SB51 Alabama 2011 Session

Under existing law, to receive the maximum benefits from the Foundation Program Fund, local boards of education are required to provide a minimum school term of at least 180 days

This bill would, for the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 school years, decrease the length of the required minimum school term by five days and subsequently establish a 175 full instructional day school term as the required minimum school term for the computation of Foundation Program Fund benefits for those school years

Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose

The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the amendment. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the amendment

To amend Section 16-13-231, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the public education Foundation Program Fund; to decrease the required school term from 180 to 175 full instructional days for use in the computation of Foundation Program allowances to local boards of education for the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 school years; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.