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2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
2023 ASSEMBLY BILL 193
April 20, 2023 - Introduced by JOINT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Referred to Committee
on Education.
***AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***
AN ACT to create 20.255 (2) (bt) and 115.448 of the statutes; relating to: grants
for feasibility studies of school district consolidation or whole grade sharing and
making an appropriation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill is explained in the NOTES provided by the Joint Legislative Council in
the bill.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
JOINT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL PREFATORY NOTE: This bill was prepared for the Joint
Legislative Council's Study Committee on Shared School District Services.
Current law does not provide state assistance to fund feasibility studies for school
districts considering consolidation or whole grade sharing agreements.
The bill requires the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to award grants of up
to $25,000 to consortia of 2 or more school boards to fund feasibility studies of school
district consolidation or whole grade sharing agreements. Grant moneys must be used for
a professional financial analysis, which may include a population study, of the effects of
consolidation or whole grade sharing on the school districts. In order to be eligible for a
grant for a consolidation feasibility study, each school board in a consortium must
demonstrate that it has adopted a resolution to consider consolidation.
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ASSEMBLY BILL 193
The bill provides a continuing appropriation of $200,000 in the 2023-2024 fiscal
year. The bill takes effect on the day after publication, or the 2nd day after publication
of the 2023 biennial budget act, whichever is later.
SECTION 1. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert
the following amounts for the purposes indicated:
2023-24 2024-25
20.255 Public instruction, department of
(2) AIDS FOR LOCAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
(bt)Grants for feasibility studies of
consolidation or whole grade
sharing GPR C 200,000 -0-
SECTION 2. 20.255 (2) (bt) of the statutes is created to read:
20.255 (2) (bt) Grants for feasibility studies of consolidation or whole grade
sharing. As a continuing appropriation, the amounts in the schedule for the grant
program under s. 115.448.
SECTION 3. 115.448 of the statutes is created to read:
115.448 Grants for feasibility studies of consolidation or whole grade
sharing. (1) In this section, “eligible applicant” means an applicant for a grant
under this section that is a consortium of 2 or more school boards.
(2) (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (bt) and subject to sub. (3),
the department shall award grants to eligible applicants to fund feasibility studies
of school district consolidation or whole grade sharing agreements under s. 118.50.
The department may not award a grant to an eligible applicant in an amount
exceeding $25,000.
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SECTION 3
ASSEMBLY BILL 193
(b) An eligible applicant receiving a grant under this section shall use the grant
moneys for a professional financial analysis, which may include a population study,
of how school district consolidation or a whole grade sharing agreement under s.
118.50 would affect the school districts governed by the eligible applicant.
(3) To receive a grant under this section to fund a feasibility study of school
district consolidation, an eligible applicant shall demonstrate to the department that
each school board that is a member of the consortium has adopted a resolution under
s. 117.08 (1) or 117.09 (1).
SECTION 4.0Effective date.
(1) This act takes effect on the day after publication, or on the 2nd day after
publication of the 2023 biennial budget act, whichever is later.
(END)
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