SLS 12RS-805 ORIGINAL Page 1 of 2 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. Regular Session, 2012 SENATE BILL NO. 592 BY SENATOR PETERSON SCHOOLS. Requires BESE to establish an independent statewide charter authority for Type 2, 4, and 5 charter schools. (8/1/12) AN ACT1 To enact R.S. 17:3981.1, relative to charter schools; to require the State Board of2 Elementary and Secondary Education to establish an independent statewide3 chartering authority for certain types of charter schools; to provide for the duties and4 responsibilities of such authority; to provide with respect to the charter application5 and review process; and to provide for related matters.6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:7 Section 1. R.S. 17:3981.1 is hereby enacted to read as follows:8 ยง3981.1. Independent chartering authority9 A. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall10 establish an independent statewide charter school authority responsible for11 overseeing the charter approval, renewal, and revocation process for Type 2,12 Type 4, and Type 5 charter schools and for making recommendations to the13 board relative to such charters.14 B. The independent charter authority, in accordance with state law,15 State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education rules and regulations, and16 the latest Principles and Standards for Quality Charter School Authorizing, as17 SB NO. 592 SLS 12RS-805 ORIGINAL Page 2 of 2 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. promulgated by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers, shall:1 (1) Develop a charter school application and renewal process.2 (2) Provide technical assistance to applicants for an initial school charter3 or renewal of an existing charter.4 (3) Establish a process to review charter applications and applications5 for charter renewals.6 (4) Establish a formal appeals process for charter applicants who were7 denied a charter and chartering groups whose charter was not renewed or was8 revoked.9 (5) Make recommendations to the State Board of Elementary and10 Secondary Education regarding approval or denial of a charter school11 application, renewal of an existing charter, or revocation of a charter school12 agreement.13 The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jeanne C. Johnston. DIGEST Proposed law requires BESE to establish an independent statewide charter authority to oversee the charter approval, renewal, and revocation process for Type 2, Type 4, and Type 5 charter schools and making recommendations to the board for action on such charters. Provides that the independent charter authority, in accordance with state law, BESE rules and regulations, and the latest Principles and Standards for Quality Charter School Authorizing, as promulgated by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers, shall: 1 Develop a charter school application and renewal process. 2 Provide technical assistance to applicants for an initial school charter or charter renewal. 3 Establish a process to review charter applications and renewals. 4 Establish a formal appeals process for charter applicants who were denied a charter and chartering groups whose charter was not renewed or was revoked. 5 Make recommendations to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education regarding approval or denial of a charter school application, renewal of an existing charter, or revocation of a charter school agreement. Effective August 1, 2012. (Adds R.S. 17:3981.1)