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TO AMEND SECTION 59-20-60, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO SPENDING PRIORITIES UNDER THE EDUCATION FINANCE ACT AND THE EDUCATION FINANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE COMMITTEE SHALL STUDY THE FUNDING FORMULAS FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THIS STATE TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE ADEQUATE AND EQUITABLE AND ALSO THE ISSUE OF UNFUNDED MANDATES CAUSED BY NEW EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 59-20-60(10) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(10) A twelve-member Education Finance Review Committee must be established to advise the General Assembly and review its implementation of this chapter. This advice and review may include, but not be limited to:
(a) the cost of the defined minimum program;
(b) provisions included in the defined minimum program;
(c) the pupil classification weights in Section 59-20-40;
(d) the formula for computing required local effort;
(e) the ongoing evaluation of the education program needs of the school districts.
The committee must be made up of three representatives from each of the following committees of the General Assembly - : Senate Education, Senate Finance, House Education and Public Works, and House Ways and Means - appointed by each respective chairman. The committee shall seek the advice of professional educators and all other interested persons when formulating its recommendations.
The committee also shall study the funding formulas for public education in this State to determine if they are adequate and equitable and the issue of unfunded mandates caused by new educational initiatives. These unfunded mandates include, but are not limited to, such things as the need for additional summer school, alternative schools, and more preparation time required for teachers. The committee's findings must be compiled in a report to be presented to the General Assembly by January 15, 2006."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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