HOUSE BILL No. 4445

 

March 15, 2011, Introduced by Rep. Moss and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

 

     A bill to amend 1979 PA 94, entitled

 

"The state school aid act of 1979,"

 

by amending sections 11, 11m, 22a, 22b, 51a, 51c, and 74 (MCL

 

388.1611, 388.1611m, 388.1622a, 388.1622b, 388.1651a, 388.1651c,

 

and 388.1674), sections 11, 11m, 22a, and 51a as amended by 2010 PA

 

217 and sections 22b, 51c, and 74 as amended by 2010 PA 110.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 11. (1) Subject to subsection (5), for the fiscal year

 

ending September 30, 2011, there is appropriated for the public

 

schools of this state and certain other state purposes relating to

 

education the sum of $10,937,260,500.00 $10,757,260,500.00 from the

 

state school aid fund and the sum of $18,642,400.00 from the

 

general fund. For the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011, there

 


is also appropriated the remaining balance of the federal funding

 

awarded to this state under title XIV of the American recovery and

 

reinvestment act of 2009, Public Law 111-5, estimated at

 

$184,256,600.00, to be used solely for the purpose of funding the

 

primary funding formula calculated under section 20, in accordance

 

with federal law. In addition, all other available federal funds,

 

except those otherwise appropriated under section 11p, are

 

appropriated for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011.

 

     (2) The appropriations under this section shall be allocated

 

as provided in this act. Money appropriated under this section from

 

the general fund shall be expended to fund the purposes of this act

 

before the expenditure of money appropriated under this section

 

from the state school aid fund. If the maximum amount appropriated

 

under this section from the state school aid fund for a fiscal year

 

exceeds the amount necessary to fully fund allocations under this

 

act from the state school aid fund, that excess amount shall not be

 

expended in that state fiscal year and shall not lapse to the

 

general fund, but instead shall be deposited into the school aid

 

stabilization fund created in section 11a. For 2009-2010 only, if

 

the department determines before bookclosing for the 2009-2010

 

state fiscal year that the maximum amount appropriated under this

 

section from the state school aid fund for 2009-2010 exceeds the

 

amount necessary to fully fund allocations under this act from the

 

state school aid fund for 2009-2010 and that state support for

 

elementary and secondary education for 2009-2010 will fall below

 

the level of support needed to comply with the maintenance of

 

effort provisions under title XIV of the American recovery and

 


reinvestment act of 2009, Public Law 111-5, then there is

 

appropriated for 2009-2010 from the school aid stabilization fund

 

an amount equal to $30,000,000.00 or the amount that the department

 

determines is necessary for the state support for elementary and

 

secondary education to meet the level of support needed to comply

 

with the maintenance of effort provisions under title XIV of the

 

American recovery and reinvestment act of 2009, Public Law 111-5,

 

whichever is greater. The department shall use any funds

 

appropriated under this subsection as follows:

 

     (a) First, to allocate $10,000,000.00 to provide funding to

 

each intermediate district in an amount equal to the product of

 

14.75% multiplied by the amount of funding allocated to that

 

intermediate district under section 81 for 2009-2010 under 2010 PA

 

110.

 

     (b) Second, to allocate the amount necessary, estimated at

 

$10,000,000.00, to provide funding under this subdivision to

 

districts for which the amount of per-pupil funding calculated and

 

allocated under section 11p(2) is less than $154.00. The payment to

 

a district under this subdivision is an amount equal to the

 

difference between $154.00 and the per-pupil funding amount

 

calculated and allocated under section 11p(2) for the district,

 

multiplied by the district's 2010-2011 membership used for the

 

October 2010 payment.

 

     (c) Third, to allocate any remaining funds to reduce the

 

amount of the per-pupil reduction under section 11d(1) for 2009-

 

2010.

 

     (3) If the maximum amount appropriated under this section from

 


the state school aid fund and the school aid stabilization fund for

 

a fiscal year exceeds the amount available for expenditure from the

 

state school aid fund for that fiscal year, payments under sections

 

11f, 11g, 11j, 22a, 26a, 26b, 31d, 31f, 51a(2), 51a(12), 51c, 53a,

 

56, and 152a shall be made in full. In addition, for districts

 

beginning operations after 1994-95 that qualify for payments under

 

section 22b, payments under section 22b shall be made so that the

 

qualifying districts receive the lesser of an amount equal to the

 

1994-95 foundation allowance of the district in which the district

 

beginning operations after 1994-95 is located or $5,500.00. The

 

amount of the payment to be made under section 22b for these

 

qualifying districts shall be as calculated under section 22a, with

 

the balance of the payment under section 22b being subject to the

 

proration otherwise provided under this subsection and subsection

 

(4). If proration is necessary, state payments under each of the

 

other sections of this act from all state funding sources shall be

 

prorated in the manner prescribed in subsection (4) as necessary to

 

reflect the amount available for expenditure from the state school

 

aid fund for the affected fiscal year. However, if the department

 

of treasury determines that proration will be required under this

 

subsection, or if the department of treasury determines that

 

further proration is required under this subsection after an

 

initial proration has already been made for a fiscal year, the

 

department of treasury shall notify the state budget director, and

 

the state budget director shall notify the legislature at least 30

 

calendar days or 6 legislative session days, whichever is more,

 

before the department reduces any payments under this act because

 


of the proration. During the 30 calendar day or 6 legislative

 

session day period after that notification by the state budget

 

director, the department shall not reduce any payments under this

 

act because of proration under this subsection. The legislature may

 

prevent proration from occurring by, within the 30 calendar day or

 

6 legislative session day period after that notification by the

 

state budget director, enacting legislation appropriating

 

additional funds from the general fund, countercyclical budget and

 

economic stabilization fund, state school aid fund balance, or

 

another source to fund the amount of the projected shortfall.

