HF 493 (LSB 2548YH (3) 88)

HOUSE FILE 493

BY  WINCKLER, LENSING, COHOON, KURTH, HUNTER, GASKILL, ANDERSON, OURTH, STECKMAN, BEARINGER, BRECKENRIDGE, FORBES, STAED, DONAHUE, EHLERT, GAINES, BROWN-POWERS, OLSON, ABDUL-SAMAD, MASCHER, R. SMITH, KURTZ, WOLFE, WILLIAMS, DERRY, McCONKEY, KACENA, and B. MEYER

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the circumstances for which supplemental aid or a modified supplemental amount may be approved by the school budget review committee and including applicability provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 257.31, subsection 5, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2019, is amended to read as follows:
   If a district has unusual circumstances, creating an unusual need for additional funds, including but not limited to the circumstances enumerated in paragraphs “a” through “n” “o”, the committee may grant supplemental aid to the district from any funds appropriated to the department of education for the use of the school budget review committee for the purposes of this subsection. The school budget review committee shall review a school district’s unexpended fund balance prior to any decision regarding unusual finance circumstances. Such aid shall be miscellaneous income and shall not be included in district cost. In addition to or as an alternative to granting supplemental aid the committee may establish a modified supplemental amount for the district. The school budget review committee shall review a school district’s unspent balance prior to any decision to establish a modified supplemental amount under this subsection.
    Sec. 2.  Section 257.31, subsection 5, Code 2019, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  o.  For the payment of fees or costs associated with school courses or programs that are not charged to pupils as the result of the pupil’s eligibility for free and reduced price meals under the federal National School Lunch Act and the federal Child Nutrition Act of 1966, 42 U.S.C. §1751 et seq.
    Sec. 3.  APPLICABILITY.  This Act applies to school budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2019.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   If a school district has one or more of the unusual circumstances enumerated in Code section 257.31(5), creating an unusual need for additional funds, the school budget review committee may grant supplemental aid to the school district from any funds appropriated to the department of education for the use of the school budget review committee or, in addition to or as an alternative to granting supplemental aid, the school budget review committee may establish a modified supplemental amount for the district.
   This bill adds the payment of fees or costs associated with school courses or programs that are not charged to pupils as the result of the pupil’s eligibility for free and reduced price meals under federal law to the list of enumerated circumstances for which supplemental aid or a modified supplemental amount may be approved by the school budget review committee.
   The bill applies to school budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2019.