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H.B. 350 Enrolled

                 

USE OF INTEREST ON STATE SCHOOL FUND

                 
1999 GENERAL SESSION

                 
STATE OF UTAH

                 
Sponsor: Melvin R. Brown

                  AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION; CREATING A SCHOOL LAND TRUST
                  PROGRAM FOR EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL; PROVIDING THAT THE INTEREST ON THE
                  STATE SCHOOL FUND SHALL BE USED TO FUND THE PROGRAM; PROVIDING THAT
                  THE FUNDS SHALL GO TO EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL TO ENHANCE ACADEMIC
                  PERFORMANCE AND IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE; PROVIDING A
                  DISTRIBUTION FORMULA; REQUIRING SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND SCHOOL PLANS
                  FOR INCREASED OR ENHANCED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE; REQUIRING
                  ACCOUNTABILITY AND REPORTING TO LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS; AND PROVIDING
                  AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
                  This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
                  ENACTS:
                      53-16-101.5, Utah Code Annotated 1953
                  Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
                      Section 1. Section 53-16-101.5 is enacted to read:
                      53A-16-101.5. School LAND Trust Account -- Contents -- Purpose -- Distribution of
                  funds -- School plans for use of funds.
                      (1) (a) There is established a School LAND Trust Program for the state's public schools
                  to enhance student academic performance and improve educational excellence.
                      (b) As used in this section, "academic or educational excellence" means student
                  performance in acquiring and mastering skills in the required state school curriculum.
                      (2) The program shall be funded from that portion of the Uniform School Fund consisting
                  of all the interest and dividends on the State School Fund remaining after the deduction of the
                  amount retained in the State School Fund to protect the fund against losses due to inflation as
                  prescribed by the Utah Constitution Article X, Section 5.
                      (3) (a) The State Board of Education shall allocate all the monies referred to in Subsection


                  (2) annually for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2000, and for each fiscal year thereafter as follows:
                      (i) school districts shall receive 10% of the funds on an equal basis; and
                      (ii) the remaining 90% of the funds shall be distributed on a per student basis, with each
                  district receiving its allocation on the number of students in the district as compared to the state total.
                      (c) Each school district shall distribute its allocation under Subsection (3)(a) to each school
                  within the district on an equal per student basis.
                      (d) In accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
                  board may make rules regarding the time and manner in which the student count shall be made for
                  allocation of the monies.
                      (4) (a) In order to receive its allocation under Subsection (3), each school shall establish a
                  local school committee by October 1, 1999.
                      (b) The committee shall consist of seven members:
                      (i) the school's principal;
                      (ii) two teachers appointed by the faculty at the school; and
                      (iii) four parents selected by the parents of students at the school and representing various
                  grade levels at the school, one of whom shall be the school's PTA president if the school has one.
                      (c) The school may use its directors under Subsections 53A-1a-301 (3) or 53A-1a-303.5 (4)(a)
                  or its community council under Section 53A-1a-108 to fill the requirements of Subsections (4)(a)
                  and (b).
                      (5) (a) The committee shall develop a plan to include:
                      (i) the school's identified most critical academic needs;
                      (ii) a recommended course of action to meet the identified academic needs;
                      (iii) a specific listing of any programs, practices, materials, or equipment which the school
                  will need to implement its action plan to have a direct impact on the instruction of students and result
                  in measurable increased student performance; and
                      (iv) how the school intends to spend its allocation of funds under this section to enhance or
                  improve academic excellence at the school.
                      (b) The school may develop a multiyear plan, but the plan must be presented and approved

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                  by the local school board of the district in which the school is located annually and as a prerequisite
                  to receiving funds allocated under this section.
                      (6) (a) Each school shall:
                      (i) implement the plan as developed by the committee and approved by the local school
                  board.;
                      (ii) provide ongoing support for the committee's plan;
                      (iii) meet school board reporting requirements regarding financial and performance
                  accountability; and
                      (iv) publicize to its patrons and the general public on how the funds it received under this
                  section were used to enhance or improve academic excellence at the school, including the results of
                  those efforts.
                      (b) (i) Each school through its committee shall prepare and present an annual report to its
                  local school board at the end of the school year.
                      (ii) The report shall detail the use of funds received by the school under this section and an
                  assessment of the results obtained from the use of the funds.
                      Section 2. Effective date.
                      This act takes effect on July 1, 1999.

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