 

     (4) If proration is necessary under subsection (3), the

 

department shall calculate the proration in district and

 

intermediate district payments that is required under subsection

 

(3) as follows:

 

     (a) The department shall calculate the percentage of total

 

state school aid allocated under this act for the affected fiscal

 

year for each of the following:

 

     (i) Districts.

 

     (ii) Intermediate districts.

 

     (iii) Entities other than districts or intermediate districts.

 

     (b) The department shall recover a percentage of the proration

 

amount required under subsection (3) that is equal to the

 

percentage calculated under subdivision (a)(i) for districts by

 

reducing payments to districts. This reduction shall be made by

 

calculating an equal dollar amount per pupil as necessary to

 

recover this percentage of the proration amount and reducing each

 

district's total state school aid from state sources, other than

 


payments under sections 11f, 11g, 11j, 22a, 26a, 26b, 31d, 31f,

 

51a(2), 51a(12), 51c, 53a, and 152a, by that amount.

 

     (c) The department shall recover a percentage of the proration

 

amount required under subsection (3) that is equal to the

 

percentage calculated under subdivision (a)(ii) for intermediate

 

districts by reducing payments to intermediate districts. This

 

reduction shall be made by reducing the payments to each

 

intermediate district, other than payments under sections 11f, 11g,

 

26a, 26b, 51a(2), 51a(12), 53a, 56, and 152a, on an equal

 

percentage basis.

 

     (d) The department shall recover a percentage of the proration

 

amount required under subsection (3) that is equal to the

 

percentage calculated under subdivision (a)(iii) for entities other

 

than districts and intermediate districts by reducing payments to

 

these entities. This reduction shall be made by reducing the

 

payments to each of these entities, other than payments under

 

sections 11j, 26a, and 26b, on an equal percentage basis.

 

     (5) Any general fund allocations under this act that are not

 

expended by the end of the state fiscal year are transferred to the

 

school aid stabilization fund created under section 11a.

 

     Sec. 11m. From the appropriations in section 11, there is

 

allocated for 2009-2010 an amount not to exceed $12,000,000.00 and

 

for 2010-2011 there is allocated an amount not to exceed

 

$45,000,000.00 $15,000,000.00 for fiscal year cash-flow borrowing

 

costs solely related to the state school aid fund established by

 

section 11 of article IX of the state constitution of 1963.

 

     Sec. 22a. (1) From the appropriation in section 11, there is

 


allocated an amount not to exceed $5,796,241,000.00 for 2009-2010

 

and an amount not to exceed $5,764,000,000.00 $5,737,000,000.00 for

 

2010-2011 for payments to districts, qualifying university schools,

 

and qualifying public school academies to guarantee each district,

 

qualifying university school, and qualifying public school academy

 

an amount equal to its 1994-95 total state and local per pupil

 

revenue for school operating purposes under section 11 of article

 

IX of the state constitution of 1963. Pursuant to section 11 of

 

article IX of the state constitution of 1963, this guarantee does

 

not apply to a district in a year in which the district levies a

 

millage rate for school district operating purposes less than it

 

levied in 1994. However, subsection (2) applies to calculating the

 

payments under this section. Funds allocated under this section

 

that are not expended in the state fiscal year for which they were

 

allocated, as determined by the department, may be used to

 

supplement the allocations under sections 22b and 51c in order to

 

fully fund those calculated allocations for the same fiscal year.

 

     (2) To ensure that a district receives an amount equal to the

 

district's 1994-95 total state and local per pupil revenue for

 

school operating purposes, there is allocated to each district a

 

state portion of the district's 1994-95 foundation allowance in an

 

amount calculated as follows:

 

     (a) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the state

 

portion of a district's 1994-95 foundation allowance is an amount

 

equal to the district's 1994-95 foundation allowance or $6,500.00,

 

whichever is less, minus the difference between the sum of the

 

product of the taxable value per membership pupil of all property

 


in the district that is nonexempt property times the district's

 

certified mills and, for a district with certified mills exceeding

 

12, the product of the taxable value per membership pupil of

 

property in the district that is commercial personal property times

 

the certified mills minus 12 mills and the quotient of the ad

 

valorem property tax revenue of the district captured under tax

 

increment financing acts divided by the district's membership. For

 

a district that has a millage reduction required under section 31

 

of article IX of the state constitution of 1963, the state portion

 

of the district's foundation allowance shall be calculated as if

 

that reduction did not occur.

