Budget Amendment ID: FY2015-S4-21.2
Further OTH 21.2
Foundation Budget Review Commission
Ms. Chang-Diaz, Messrs. Tarr and Lewis, Ms. Creem, Messrs. Michael O. Moore and Timilty, Ms. Candaras, Messrs. Wolf and Donnelly, Ms. Jehlen, Ms. Spilka, Messrs. Eldridge and Hedlund, Ms. O'Connor Ives, Messrs. Rush and DiDomenico, Ms. Donoghue, Messrs. Keenan, Pacheco, Brownsberger, Finegold, Richard T. Moore, Welch, Montigny, Downing and Barrett, Ms. Forry, Ms. Lovely, Messrs. McGee, Ross and Humason moved that the amendment be amended moved that the amendment be amended by striking out the text and inserting in place thereof the following:-
by adding the following section:-
SECTION XX. Chapter 70 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 4, as so appearing, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
Section 4. Upon action of the General Court, there shall periodically be a foundation budget review commission to review the way in which foundation budgets are calculated and to make recommendations for potential changes in those calculations as the commission deems appropriate. In conducting such review, the commission shall seek to determine the educational programs and services necessary to achieve the commonwealth’s educational goals and to prepare students to achieve passing scores on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System examinations. The review shall include, but not be limited to those components of the foundation budget created pursuant to section 2 of chapter 70 and subsequent changes made to the foundation budget in statute or within an appropriations act. In addition, the commission shall seek to determine and recommend measures to promote the adoption of ways in which resources can be most effectively utilized and consider various models of efficient and effective resource allocation. In carrying out the review, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall provide to the commission any data and information the commissioner deems relevant to the commission’s charge.
The commission shall include the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on education, who shall serve as co-chairs, the secretary of education, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, the commissioner of early education and care, the speaker of the house of representatives or a designee, the president of the senate or a designee, the minority leader of the house of representatives or a designee, the minority leader of the senate or a designee, the governor or a designee, the chair of the house committee on ways and means or a designee, the chair of the senate committee on ways and means or a designee and 1 member to be appointed by each of the following organizations: the Massachusetts Municipal Association, the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators, the Massachusetts Association of Regional Schools and the Massachusetts Association of School Business Officials. Members shall receive no compensation for their services but may receive reimbursement for the reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out their responsibilities as members of the commission. The commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall furnish reasonable staff and other support for the work of the commission. Prior to issuing its recommendations, the commission shall conduct not fewer than 4 public hearings across regions of the commonwealth. It shall not constitute a violation of chapter 268A for a person employed by a school district to serve on the commission or to participate in commission deliberations that may have a financial impact on the district employing that person or on the rate at which that person may be compensated. The commission may establish procedures to ensure that no such person participates in commission deliberations that may directly affect the school districts employing those persons or that may directly affect the rate at which those persons are compensated.
And further moved that the bill be amended by inserting, after section ____, the following new section:-
SECTION XX. (a) The foundation budget review commission established in section ____ shall file its final report on or before June 30, 2015. A copy of said report and recommendations shall be made publicly available on the website of the department of elementary and secondary education and submitted to the joint committee on education.
(b) In addition to the membership listed in section 1 and for the purposes of this review, there shall be 1 advisory non-voting member of the foundation budget review commission from each the following organizations: the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, the Massachusetts Parent Teacher Association, the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, Stand for Children Massachusetts, and Strategies for Children. Advisory members shall be informed in advance of any public hearings or meetings scheduled by the commission and may be provided with written or electronic materials deemed appropriate by the commission’s co-chairs. Prior to finalizing its recommendations, the Foundation Budget Commission established in section 4 of chapter 70 of the General Laws shall solicit input from advisory members who may offer comments or further recommendations for the commission’s consideration.