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H. 4422
STATUS INFORMATION
Joint Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Taylor, Long, Felder and Thayer
Document Path: l:\council\bills\agm\18044ab14.docx
Introduced in the House on January 14, 2014
Currently residing in the House Committee on Ways and Means
Summary: Federal Education Funding Study Committee
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
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12/10/2013 House Prefiled
12/10/2013 House Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
1/14/2014 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 76)
1/14/2014 House Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
(House Journal-page 76)
2/20/2014 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Thayer
View the latest legislative information at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
TO CREATE THE "FEDERAL EDUCATION FUNDING STUDY COMMITTEE" TO REVIEW FEDERAL FUNDING OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THIS STATE AND IDENTIFY AREAS WHERE THE RECEIPT AND EXPENDITURE OF FEDERAL FUNDS SHOULD BE GIVEN GREATER EFFICIENCY AND TRANSPARENCY, TO PROVIDE FOR MEMBERSHIP OF THE STUDY COMMITTEE AND THE METHOD OF APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS, TO SET FORTH THE DUTIES OF THE STUDY COMMITTEE, TO REQUIRE THE STUDY COMMITTEE TO PREPARE A REPORT WITH FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE GOVERNOR AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AMONG OTHERS, TO MAKE THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, AND TO INCLUDE A SUNSET PROVISION FOR THE STUDY COMMITTEE.
Whereas, the General Assembly finds that according to the South Carolina Department of Education, the federal government provides $864,331,430 to South Carolina's overall K-12 education budget through numerous programs, which amounts to approximately eleven percent of that budget; and
Whereas, the General Assembly finds that federal education programs in this State that concern this funding include the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Perkins Vocational Technical Education Act, and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; and
Whereas, the General Assembly finds that before receiving and expending federal funding, certain rules and regulations established by federal law must be followed; and
Whereas, in order for the General Assembly to understand the impact of federal requirements, including those that affect staffing and administrative duties, it is prudent and necessary to create the Federal Education Funding Study Committee. Now, therefore
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. (A) A Federal Education Funding Study Committee is created to:
(1) study the federal funding of public education in this State through information gathered from the public and government sources; and
(2) produce a report that analyzes the sources and expenditures of federal funding concerning public education in this State and resulting administrative burdens on affected governmental entities, identifying areas where the receipt and expenditure of federal funds should be given greater efficiency and transparency, and to make appropriate recommendations.
(B) The study committee members include the:
(1) Speaker of the House or his designee;
(2) Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee or his designee;
(3) Chairman of the House Education and Public Works Committee or his designee;
(4) President Pro Tempore of the Senate or his designee;
(5) Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee or his designee;
(6) Chairman of the Senate Education Committee or his designee;
(7) Governor or her designee;
(8) State Superintendent of Education or his designee; and
(9) Chairman of the Education Oversight Committee or his designee.
(C) The study committee shall meet on July 1, 2014, or as soon as practical after the beginning of Fiscal Year 2014-2015, and at this meeting shall select a chairman.
(D)(1) The study committee shall conduct public information sessions in each of the seven congressional districts. The study committee must hold sessions where public school administrators, educators, and concerned citizens can present information regarding the following: how federal funding impacts districts and schools, administrative and bureaucratic obstacles that are encountered as a result of federal requirements, and suggestions on how federal funds should be allocated and managed.
(2) The study committee shall engage the Department of Education and Education Oversight Committee in order to gain a statewide perspective regarding federal funding and the administrative burdens encountered at the state level. The committee is encouraged to engage all members of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation in order to receive their input and recommendations.
(E) The study committee shall prepare a report that sets forth findings and recommendations relevant to the purposes of the study committee including, but not limited to:
(1) the amount of federal funds provided to South Carolina;
(2) programs in which federal funds are spent;
(3) matches of state dollars that are required before federal funds are transferred to the State;
(4) parameters in which federal funds must be spent;
(5) administrative burdens placed on schools, districts, and state education agencies resulting from the receipt of federal funds;
(6) areas where the receipt and expenditure of federal funds should be given greater efficiency and transparency; and
(7) recommendations based on the findings of the study committee.
(F) The staffing for the committee must be provided or coordinated by the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee.
(G) A member of the study committee shall serve without compensation or per diem, but may receive mileage if paid by the entity that appointed the member.
(H)(1) The study committee shall provide its report to the Governor, General Assembly, State Superintendent of Education, and each member of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation by December 31, 2014, at which time the study committee is dissolved.
(2) The Department of Education shall make the report available to the public on its website.
SECTION 2. This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on February 20, 2014 at 1:04 PM