 

     (b) For a district that had a 1994-95 foundation allowance

 

greater than $6,500.00, the state payment under this subsection

 

shall be the sum of the amount calculated under subdivision (a)

 

plus the amount calculated under this subdivision. The amount

 

calculated under this subdivision shall be equal to the difference

 

between the district's 1994-95 foundation allowance minus $6,500.00

 

and the current year hold harmless school operating taxes per

 

pupil. If the result of the calculation under subdivision (a) is

 

negative, the negative amount shall be an offset against any state

 

payment calculated under this subdivision. If the result of a

 

calculation under this subdivision is negative, there shall not be

 

a state payment or a deduction under this subdivision. The taxable

 

values per membership pupil used in the calculations under this

 

subdivision are as adjusted by ad valorem property tax revenue

 

captured under tax increment financing acts divided by the

 

district's membership.

 


     (3) Beginning in 2003-2004, for pupils in membership in a

 

qualifying public school academy or qualifying university school,

 

there is allocated under this section to the authorizing body that

 

is the fiscal agent for the qualifying public school academy for

 

forwarding to the qualifying public school academy, or to the board

 

of the public university operating the qualifying university

 

school, an amount equal to the 1994-95 per pupil payment to the

 

qualifying public school academy or qualifying university school

 

under section 20.

 

     (4) A district, qualifying university school, or qualifying

 

public school academy may use funds allocated under this section in

 

conjunction with any federal funds for which the district,

 

qualifying university school, or qualifying public school academy

 

otherwise would be eligible.

 

     (5) For a district that is formed or reconfigured after June

 

1, 2000 by consolidation of 2 or more districts or by annexation,

 

the resulting district's 1994-95 foundation allowance under this

 

section beginning after the effective date of the consolidation or

 

annexation shall be the average of the 1994-95 foundation

 

allowances of each of the original or affected districts,

 

calculated as provided in this section, weighted as to the

 

percentage of pupils in total membership in the resulting district

 

in the state fiscal year in which the consolidation takes place who

 

reside in the geographic area of each of the original districts. If

 

an affected district's 1994-95 foundation allowance is less than

 

the 1994-95 basic foundation allowance, the amount of that

 

district's 1994-95 foundation allowance shall be considered for the

 


purpose of calculations under this subsection to be equal to the

 

amount of the 1994-95 basic foundation allowance.

 

     (6) As used in this section:

 

     (a) "1994-95 foundation allowance" means a district's 1994-95

 

foundation allowance calculated and certified by the department of

 

treasury or the superintendent under former section 20a as enacted

 

in 1993 PA 336 and as amended by 1994 PA 283.

 

     (b) "Certified mills" means the lesser of 18 mills or the

 

number of mills of school operating taxes levied by the district in

 

1993-94.

 

     (c) "Current state fiscal year" means the state fiscal year

 

for which a particular calculation is made.

 

     (d) "Current year hold harmless school operating taxes per

 

pupil" means the per pupil revenue generated by multiplying a

 

district's 1994-95 hold harmless millage by the district's current

 

year taxable value per membership pupil.

 

     (e) "Hold harmless millage" means, for a district with a 1994-

 

95 foundation allowance greater than $6,500.00, the number of mills

 

by which the exemption from the levy of school operating taxes on a

 

homestead, qualified agricultural property, qualified forest

 

property, supportive housing property, industrial personal

 

property, and commercial personal property could be reduced as

 

provided in section 1211 of the revised school code, MCL 380.1211,

 

and the number of mills of school operating taxes that could be

 

levied on all property as provided in section 1211(2) of the

 

revised school code, MCL 380.1211, as certified by the department

 

of treasury for the 1994 tax year.

 


     (f) "Homestead", "qualified agricultural property", "qualified

 

forest property", "supportive housing property", "industrial

 

personal property", and "commercial personal property" mean those

 

terms as defined in section 1211 of the revised school code, MCL

 

380.1211.

 

     (g) "Membership" means the definition of that term under

 

section 6 as in effect for the particular fiscal year for which a

 

particular calculation is made.

 

     (h) "Nonexempt property" means property that is not a

 

principal residence, qualified agricultural property, qualified

 

forest property, supportive housing property, industrial personal

 

property, or commercial personal property.

 

     (i) "Qualifying public school academy" means a public school

 

academy that was in operation in the 1994-95 school year and is in

 

operation in the current state fiscal year.

 

     (j) "Qualifying university school" means a university school

 

that was in operation in the 1994-95 school year and is in

 

operation in the current fiscal year.

 

     (k) "School operating taxes" means local ad valorem property

 

taxes levied under section 1211 of the revised school code, MCL

 

380.1211, and retained for school operating purposes.

 

     (l) "Tax increment financing acts" means 1975 PA 197, MCL

 

125.1651 to 125.1681, the tax increment finance authority act, 1980

 

PA 450, MCL 125.1801 to 125.1830, the local development financing

 

act, 1986 PA 281, MCL 125.2151 to 125.2174, the brownfield

 

redevelopment financing act, 1996 PA 381, MCL 125.2651 to 125.2672,

 

or the corridor improvement authority act, 2005 PA 280, MCL

 


125.2871 to 125.2899.

