Amendment ID: S2506-1-R1

Redraft Amendment 1

Foundation Budget Review Commission

Messrs. Tarr and Ross move that the proposed new draft be amended by inserting after section 1 the following section:-

SECTION 1A. Chapter 70 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking section 4 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

“Section 4. There shall be a foundation budget review commission to review, every 5 years, the way foundation budgets are calculated and to make recommendations for potential changes in those calculations, as the commission deems appropriate. In conducting the review, the commission shall seek to determine the educational programs and services that are necessary to achieve the commonwealth’s educational goals and to prepare students to achieve passing scores on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System examination or any successor assessment as determined by the board. The review shall include, but not be limited to, the components of the foundation budget established under section 3 and subsequent changes made to the foundation budget by law. 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 or information that the commissioner considers 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, Inc.; the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, Inc.; the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, Inc.; the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, Inc.; the Massachusetts Teachers Association; the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts; the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators, Inc.; the Massachusetts Association of Regional Schools, Inc.; and the Massachusetts Association of School Business Officials. Members shall not receive 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 less than 4 public hearings across regions of the commonwealth.

It shall not constitute a violation of chapter 268A for a state employee or 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, the commonwealth, or the rate at which that person may be compensated; provided, however, that the commission may establish procedures to ensure that such a person shall not participate in commission deliberations that may directly affect the school districts employing such a person or that may directly affect the rate at which such a person is compensated.”; and by inserting after section 2 the following section:-

“SECTION 3. Section 1A shall take effect upon the adoption of the joint resolution affirming that the recommendations of the commission have been fulfilled, as provided in subsection (b) of section 5B½ of chapter 29 of the General Laws.”.