Colorado Legislative Council Staff

REVISED NO FISCAL IMPACT

(replaces Fiscal Note dated January 20, 1998)


Drafting Number:

Prime Sponsor(s):

LLS 98-444

Rep. Schauer

Sen. Blickensderfer

Date:

Bill Status:

Fiscal Analyst:

April 14, 1998

Senate Education

Janis Baron (866-3523)

 

TITLE:            CONCERNING AUTHORIZATION OF ALTERNATIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.



Summary of Assessment


            The reengrossed bill includes provisions relative to alternative on-line education programs as noted below:

 

               authorizes a school district, any group of two or more districts, or any board of cooperative services to create an on-line program;

 

               identifies the guidelines which must apply to the on-line program; and

 

               provides that a student may enroll in an on-line program created by a school district only if, in the preceding academic year the student either was enrolled in a public school or charter school of a school district in this state or the student was not enrolled in any private school, had not participated in any nonpublic home-based education program or home instruction by a licensed or certified teacher.

   

            The bill is effective at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the ninety-day period after adjournment sine die of the General Assembly, or on the date of the official declaration of the vote of the people as proclaimed by the Governor, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to Article V, Section 1 (3) of the State Constitution.


            The reengrossed bill allows only those students who were previously eligible to be counted for the purposes of public school finance funding in the prior academic year, to enroll in an on-line program created by a school district. Because the bill prevents students who were enrolled in private school or a home-based education program in the prior year from enrolling in an on-line program, there is no “widening of the net” or fiscal impact to public school finance funding. Therefore, the bill is assessed as having no fiscal impact. The bill includes a “no appropriation” clause.



Departments Contacted


            Education