon the school's enrollment, which shall be determined in the same
manner as for other public schools. Each student shall be funded at 100% of the base
per pupil amount as contained in the MFP budget letter approved by BESE.
4. The amount of funding for the school's budget request not provided through the MFP
shall be determined by the legislature.
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. These provisions of present law were incorporated into proposed
law.
Present law 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. SB NO. 509
SLS 10RS-927 ENGROSSED
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
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)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Education to the
original bill.
1. Deletes requirement that the legislature annually fund the school at a level
not less than the average per student funding provided to peer institutions.
2. Changes method of computation of student enrollment count.
3. Deletes language providing that MFP funding shall not supplant historical
SGF funding of the school and provides that the level of funding outside of
the MFP shall be determined by the legislature.