Bill > HB175

This bill aims to hold school districts and charter schools harmless in fiscal year 2022 funding formula calculations for the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on enrollment and transportation. It provides for a supplemental distribution from the state equalization guarantee distribution appropriation and makes temporary adjustments to transportation distributions. Specifically, the bill: 1. Requires the Secretary to withhold an amount from the state equalization guarantee distribution appropriation to provide supplemental distributions to ensure that each school district's fiscal year 2022 state equalization guarantee distribution plus its supplemental distribution is not less than its budgeted fiscal year 2021 state equalization guarantee distribution as of January 1, 2021. 2. Allows school districts to be eligible for an initial supplemental distribution if their fiscal year 2022 state equalization guarantee distribution is less than their budgeted fiscal year 2021 state equalization guarantee distribution. 3. Allows the Secretary to adjust the program unit value and provide final supplemental distributions to ensure each school district's fiscal year 2022 state equalization guarantee distribution plus its supplemental distribution is not less than its budgeted fiscal year 2021 state equalization guarantee distribution. 4. Requires the Secretary to consult with the Department of Finance and Administration, the Legislative Finance Committee, and the Legislative Education Study Committee when setting the preliminary and final program unit values. 5. Modifies the transportation distribution formula for fiscal year 2022 to use an average of the amounts reported on the second and third reporting dates of fiscal year 2020 instead of fiscal year 2021.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/legislation.aspx?chamber=H&legtype=B&legno=175&year=21