Amendment #317 to H4600

Fixing Chapter 70 Inflation

Mr. Hawkins of Attleboro moves to amend the bill by inserting the following three sections:

SECTION X. Section 2 of chapter 70 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking the definition of “Foundation allotments” and inserting in place thereof the following new definition:-

“Foundation allotments”, the sum of the foundation category costs for each district; provided, however, that the sum in each foundation category shall be the product of enrollment in each foundation enrollment category that is eligible for the respective foundation category and the per-pupil rate assigned to each foundation category; provided further, that in each year the per-pupil rate for each foundation category, except employee benefits and fixed charges, shall not be less than the foundation per-pupil rate in section 3 of this chapter adjusted by the foundation inflation index; and provided further, that in each year the rate for employee benefits and fixed charges shall not be less than the prior year's rate adjusted by the foundation employee benefits inflation rate.

SECTION XX: Said section 2 of chapter 70 is hereby further amended by striking the definition of “Foundation inflation index” and inserting in place thereof the following new definition:-

“Foundation inflation index”, is the ratio of the value of the implicit price deflator for state and local government consumption expenditures and gross investment in the first quarter of the prior fiscal year to the value of that same deflator in the first quarter of fiscal year two thousand and nineteen; provided that the increase in the index over the prior fiscal year shall not exceed four-and-one-half percent.

SECTION XXX. Section X and section XX of this act shall take effect on September 1, 2024, and shall be used in calculating the foundation budget for school districts beginning in fiscal year two thousand twenty-six.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #317 to H4600

Fixing Chapter 70 Inflation