 

     (m) "Taxable value per membership pupil" means each of the

 

following divided by the district's membership:

 

     (i) For the number of mills by which the exemption from the

 

levy of school operating taxes on a homestead, qualified

 

agricultural property, qualified forest property, supportive

 

housing property, industrial personal property, and commercial

 

personal property may be reduced as provided in section 1211 of the

 

revised school code, MCL 380.1211, the taxable value of homestead,

 

qualified agricultural property, qualified forest property,

 

supportive housing property, industrial personal property, and

 

commercial personal property for the calendar year ending in the

 

current state fiscal year.

 

     (ii) For the number of mills of school operating taxes that may

 

be levied on all property as provided in section 1211(2) of the

 

revised school code, MCL 380.1211, the taxable value of all

 

property for the calendar year ending in the current state fiscal

 

year.

 

     Sec. 22b. (1) From the state funds appropriated in section 11,

 

there is allocated for 2009-2010 an amount not to exceed

 

$3,289,000,000.00 and there is allocated for 2010-2011 an amount

 

not to exceed $3,573,500,000.00 $3,558,424,700.00 for discretionary

 

nonmandated payments to districts under this section. Funds

 

allocated under this section that are not expended in the state

 

fiscal year for which they were allocated, as determined by the

 

department, may be used to supplement the allocations under

 

sections 22a and 51c in order to fully fund those calculated

 


allocations for the same fiscal year.

 

     (2) In addition to the funds allocated in subsection (1),

 

there is allocated an amount estimated at $450,000,000.00 for 2009-

 

2010 and there is allocated an amount estimated at $184,256,600.00

 

for 2010-2011 from the federal funds awarded to this state under

 

title XIV of the American recovery and reinvestment act of 2009,

 

Public Law 111-5. These funds shall be distributed in a form and

 

manner determined by the department based on an equal dollar amount

 

per the number of membership pupils used to calculate the final

 

state aid payment of the immediately preceding fiscal year and

 

shall be expended in a manner prescribed by federal law.

 

     (3) Subject to subsection (4) and section 11, the allocation

 

to a district under this section shall be an amount equal to the

 

sum of the amounts calculated under sections 20, 20j, 51a(2),

 

51a(3), and 51a(12), minus the sum of the allocations to the

 

district under sections 22a and 51c.

 

     (4) In order to receive an allocation under subsection (1),

 

each district shall do all of the following:

 

     (a) Administer in each grade level that it operates in grades

 

1 to 5 a standardized assessment approved by the department of

 

grade-appropriate basic educational skills. A district may use the

 

Michigan literacy progress profile to satisfy this requirement for

 

grades 1 to 3. Also, if the revised school code is amended to

 

require annual assessments at additional grade levels, in order to

 

receive an allocation under this section each district shall comply

 

with that requirement.

 

     (b) Comply with sections 1278a and 1278b of the revised school

 


code, MCL 380.1278a and 380.1278b.

 

     (c) Furnish data and other information required by state and

 

federal law to the center and the department in the form and manner

 

specified by the center or the department, as applicable.

 

     (d) Comply with section 1230g of the revised school code, MCL

 

380.1230g.

 

     (5) Districts are encouraged to use funds allocated under this

 

section for the purchase and support of payroll, human resources,

 

and other business function software that is compatible with that

 

of the intermediate district in which the district is located and

 

with other districts located within that intermediate district.

 

     (6) From the allocation in subsection (1), the department

 

shall pay up to $1,000,000.00 in litigation costs incurred by this

 

state related to commercial or industrial property tax appeals,

 

including, but not limited to, appeals of classification, that

 

impact revenues dedicated to the state school aid fund.

 

     (7) From the allocation in subsection (1), the department

 

shall pay up to $1,000,000.00 in litigation costs incurred by this

 

state associated with lawsuits filed by 1 or more districts or

 

intermediate districts against this state. If the allocation under

 

this section is insufficient to fully fund all payments required

 

under this section, the payments under this subsection shall be

 

made in full before any proration of remaining payments under this

 

section.

 

     (8) It is the intent of the legislature that all

 

constitutional obligations of this state have been fully funded

 

under sections 22a, 31d, 51a, and 51c. If a claim is made by an

 


entity receiving funds under this act that challenges the

 

legislative determination of the adequacy of this funding or

 

alleges that there exists an unfunded constitutional requirement,

 

the state budget director may escrow or allocate from the

 

discretionary funds for nonmandated payments under this section the

 

amount as may be necessary to satisfy the claim before making any

 

payments to districts under subsection (3). If funds are escrowed,

 

the escrowed funds are a work project appropriation and the funds

 

are carried forward into the following fiscal year. The purpose of

 

the work project is to provide for any payments that may be awarded

 

to districts as a result of litigation. The work project shall be

 

completed upon resolution of the litigation.

 

     (9) If the local claims review board or a court of competent

 

jurisdiction makes a final determination that this state is in

 

violation of section 29 of article IX of the state constitution of

 

1963 regarding state payments to districts, the state budget

 

director shall use work project funds under subsection (8) or

 

allocate from the discretionary funds for nonmandated payments

 

under this section the amount as may be necessary to satisfy the

 

amount owed to districts before making any payments to districts

 

under subsection (3).

 

     (10) If a claim is made in court that challenges the

 

legislative determination of the adequacy of funding for this

 

state's constitutional obligations or alleges that there exists an

 

unfunded constitutional requirement, any interested party may seek

 

an expedited review of the claim by the local claims review board.

