0079: FLOOR ANALYSIS - BD OF TRUSTEES: SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF

BD OF TRUSTEES: SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF - S.B. 79 (S-2): FLOOR ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 79 (Substitute S-2 as reported by the Committee of the Whole)

CONTENT

The bill would create a new act to establish a board of trustees for the Michigan School for the Deaf, located in Flint, and require the State to continue to maintain and support the school for educating students who were hearing impaired, as defined in the Michigan Administrative Code in Rule 340.1707. The bill also would do the following:

-- Prescribe the membership of the board.

-- Establish the duties of the board, such as providing oversight and making recommendations concerning the school's affairs, including matters concerning the coordination, control, and operation of the school.

-- Require the board to establish certain committees, and specify their responsibilities.

-- Require the board to establish a school advisory council to advise the board and the school's administration.

-- Require the board, when a vacancy occurred in a chief administrator or academic officer position, to monitor the appointment process and make recommendations to the State Board of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction concerning candidates for the position.

The bill would repeal Public Act 116 of 1893, which provides for the maintenance, management, and control of the Michigan School for the Deaf.

- Legislative Analyst: L. Arasim

FISCAL IMPACT

The Michigan School for the Deaf (MSD) is currently viewed as a State institution, administered by a State department (Education), and staffed by Civil Service employees. The bill would transfer many administrative functions from the State Superintendent to a local board of trustees. However, it appears as though the MSD would remain a State entity funded through the Department of Education budget. Therefore, any cost implications would affect the State, and would not apply to any local units of government.

There could be increased administrative costs to the State in order to finance the duties of the board and various committees that would be established by the bill. An estimate of these costs is not possible, as it is unknown how many of these mandated activities are currently undertaken in the normal process of administering the MSD.

Date Completed: 5-8-01 - Fiscal Analyst: K. Summers-CotyFloor\sb79 - Bill Analysis @ http://www.senate.state.mi.us/sfa

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.