HF 411 (LSB 2615YH (3) 87)

HOUSE FILE 411

BY  WINCKLER, MASCHER, LENSING, KURTH, THEDE, NIELSEN, HUNTER, BRECKENRIDGE, KACENA, JACOBY, STECKMAN, ANDERSON, KEARNS, T. TAYLOR, OURTH, HANSON, BEARINGER, GASKILL, WOLFE, STAED, BROWN-POWERS, FORBES, HEDDENS, COHOON, and PRICHARD

A BILL FOR

An Act authorizing the school budget review committee to grant supplemental aid or establish a modified supplemental amount for a school district with an unusual increase in students eligible for free and reduced price meals 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 2017, 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 2017, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  o.  Any unusual increase in the number of pupils in the district who are eligible 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. §1751-1785.
    Sec. 3.  APPLICABILITY.  This Act applies to school budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2018.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   Code section 257.31 specifies the types of unusual circumstances under which the school budget review committee may grant supplemental aid to a school district from available funding or establish a modified supplemental amount for a school district.
   This bill adds any unusual increase in the number of pupils in the district who are eligible for free and reduced price meals to the list of authorized circumstances.
   The bill applies to school budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2018.