 

If the claim exceeds $10,000,000.00, this state may remove the

 


action to the court of appeals, and the court of appeals shall have

 

and shall exercise jurisdiction over the claim.

 

     (11) If payments resulting from a final determination by the

 

local claims review board or a court of competent jurisdiction that

 

there has been a violation of section 29 of article IX of the state

 

constitution of 1963 exceed the amount allocated for discretionary

 

nonmandated payments under this section, the legislature shall

 

provide for adequate funding for this state's constitutional

 

obligations at its next legislative session.

 

     (12) If a lawsuit challenging payments made to districts

 

related to costs reimbursed by federal title XIX medicaid funds is

 

filed against this state, then, for the purpose of addressing

 

potential liability under such a lawsuit, the state budget director

 

may place funds allocated under this section in escrow or allocate

 

money from the funds otherwise allocated under this section, up to

 

a maximum of 50% of the amount allocated in subsection (1). If

 

funds are placed in escrow under this subsection, those funds are a

 

work project appropriation and the funds are carried forward into

 

the following fiscal year. The purpose of the work project is to

 

provide for any payments that may be awarded to districts as a

 

result of the litigation. The work project shall be completed upon

 

resolution of the litigation. In addition, this state reserves the

 

right to terminate future federal title XIX medicaid reimbursement

 

payments to districts if the amount or allocation of reimbursed

 

funds is challenged in the lawsuit. As used in this subsection,

 

"title XIX" means title XIX of the social security act, 42 USC 1396

 

to 1396v.

 


     Sec. 51a. (1) From the appropriation in section 11, there is

 

allocated for 2009-2010 an amount not to exceed $1,016,342,000.00

 

and there is allocated for 2010-2011 an amount not to exceed

 

$1,057,883,000.00 $947,683,000.00 from state sources and all

 

available federal funding under sections 611 to 619 of part B of

 

the individuals with disabilities education act, 20 USC 1411 to

 

1419, estimated at $350,700,000.00 for 2009-2010 and estimated at

 

$385,700,000.00 for 2010-2011, plus any carryover federal funds

 

from previous year appropriations. The allocations under this

 

subsection are for the purpose of reimbursing districts and

 

intermediate districts for special education programs, services,

 

and special education personnel as prescribed in article 3 of the

 

revised school code, MCL 380.1701 to 380.1766; net tuition payments

 

made by intermediate districts to the Michigan schools for the deaf

 

and blind; and special education programs and services for pupils

 

who are eligible for special education programs and services

 

according to statute or rule. For meeting the costs of special

 

education programs and services not reimbursed under this article,

 

a district or intermediate district may use money in general funds

 

or special education funds, not otherwise restricted, or

 

contributions from districts to intermediate districts, tuition

 

payments, gifts and contributions from individuals, or federal

 

funds that may be available for this purpose, as determined by the

 

intermediate district plan prepared pursuant to article 3 of the

 

revised school code, MCL 380.1701 to 380.1766. All federal funds

 

allocated under this section in excess of those allocated under

 

this section for 2002-2003 may be distributed in accordance with

 


the flexible funding provisions of the individuals with

 

disabilities education act, Public Law 108-446, including, but not

 

limited to, 34 CFR 300.206 and 300.208. Notwithstanding section

 

17b, payments of federal funds to districts, intermediate

 

districts, and other eligible entities under this section shall be

 

paid on a schedule determined by the department.

 

     (2) From the funds allocated under subsection (1), there is

 

allocated each fiscal year for 2010-2011 the amount necessary,

 

estimated at $234,780,000.00 for 2009-2010 and estimated at

 

$248,200,000.00 for 2010-2011, $236,300,000.00, for payments toward

 

reimbursing districts and intermediate districts for 28.6138% of

 

total approved costs of special education, excluding costs

 

reimbursed under section 53a, and 70.4165% of total approved costs

 

of special education transportation. Allocations under this

 

subsection shall be made as follows:

 

     (a) The initial amount allocated to a district under this

 

subsection toward fulfilling the specified percentages shall be

 

calculated by multiplying the district's special education pupil

 

membership, excluding pupils described in subsection (12), times

 

the sum of the foundation allowance under section 20 of the pupil's

 

district of residence plus the amount of the district's per pupil

 

allocation under section 20j(2), not to exceed the basic foundation

 

allowance under section 20 for the current fiscal year, or, for a

 

special education pupil in membership in a district that is a

 

public school academy or university school, times an amount equal

 

to the amount per membership pupil calculated under section 20(6).

 

For an intermediate district, the amount allocated under this

 


subdivision toward fulfilling the specified percentages shall be an

 

amount per special education membership pupil, excluding pupils

 

described in subsection (12), and shall be calculated in the same

 

manner as for a district, using the foundation allowance under

 

section 20 of the pupil's district of residence, not to exceed the

 

basic foundation allowance under section 20 for the current fiscal

 

year, and that district's per pupil allocation under section

 

20j(2).

 

     (b) After the allocations under subdivision (a), districts and

 

intermediate districts for which the payments calculated under

 

subdivision (a) do not fulfill the specified percentages shall be

 

paid the amount necessary to achieve the specified percentages for

 

the district or intermediate district.

