2004-PA-0518.htm

Act No. 518

Public Acts of 2004

Approved by the Governor

January 3, 2005

Filed with the Secretary of State

January 3, 2005

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 3, 2005

STATE OF MICHIGAN

92ND LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2004

Introduced by Senator Johnson

ENROLLED SENATE BILL No. 1193

AN ACT to amend 1979 PA 94, entitled "An act to make appropriations to aid in the support of the public schools and the intermediate school districts of the state; to make appropriations for certain other purposes relating to education; to provide for the disbursement of the appropriations; to supplement the school aid fund by the levy and collection of certain taxes; to authorize the issuance of certain bonds and provide for the security of those bonds; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state departments, the state board of education, and certain other boards and officials; to create certain funds and provide for their expenditure; to prescribe penalties; and to repeal acts and parts of acts," by amending sections 11 and 51a (MCL 388.1611 and 388.1651a), as amended by 2004 PA 351.

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

Sec. 11. (1) In addition to all other appropriations under this act for that fiscal year, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004, there is appropriated to the state school aid fund from the unreserved balance in the general fund an amount equal to any deficit balance that would otherwise exist in the state school aid fund at bookclosing for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004. For the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, there is appropriated for the public schools of this state and certain other state purposes relating to education the sum of $10,909,200,000.00 from the state school aid fund established by section 11 of article IX of the state constitution of 1963 and the sum of $264,700,000.00 from the general fund. In addition, available federal funds are appropriated for each of those fiscal years.

(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.

(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, 31d, 51a(2), 51a(12), 51c, 53a, and 56 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). Subject to subsection (5), if proration is necessary after 2002-2003, 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) Subject to subsection (5), if proration is necessary, 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, 31d, 51a(2), 51a(12), 51c, and 53a, 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, 51a(2), 51a(12), 53a, and 56, 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 and 26a, on an equal percentage basis.

(5) Beginning in 2004-2005, if a district has an emergency financial manager in place under the local government fiscal responsibility act, 1990 PA 72, MCL 141.1201 to 141.1291, payments to that district are not subject to proration under this section.

(6) Except for the allocation under section 26a, any general fund allocations under this act that are not expended by the end of the state fiscal year are transferred to the state school aid fund. If it is determined at the May 2005 revenue estimating conference conducted under section 367b of the management and budget act, 1984 PA 431, MCL 18.1367b, that there is additional school aid fund revenue beyond that determined at the May 2004 revenue estimating conference, then it is the intent of the legislature to enact legislation to fund, to the extent that revenues are available, the same programs in the same amount that were funded under section 81 in 2003 PA 236 and the same pupil membership formula as in effect under 2003 PA 236.

Sec. 51a. (1) From the appropriation in section 11, there is allocated for 2004-2005 an amount not to exceed $905,683,000.00 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 $329,850,000.00 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, title VI of Public Law 91-230, including, but not limited to, 34 CFR 300.234 and 300.235. 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 for 2004-2005 the amount necessary, estimated at $168,900,000.00 for 2003-2004, 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 $6,500.00 adjusted by the dollar amount of the difference between the basic foundation allowance under section 20 for the current fiscal year and $5,000.00 minus $200.00, 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 $6,500.00 adjusted by the dollar amount of the difference between the basic foundation allowance under section 20 for the current fiscal year and $5,000.00 minus $200.00, 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 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 for 2004-2005 the amount necessary, estimated at $2,400,000.00, 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 between 1996-97 and subsequent fiscal years. Adjustments for reductions in special education program operations shall be made in a manner determined by the department and shall include adjustments for program 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 for 2004-2005 to districts or intermediate districts 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 $2,200,000.00 for 2004-2005 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. Total approved costs of special education do not include the costs of a joint shared-employment arrangement between an intermediate district and 1 or more of its constituent districts that took effect in the 2004-2005 or a subsequent school year. The costs associated with the joint shared-employment arrangement shall instead be allocated entirely to the constituent district or districts. In addition, if an intermediate district entered into such a joint shared-employment arrangement that took effect in the 2004-2005 or a subsequent school year and subsequently becomes the sole employer of an employee who had been subject to the joint shared-employment arrangement, total approved costs of special education do not include the costs of employing that employee unless the department determines that employing the employee has resulted in a significant cost savings or an increase in efficiency that is sufficient to justify the arrangement.

(b) Reimbursement for ancillary and other related services, as defined by R340.1701c 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.

(8) From the allocation in subsection (1), there is allocated for 2004-2005 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 for 2004-2005 the amount necessary, estimated at $6,100,000.00, 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 $6,500.00 adjusted by the dollar amount of the difference between the basic foundation allowance under section 20 for the current fiscal year and $5,000.00 minus $200.00, 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 $6,500.00 adjusted by the dollar amount of the difference between the basic foundation allowance under section 20 for the current fiscal year and $5,000.00 minus $200.00, 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) 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).

(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 subsection (2), subsection (3), and subsection (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.

This act is ordered to take immediate effect.

Secretary of the Senate

Clerk of the House of Representatives

Approved

Governor