First Regular Session
Sixty-first General Assembly
LLS NO. 970371.01 ABA
HOUSE BILL 971015
STATE OF COLORADO
BY REPRESENTATIVE Young
EDUCATION
APPROPRIATIONS
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A GRANT PROGRAM TO
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH SMALL ATTENDANCE
CENTERS, AND MAKING AN APPROPRIATION IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.
Bill Summary
"Small Attendance Centers Grant Program"
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced
and does not necessarily reflect any amendments which may be subsequently
adopted.)
Provides for the establishment of a grant program
to provide additional funding to school districts with one or
more small attendance centers. Establishes criteria for the department
of education to use in determining the awarding of grants. Makes
an appropriation.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1. Article 54 of title 22, Colorado Revised Statutes, 1995 Repl. Vol., as amended, is amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION to read:
2254121. Small attendance centers grant fund created. (1) FOR THE 199798 BUDGET YEAR AND BUDGET YEARS THEREAFTER, A DISTRICT SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO SEEK A GRANT FROM THE SMALL ATTENDANCE CENTER GRANT FUND CREATED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (3) OF THIS SECTION IF:
(a) THE DISTRICT HAS A PUPIL ENROLLMENT OF ONE HUNDRED SEVENTYFIVE OR MORE;
(b) THE DISTRICT HAS MORE THAN ONE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE CENTER; AND
(c) THE DISTRICT OPERATES ONE OR MORE SMALL ATTENDANCE CENTERS WHICH IS AN ELEMENTARY OR SECONDARY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE CENTER WITH A PUPIL ENROLLMENT OF LESS THAN TWO HUNDRED AND WHICH IS LOCATED TWENTY OR MORE MILES FROM ANY OTHER SCHOOL ATTENDANCE CENTER WHETHER IN THE SAME DISTRICT OR IN A DIFFERENT DISTRICT.
(2) THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL ADMINISTER THE SMALL ATTENDANCE GRANT FUND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION AND RULES ADOPTED BY THE STATE BOARD. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DETERMINE WHETHER AN ELIGIBLE DISTRICT RECEIVES A GRANT PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION AND THE AMOUNT OF THE GRANT BASED UPON THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
(a) THE PUPILTEACHER RATIO FOR THE SMALL ATTENDANCE CENTER;
(b) THE PER PUPIL FUNDING LEVEL FOR THE DISTRICT;
(c) THE DENSITY OF POPULATION IN THE REGION WHERE THE SMALL ATTENDANCE CENTER IS LOCATED;
(d) THE ACTUAL DRIVING DISTANCE BETWEEN THE SMALL ATTENDANCE CENTER AND OTHER ATTENDANCE CENTERS AND THE GEOGRAPHIC ISOLATION OF THE SMALL ATTENDANCE CENTER; AND
(e) ANY PLAN THE DISTRICT HAS FOR USING DISTANCE LEARNING TECHNOLOGY IN THE SMALL ATTENDANCE CENTER.
(3) THERE IS HEREBY CREATED IN THE STATE TREASURY THE SMALL ATTENDANCE CENTER GRANT FUND. SUCH FUND SHALL CONSIST OF MONEYS APPROPRIATED THERETO BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. MONEYS IN THE FUND SHALL BE SUBJECT TO ANNUAL APPROPRIATION BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING GRANTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (2) OF THIS SECTION. ANY UNEXPENDED OR UNENCUMBERED MONEYS REMAINING IN THE FUND AT THE END OF ANY FISCAL YEAR SHALL REMAIN IN THE FUND AND SHALL NOT REVERT TO OR BE TRANSFERRED TO THE GENERAL FUND OR ANY OTHER FUND OF THE STATE. HOWEVER, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2436114, C.R.S., ALL INTEREST DERIVED FROM THE DEPOSIT AND INVESTMENT OF THIS FUND SHALL BE CREDITED TO THE GENERAL FUND.
SECTION 2. Appropriation. In addition to any other appropriation, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, there is hereby appropriated, out of any moneys in the general fund not otherwise appropriated, to the small attendance center grant fund created in section 2254121, Colorado Revised Statutes, the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), and such sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is further appropriated to the department of education, for the purpose of making grants to school districts with small attendance centers as provided in section 2254121, Colorado Revised Statutes.
SECTION 3. Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.