 

     (3) From the funds allocated under subsection (1), there is

 

allocated each fiscal year for 2009-2010 and for 2010-2011 the

 

amount necessary, estimated at $1,329,000.00 for 2009-2010 and

 

estimated at $1,400,000.00, for 2010-2011, to make payments to

 

districts and intermediate districts under this subsection. If the

 

amount allocated to a district or intermediate district for a

 

fiscal year under subsection (2)(b) is less than the sum of the

 

amounts allocated to the district or intermediate district for

 

1996-97 under sections 52 and 58, there is allocated to the

 

district or intermediate district for the fiscal year an amount

 

equal to that difference, adjusted by applying the same proration

 

factor that was used in the distribution of funds under section 52

 

in 1996-97 as adjusted to the district's or intermediate district's

 

necessary costs of special education used in calculations for the

 


fiscal year. This adjustment is to reflect reductions in special

 

education program operations or services between 1996-97 and

 

subsequent fiscal years. Adjustments for reductions in special

 

education program operations or services shall be made in a manner

 

determined by the department and shall include adjustments for

 

program or service shifts.

 

     (4) If the department determines that the sum of the amounts

 

allocated for a fiscal year to a district or intermediate district

 

under subsection (2)(a) and (b) is not sufficient to fulfill the

 

specified percentages in subsection (2), then the shortfall shall

 

be paid to the district or intermediate district during the fiscal

 

year beginning on the October 1 following the determination and

 

payments under subsection (3) shall be adjusted as necessary. If

 

the department determines that the sum of the amounts allocated for

 

a fiscal year to a district or intermediate district under

 

subsection (2)(a) and (b) exceeds the sum of the amount necessary

 

to fulfill the specified percentages in subsection (2), then the

 

department shall deduct the amount of the excess from the

 

district's or intermediate district's payments under this act for

 

the fiscal year beginning on the October 1 following the

 

determination and payments under subsection (3) shall be adjusted

 

as necessary. However, if the amount allocated under subsection

 

(2)(a) in itself exceeds the amount necessary to fulfill the

 

specified percentages in subsection (2), there shall be no

 

deduction under this subsection.

 

     (5) State funds shall be allocated on a total approved cost

 

basis. Federal funds shall be allocated under applicable federal

 


requirements, except that an amount not to exceed $3,500,000.00 may

 

be allocated by the department each fiscal year for 2009-2010 and

 

for 2010-2011 to districts, intermediate districts, or other

 

eligible entities on a competitive grant basis for programs,

 

equipment, and services that the department determines to be

 

designed to benefit or improve special education on a statewide

 

scale.

 

     (6) From the amount allocated in subsection (1), there is

 

allocated an amount not to exceed $1,750,000.00 for 2009-2010 and

 

an amount not to exceed $2,200,000.00 for 2010-2011 to reimburse

 

100% of the net increase in necessary costs incurred by a district

 

or intermediate district in implementing the revisions in the

 

administrative rules for special education that became effective on

 

July 1, 1987. As used in this subsection, "net increase in

 

necessary costs" means the necessary additional costs incurred

 

solely because of new or revised requirements in the administrative

 

rules minus cost savings permitted in implementing the revised

 

rules. Net increase in necessary costs shall be determined in a

 

manner specified by the department.

 

     (7) For purposes of this article, all of the following apply:

 

     (a) "Total approved costs of special education" shall be

 

determined in a manner specified by the department and may include

 

indirect costs, but shall not exceed 115% of approved direct costs

 

for section 52 and section 53a programs. The total approved costs

 

include salary and other compensation for all approved special

 

education personnel for the program, including payments for social

 

security and medicare and public school employee retirement system

 


contributions. The total approved costs do not include salaries or

 

other compensation paid to administrative personnel who are not

 

special education personnel as defined in section 6 of the revised

 

school code, MCL 380.6. Costs reimbursed by federal funds, other

 

than those federal funds included in the allocation made under this

 

article, are not included. Special education approved personnel not

 

utilized full time in the evaluation of students or in the delivery

 

of special education programs, ancillary, and other related

 

services shall be reimbursed under this section only for that

 

portion of time actually spent providing these programs and

 

services, with the exception of special education programs and

 

services provided to youth placed in child caring institutions or

 

juvenile detention programs approved by the department to provide

 

an on-grounds education program.

 

     (b) Beginning with the 2004-2005 fiscal year, a district or

 

intermediate district that employed special education support

 

services staff to provide special education support services in

 

2003-2004 or in a subsequent fiscal year and that in a fiscal year

 

after 2003-2004 receives the same type of support services from

 

another district or intermediate district shall report the cost of

 

those support services for special education reimbursement purposes

 

under this act. This subdivision does not prohibit the transfer of

 

special education classroom teachers and special education

 

classroom aides if the pupils counted in membership associated with

 

those special education classroom teachers and special education

 

classroom aides are transferred and counted in membership in the

 

other district or intermediate district in conjunction with the

 


transfer of those teachers and aides.

