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Republican Sponsorship
Education

SB550

To Create The K-12 Public School Education Funding Legislative Task Force.

Introduced

Last Action (March 30, 2023): Sine Die adjournment

Sponsors

AI-Generated Summary

Senate Bill 550 establishes the K-12 Public School Education Funding Legislative Task Force, a temporary legislative body composed of members from both the Arkansas House and Senate. The task force is charged with examining and identifying potential reforms to state education funding laws. Specific areas of study include transitioning from a prior-year to a current-year average daily membership funding model, addressing funding inequities for small school districts, and researching best practices for student performance-based funding. The bill outlines procedural requirements, including meeting frequency, quorum rules, and the provision of staff support by the Bureau of Legislative Research. The task force is authorized to contract with external consultants if necessary to assist in its research. It is mandated to submit a preliminary report by December 1, 2023, and a final report by September 1, 2024. The task force is set to expire on December 31, 2024.

Potential Impact Analysis

Who Might Benefit?

The primary beneficiaries include members of the Arkansas General Assembly, who gain a structured mechanism for policy development, and the Arkansas public school system at large. By evaluating funding models, the state’s education department and administrative officials may benefit from more modern and efficient financial frameworks. Additionally, small school districts that may currently face funding inequities stand to benefit if the task force proposes legislative remedies that address their specific budgetary challenges.

Who Might Suffer?

There are no groups directly and negatively impacted by the formation of this study task force, as it does not implement substantive policy changes, tax increases, or cuts to existing services. The state budget incurs minor, indirect costs related to administrative support from the Bureau of Legislative Research, consultant contracts, and per diem or mileage payments for the task force members. Beyond these standard governmental operating expenses, the legislation does not impose direct burdens on any specific population or organization.

Read Full Bill on arkleg.state.ar.us