Bill > H351

This bill establishes a working group to study existing educational mandates imposed on local public schools and districts, which are requirements set by state or federal authorities. This group, composed of legislative leaders, education officials, and representatives from various school administrator and committee associations, will compile a list of all these mandates, both funded and unfunded, and assess their costs. The group's responsibilities include analyzing the economic impact of these mandates on school districts and providing a report to the governor and legislative leadership. Furthermore, they are tasked with making recommendations to streamline, consolidate, or eliminate mandates that are found to be duplicative, inconsistent, or unnecessary, and will solicit input from various stakeholders in the education community. The group is required to submit a final report with its recommendations, including any proposed legislation or regulations, to the joint committee on education and legislative clerks within six months of its first meeting. The bill also includes a moratorium, meaning a temporary halt, on all new mandated education programs and expenses until July 1, 2016.