Bill > S1543

Introduced Session

This bill requires that the board of education of a Type I school district and the board of trustees of a charter school establish a citizen budget oversight committee. The committee would act as an advisor to the board and work with the board to monitor the financial position of the school district or charter school. The committee's responsibilities would include, but need not be limited to: (1) Reviewing the school district's or charter school's revenues and expenditures on a monthly basis with the school business administrator and reporting monthly to the entire board on the financial status of the district or charter school and the committee's activities; (2) At the discretion of the committee or at the request of a majority of the board, providing a review, analysis, and recommendations regarding special school district or charter school initiatives or the school district or charter school budget; and (3) Making information requests to the board through a person designated by the board to be its committee liaison.In the case of a committee established in a Type I school district, the committee will also review the school district's recommended school tax levy. The citizen budget oversight committee would consist of at least five members with, to the extent feasible, at least two of the members having the educational or vocational expertise to review financial statements. For a Type I school district, the committee will consist of parents, educators, and taxpayers residing in the school district. For a charter school, the committee will consist of parents with students in the charter school, educators residing in the charter school district of residence, and a representative of the Department of Education. A selection committee designated by the board will evaluate applications submitted by individuals seeking appointment to the citizen budget oversight committee and present the candidates it has identified to the board of education or board of trustees for approval at a regular meeting of the board. Each new member of the citizen budget oversight committee will be required to complete a training program developed by the Department of Education within the first two months of the member's first term. The training program will consist, at a minimum, of two hours and cover the following topics: an overview of the school district or charter school budget process and timelines; instruction in the basic rules of budgeting; and reporting requirements.

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Shirley Turner (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document