 

     (c) If the department determines before bookclosing for a

 

fiscal year that the amounts allocated for that fiscal year under

 

subsections (2), (3), (6), (8), and (12) and sections 53a, 54, and

 

56 will exceed expenditures for that fiscal year under subsections

 

(2), (3), (6), (8), and (12) and sections 53a, 54, and 56, then for

 

a district or intermediate district whose reimbursement for that

 

fiscal year would otherwise be affected by subdivision (b),

 

subdivision (b) does not apply to the calculation of the

 

reimbursement for that district or intermediate district and

 

reimbursement for that district or intermediate district shall be

 

calculated in the same manner as it was for 2003-2004. If the

 

amount of the excess allocations under subsections (2), (3), (6),

 

(8), and (12) and sections 53a, 54, and 56 is not sufficient to

 

fully fund the calculation of reimbursement to those districts and

 

intermediate districts under this subdivision, then the

 

calculations and resulting reimbursement under this subdivision

 

shall be prorated on an equal percentage basis.

 

     (d) Reimbursement for ancillary and other related services, as

 

defined by R 340.1701c of the Michigan administrative code, shall

 

not be provided when those services are covered by and available

 

through private group health insurance carriers or federal

 

reimbursed program sources unless the department and district or

 

intermediate district agree otherwise and that agreement is

 

approved by the state budget director. Expenses, other than the

 

incidental expense of filing, shall not be borne by the parent. In

 

addition, the filing of claims shall not delay the education of a

 


pupil. A district or intermediate district shall be responsible for

 

payment of a deductible amount and for an advance payment required

 

until the time a claim is paid.

 

     (e) Beginning with calculations for 2004-2005, if an

 

intermediate district purchases a special education pupil

 

transportation service from a constituent district that was

 

previously purchased from a private entity; if the purchase from

 

the constituent district is at a lower cost, adjusted for changes

 

in fuel costs; and if the cost shift from the intermediate district

 

to the constituent does not result in any net change in the revenue

 

the constituent district receives from payments under sections 22b

 

and 51c, then upon application by the intermediate district, the

 

department shall direct the intermediate district to continue to

 

report the cost associated with the specific identified special

 

education pupil transportation service and shall adjust the costs

 

reported by the constituent district to remove the cost associated

 

with that specific service.

 

     (8) From the allocation in subsection (1), there is allocated

 

each fiscal year for 2009-2010 and for 2010-2011 an amount not to

 

exceed $15,313,900.00 to intermediate districts. The payment under

 

this subsection to each intermediate district shall be equal to the

 

amount of the 1996-97 allocation to the intermediate district under

 

subsection (6) of this section as in effect for 1996-97.

 

     (9) A pupil who is enrolled in a full-time special education

 

program conducted or administered by an intermediate district or a

 

pupil who is enrolled in the Michigan schools for the deaf and

 

blind shall not be included in the membership count of a district,

 


but shall be counted in membership in the intermediate district of

 

residence.

 

     (10) Special education personnel transferred from 1 district

 

to another to implement the revised school code shall be entitled

 

to the rights, benefits, and tenure to which the person would

 

otherwise be entitled had that person been employed by the

 

receiving district originally.

 

     (11) If a district or intermediate district uses money

 

received under this section for a purpose other than the purpose or

 

purposes for which the money is allocated, the department may

 

require the district or intermediate district to refund the amount

 

of money received. Money that is refunded shall be deposited in the

 

state treasury to the credit of the state school aid fund.

 

     (12) From the funds allocated in subsection (1), there is

 

allocated each fiscal year for 2010-2011 the amount necessary,

 

estimated at $6,200,000.00 for 2009-2010 and estimated at

 

$6,600,000.00 for 2010-2011, $5,000,000.00, to pay the foundation

 

allowances for pupils described in this subsection. The allocation

 

to a district under this subsection shall be calculated by

 

multiplying the number of pupils described in this subsection who

 

are counted in membership in the district times the sum of the

 

foundation allowance under section 20 of the pupil's district of

 

residence plus the amount of the district's per pupil allocation

 

under section 20j(2), not to exceed the basic foundation allowance

 

under section 20 for the current fiscal year, or, for a pupil

 

described in this subsection who is counted in membership in a

 

district that is a public school academy or university school,

 


times an amount equal to the amount per membership pupil under

 

section 20(6). The allocation to an intermediate district under

 

this subsection shall be calculated in the same manner as for a

 

district, using the foundation allowance under section 20 of the

 

pupil's district of residence, not to exceed the basic foundation

 

allowance under section 20 for the current fiscal year, and that

 

district's per pupil allocation under section 20j(2). This

 

subsection applies to all of the following pupils:

 

     (a) Pupils described in section 53a.

 

     (b) Pupils counted in membership in an intermediate district

 

who are not special education pupils and are served by the

 

intermediate district in a juvenile detention or child caring

 

facility.

 

     (c) Emotionally impaired pupils counted in membership by an

 

intermediate district and provided educational services by the

 

department of community health.

 

     (13) If it is determined that funds allocated under subsection

 

(2) or (12) or under section 51c will not be expended, funds up to

 

the amount necessary and available may be used to supplement the

 

allocations under subsection (2) or (12) or under section 51c in

 

order to fully fund those allocations. After payments under

 

subsections (2) and (12) and section 51c, the remaining

 

expenditures from the allocation in subsection (1) shall be made in

 

the following order:

 

     (a) 100% of the reimbursement required under section 53a.

