Looking Back at 2010

HB 2014 - Supplemental budget bill for 2009-10, leaves formula underfunded by at least $43 million in current year.  Bill language specified that formula funding shortgall be addressed by adjusting phase-in percentages in SB 287 formula.  Governor signed bill but instructed DESE to use percentage reduction to all districts since the courts have twice ruled that the legislature cannot legislate through appropriation fills.  DESE has estimated that approximately two percent will be deducted from each districts' 2009-10 formula pyament.  (Signed by Governor)

HB 2002 - Elementary and secondary education appropriation bill for 2010-11.  Bill leaves formula at least $105 million underfunded.  DESE has estimated that approximately four percent will be deducted from each district's 2010-11 formula payment.  The phase-in percentages for the SB 287 formula for 2010-11 are 72 - 28 percent.  The bill includes funding for career ladder, which is reimbursement to teachers for services provided in 2009-10.  It also includes a $15 million reduction for transportation and a $14.8 million reduction for PAT.  The appropriation bill uses $246.6 million of federal stabilization funds.  ($524 million of these funds were used in 2009-10)

Other Bills

HB 1392 (Kirkiton) - Changes deadline from September 1 to October 1 for political sub-divisions in charter counties and City of St. Louis to set their annual property tax rates.  Provision also included in HB 1316 (Deeken).

HB 1444 (Jones) - Requires public governing bodies to hold a public meeting and to allow public comment four business days prior to voting on the implementation of a tax increase or certain economic development projects that use public funds to finance the projects.  The tax increase limitation does not include the setting of the annual tax rate.  This bill may include school boards.  SB 851 (Schmitt) contains identical language.

HB 1543 (Wallace) - Omnibus school liability and flexibility bill that includes:

1. Expands the reporting of acts of violence to include all teachers and other employees who need to know at the student's school building.
2. Specifies that a suspended student not allowed on school property without permission is also prohibited from attending school events occurring off school property.
3. Expands employee immunity from following discipline policies to include following all policies of the school district.
4. Adds the use of reasonable force to protect persons or property by school district personnel to the provisions regarding spanking.  Neither act is to be considered abuse that would be investigated as long as the acts do not raise an allegation of sexual misconduct and another employee is present as a witness to spanking.
5. Adds cyper-bullying to list of required elements for school district anti-bullying policies.
6. If in fiscal years 2011 to 2013 the formula is underfunded or if transportation reimbursement is less than 75 percent, DESE cannot penzlize a school district for failing to achieve resource standards on the MSIP accreditation review.  This provision also applies to the fiscal year following a year in which the Governor withholds formula funds.
7. Requires the Office of Administration to issue regulations for contractors or sub-contractors on public works construction projects at public schools which require contractors to establish random drug and alcohol testing programs for their employees.  School districts must be notified of any positive tests.
8. In fiscal years 2011 to 2013, if the formua is underfunded or if transportation reimbursement is less than 75 percent, school districts are excused from dedicating one percent of their formula funds to professional development, from placing 75 percent of their formula funds and 75 percent of their Proposition "C" funds in the teachers' fund, and from teacher salary compliance.  This provision also applies to the fiscal year following a year in which the Governor witholds formula funds.  This secontion contains an emergency clause.
9. Allows all public school districts to require school uniforms and/or restrict student dress.
10. Exempts unqualified employees who refuse to administer medication or medical services from disciplinary action for the refusal.
11. Exempts qualified employees from any civil liability for administering medication or medical services in good faith and according to standard medical practices.
12. Specifies that students must be allo0wed to self-administer medications for any chronic health condition.
13. Adds other school employees trained and supervised by the school nurse to the list of individuals who are authorized to use an ephinephrine auto-syringe on a student and exempts such employees from civil liabilities when done in good faith and according to the standard medical practices.
14. Removes the requirement, but allows the legislature, to make an annual appropriation for the Career Ladder Program.  Beginning in FY12, any state appropriation must be made prospectively in relation to the year in which work under the program is performed.  A school district may fund the program in years for which no state appropriation is available.  The variable state match is repealed, and any state payment will be based upon 60 percent local funding and 40 percent state funding.
15. Specifies that in years in which state appropriations are insufficient to fund the PAT program, high need or low income children will be served first as defined by DESE.  School districts may charge a fee for services on a sliding parental income scale, as developed by DESE.  The PAT revisions will expire Decemer 31, 2015.

HB 1892 (Nasheed) - Allows other individuals, in addition to the superintendent of schools, to issue work certificates for chilren under the age of 16.  These include the CEO of a charter school which the child attends, the principal of a private school which a child attends, or employees of public schools which are authorized by the superintendent to do so, including principals.

HB 2147 (Brown) - Exempts students who are dependents of recently retired military personnel from the three-year attendance requirement of the A+ Program.

SB 588 (Nodler) - Delays the scheduled 2011 requirement for political subdivisions in non-charter counties in re-assessment years to calculate a tentative tax rate in the spring based upon temporary assessment numbers until the State Tax Commission develops appropriate software for assessors to use.  Provision also included in HB 1316 (Deeken).