HF 2393 (LSB 6582YH (2) 91)

HOUSE FILE 2393

BY  SORENSEN

A BILL FOR

An Act permitting school districts to use certain categorical funds generated from pupils participating in the education savings account program for any school general fund purpose.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 257.10, subsection 9, paragraph d, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   d.  For the budget year beginning July 1, 2010, and succeeding budget years, the use of the funds calculated under this subsection or available for use as provided in subsection 10, paragraph “d”, subsection 12, paragraph “d”, or section 257.46, subsection 3, shall be distributed to teachers pursuant to section 284.3A and shall comply with the requirements of chapter 284 related to such distribution under section 284.3A.  However, for budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2026, amounts calculated under this subsection that are attributable to resident pupils participating in the education savings account program under section 257.11B may be used for any school general fund purpose.
    Sec. 2.  Section 257.10, subsection 10, paragraph d, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   d.  The use of the funds calculated under this subsection and any amount designated for professional development purposes from the school district’s flexibility account under section 298A.2, subsection 2, shall comply with the requirements of chapter 284.  However, for budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2026, amounts calculated under this subsection that are attributable to resident pupils participating in the education savings account program under section 257.11B may be used for any school general fund purpose. If all professional development requirements of chapter 284 are met and funds received under this subsection remain unexpended and unobligated at the end of a fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2017, the school district may transfer all or a portion of such unexpended and unobligated funds for deposit in the school district’s flexibility account established under section 298A.2, subsection 2. At the end of a fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2022, the school district may use all or a portion of funds under this subsection for the purposes authorized under subsection 9, paragraph “d”. At the end of a fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2024, the school district may use all or a portion of funds under this subsection for any trainings required as a condition for a school employee to carry a weapon at the school during school hours.
    Sec. 3.  Section 257.10, subsection 12, paragraph d, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   d.  Except as otherwise allowed under this paragraph, for the budget year beginning July 1, 2014, and succeeding budget years, the use of the funds calculated under this subsection shall comply with the requirements of chapter 284 and shall be distributed to teachers pursuant to section 284.15. The funds shall be used only to increase the payment for a teacher assigned to a leadership role pursuant to a framework or comparable system approved pursuant to section 284.15; to increase the percentages of teachers assigned to leadership roles; to increase the minimum teacher starting salary to the amount provided in section 284.15, subsection 2, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (1); to cover the costs for the time mentor and lead teachers are not providing instruction to students in a classroom; for coverage of a classroom when an initial or career teacher is observing or co-teaching with a teacher assigned to a leadership role; for professional development time to learn best practices associated with the career pathways leadership process; and for other costs associated with a framework or comparable system approved by the department of education under section 284.15 with the goals of improving instruction and elevating the quality of teaching and student learning.  However, for budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2026, amounts calculated under this subsection that are attributable to resident pupils participating in the education savings account program under section 257.11B may be used for any school general fund purpose. If all requirements for the school district for the use of funds calculated under this subsection are met and funds received under this subsection remain unexpended and unobligated at the end of a fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2020, the school district may transfer all or a portion of such unexpended and unobligated funds for deposit in the school district’s flexibility account established under section 298A.2, subsection 2. At the end of a fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2022, school districts may use all or a portion of funds under this subsection for the purposes authorized under subsection 9, paragraph “d”, and, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, school districts shall not be required to participate in or comply with section 284.15 in order to continue to receive funding under this subsection.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill permits school districts to use funds generated for the teacher salary supplement, professional development supplement, and the teacher leadership supplement from pupils participating in the education savings account program for any school general fund purpose. 
   The bill applies to school budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2026.