Amendment ID: S2350-16

Amendment 16

Foundation Budget Consensus Estimate

Mr. Tarr moves that the proposed new draft be amended by inserting at the end thereof the following new section:-

"SECTION_: Chapter 29 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 5B the following section:-

Section 5B½. (a) On or before January 15 the secretary of administration and finance shall meet with the house and senate committees on ways and means and shall jointly determine an implementation schedule to fulfill the recommendations filed on November 2, 2015 by the foundation budget review commission established under section 4 of chapter 70. The implementation schedule shall establish a foundation budget as defined in section 2 of said chapter 70 incorporating the categories of tuitioned-out special education rate, assumed in-school special education enrollment, low-income increment, low-income enrollment, foundation benefits, retired employee health insurance and English language learner increment as defined in section 2 of chapter 70 over a period of 7 fiscal years; provided, however, that in the first year of the term of office of a governor who has not served in the preceding year the parties shall determine an implementation schedule not later than January 31 of that year. Said schedule of implementation shall not exceed 7 fiscal years and shall in each fiscal year set the appropriation required to fully fund the foundation budget incorporating the aforementioned categories by fiscal year 2025 in equal increments for each fiscal year. In determining the schedule of implementation, the secretary of administration and finance and house and senate committees on ways and means shall hold a public hearing and receive testimony from the commissioner of elementary and secondary education and other interested parties.  The schedule may be amended by agreement of the senate and house ways and means committees in any of the 7 fiscal years to reflect changes in enrollment, inflation, student populations, or other factors that would affect the remaining costs in the schedule; provided, however, that the final year of the schedule shall not surpass fiscal year 2027, but the schedule may be fully implemented prior to fiscal year 2027. The implementation schedule shall be included in a joint resolution and placed before the members of the general court for their consideration.  The implementation schedule shall be subject to appropriation."