H. B. 2044


(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chambers, and Delegate Ashley)
(By Request of the Executive)
[Introduced January 17, 1995; referred to the
Committee on Education then Finance.]



A BILL to amend and reenact sections three-b and eight-a, article nine-a, chapter eighteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to the state basic foundation program for public schools and other allowances; and calculating the allowance for regional educational service agencies at the fiscal year one thousand nine hundred ninety-five level.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That sections three-b and eight-a, article nine-a, chapter eighteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 9A. PUBLIC SCHOOL SUPPORT.
§18-9A-3b. Total state basic foundation program for fiscal year
1995-1996 only.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article to the contrary, the total basic foundation program for the state for the fiscal year one thousand nine hundred ninety-three-- ninety-four ninety-five--ninety-six shall be the sum of the following, less the county's local share, subject to adjustments in accordance with the provisions of section twelve of this article:
(1) An allowance for professional educators in an amount equal to six hundred fifty-five million, eight hundred one thousand, seven hundred seventeen dollars; at least equal to six hundred twenty-three million, five hundred fifteen thousand, seventy dollars
(2) An allowance for service personnel in an amount equal to two hundred three million, eighty-seven thousand, five hundred twenty-seven dollars; at least equal to one hundred ninety million, four hundred forty-two thousand, three hundred eighty-two dollars
(3) An allowance for fixed charges in an amount equal to seventy-four million, six hundred thirty-seven thousand, four hundred seventy-three dollars; appropriated by the Legislature
(4) An allowance for transportation costs in an amount equal to twenty-eight million, five hundred forty-six thousand, eight hundred fifty-five dollars; appropriated by the Legislature
(5) An allowance for administrative costs in an amount equal to three million, two hundred eighty-two thousand, five hundred sixty-five dollars; appropriated by the Legislature
(6) An allowance for other current expense and substitute employees in an amount equal to ninety-five million, four hundred fifty-eight thousand, five hundred thirty-nine dollars; appropriated by the Legislature; and
(7) An allowance to improve instructional programs in an amount equal to thirty-two million, five hundred twenty thousand, nine hundred ninety-four dollars. appropriated by the Legislature
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article to the contrary, additional allowances not part of the total basic foundation program shall be paid for the fiscal year one thousand nine hundred ninety-five--ninety-six in accordance with the following:
(1) Allowance for regional educational service agencies in the amount of three million, six hundred six thousand, nine hundred nine dollars in accordance with the provisions of section eight-a of this article;
(2) An allowance for the public employees insurance fund in the amount of one hundred nineteen million, one hundred thirty- five thousand, one hundred fifty dollars in accordance with the provisions of section twenty-four of this article;
(3) School building capital improvements fund debt service in the amount of twenty-three million, three hundred fifty-five thousand, seven hundred twenty-four dollars in accordance with the provisions of section ten of this article;
(4) Teachers retirement fund allowance in the amount of one hundred eighty-three million, two hundred eighty-three thousand, one hundred five dollars in accordance with the provisions of sections six-a and six-b of this article; and
(5) Allowance for increased enrollment in the amount of four million, seven hundred ninety thousand, nine hundred fifty dollars in accordance with the provisions of section fifteen of this article.

§18-9A-8a. Foundation allowance for regional educational service

agencies.

For the fiscal year beginning on the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred ninety-one, and for each fiscal year thereafter, the foundation allowance for regional educational service agencies shall be equal to sixty-three fifty-five one-hundredths percent of the allocation for professional educators as determined in section four of this article. Provided, That for the fiscal year beginning on the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred ninety-four only, the foundation allowance for regional educational service agencies shall be at least equal to fifty-five one-hundredths percent of the allocation for professional educators as determined in section four of this article The allowance shall be distributed to the regional educational service agencies in accordance with rules adopted by the state board. The allowance for regional educational service agencies shall be excluded from the computation of total basic state aid as provided for in section twelve of this article.




NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to conform statutory funding requirements to the Executive Budget Bill and calculate the allowance for regional educational service agencies at the current rate of .55% of step one.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.