 

     (b) 100% of the reimbursement required under subsection (6).

 

     (c) 100% of the payment required under section 54.

 


     (d) 100% of the payment required under subsection (3).

 

     (e) 100% of the payment required under subsection (8).

 

     (f) 100% of the payments under section 56.

 

     (14) The allocations under subsections (2), (3), and (12)

 

shall be allocations to intermediate districts only and shall not

 

be allocations to districts, but instead shall be calculations used

 

only to determine the state payments under section 22b.

 

     (15) If a public school academy enrolls pursuant to this

 

section a pupil who resides outside of the intermediate district in

 

which the public school academy is located and who is eligible for

 

special education programs and services according to statute or

 

rule, or who is a child with disabilities, as defined under the

 

individuals with disabilities education act, Public Law 108-446,

 

the provision of special education programs and services and the

 

payment of the added costs of special education programs and

 

services for the pupil are the responsibility of the district and

 

intermediate district in which the pupil resides unless the

 

enrolling district or intermediate district has a written agreement

 

with the district or intermediate district in which the pupil

 

resides or the public school academy for the purpose of providing

 

the pupil with a free appropriate public education and the written

 

agreement includes at least an agreement on the responsibility for

 

the payment of the added costs of special education programs and

 

services for the pupil.

 

     Sec. 51c. As required by the court in the consolidated cases

 

known as Durant v State of Michigan, Michigan supreme court docket

 

no. 104458-104492, from the allocation under section 51a(1), there

 


is allocated each fiscal year for 2009-2010 and for 2010-2011 the

 

amount necessary, estimated at $702,500,000.00 for 2009-2010 and

 

estimated at $732,100,000.00 for 2010-2011, $635,400,000.00, for

 

payments to reimburse districts for 28.6138% of total approved

 

costs of special education excluding costs reimbursed under section

 

53a, and 70.4165% of total approved costs of special education

 

transportation. Funds allocated under this section that are not

 

expended in the state fiscal year for which they were allocated, as

 

determined by the department, may be used to supplement the

 

allocations under sections 22a and 22b in order to fully fund those

 

calculated allocations for the same fiscal year.

 

     Sec. 74. (1) From the amount appropriated in section 11, there

 

is allocated an amount not to exceed $3,028,500.00 for 2009-2010

 

and there is allocated an amount not to exceed $2,058,800.00

 

$2,558,800.00 for 2010-2011 for the purposes of this section.

 

     (2) From the allocation in subsection (1), there is allocated

 

for each fiscal year the amount necessary for payments to state

 

supported colleges or universities and intermediate districts

 

providing school bus driver safety instruction pursuant to section

 

51 of the pupil transportation act, 1990 PA 187, MCL 257.1851. The

 

payments shall be in an amount determined by the department not to

 

exceed 75% of the actual cost of instruction and driver

 

compensation for each public or nonpublic school bus driver

 

attending a course of instruction. For the purpose of computing

 

compensation, the hourly rate allowed each school bus driver shall

 

not exceed the hourly rate received for driving a school bus.

 

Reimbursement compensating the driver during the course of

 


instruction shall be made by the department to the college or

 

university or intermediate district providing the course of

 

instruction.

 

     (3) From the allocation in subsection (1), there is allocated

 

each fiscal year the amount necessary to pay the reasonable costs

 

of nonspecial education auxiliary services transportation provided

 

pursuant to section 1323 of the revised school code, MCL 380.1323.

 

Districts funded under this subsection shall not receive funding

 

under any other section of this act for nonspecial education

 

auxiliary services transportation.

 

     (4) From the funds allocated in subsection (1), there is

 

allocated an amount not to exceed $1,403,500.00 for 2009-2010 and

 

an amount not to exceed $433,800.00 $933,800.00 for 2010-2011 for

 

reimbursement to districts and intermediate districts for costs

 

associated with the inspection of school buses and pupil

 

transportation vehicles by the department of state police as

 

required under section 715a of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA

 

300, MCL 257.715a, and section 39 of the pupil transportation act,

 

1990 PA 187, MCL 257.1839. The department of state police shall

 

prepare a statement of costs attributable to each district for

 

which bus inspections are provided and submit it to the department

 

and to each affected district in a time and manner determined

 

jointly by the department and the department of state police. The

 

department shall reimburse each district and intermediate district

 

for costs detailed on the statement within 30 days after receipt of

 

the statement. Districts for which services are provided shall make

 

payment in the amount specified on the statement to the department

 


of state police within 45 days after receipt of the statement. The

 

total reimbursement of costs under this subsection shall not exceed

 

the amount allocated under this subsection. Notwithstanding section

 

17b, payments to eligible entities under this subsection shall be

 

paid on a schedule prescribed by the department.

 

     Enacting section 1. In accordance with section 30 of article

 

IX of the state constitution of 1963, total state spending in this

 

amendatory act and in 2010 PA 217 from state sources for fiscal

 

year 2010-2011 is estimated at $10,775,902,900.00 and state

 

appropriations to be paid to local units of government for fiscal

 

year 2010-2011 are estimated at $10,673,832,600.00.