GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1999

S	1 

SENATE BILL 1156

Short Title:  Funds/Special Needs Children.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Senator Hagan.

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Referred to:  Appropriations/Base Budget.

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April 15, 1999

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE EDUCATION OF SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN, AND TO ESTABLISH A STUDY COMMISSION ON SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.(a) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the State Aid to Local School Administrative Units, Funding Allotment for Children With Special Needs, the sum of twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) for the 1999-2000 fiscal year and the sum of twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) for the 2000-2001 fiscal year to increase funding for children with special needs, as defined in G.S. 115C-109.
Section 1(b). There is appropriated from the General Fund to the State Aid to Local School Administrative Units, Funding Allotment for Children with Special Needs, the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) for the 1999-2000 fiscal year and the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) for the 2000-2001 fiscal year for special needs children in local school administrative units with a headcount in excess of twelve and five-tenths percent (12.5%) of average daily membership.
Section 2.(a) There is established the Legislative Study Commission on Special Needs Children.  The Commission shall have 15 members, appointed as follows:
(1)	Five members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate;
(2)	Five members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and
(3)	Five members of the general public who are knowledgeable about the education of special needs students, appointed by the Governor.
Vacancies shall be filled by the original appointing authority.
Section 2.(b) The Commission shall study alternative methods of allocating State and federal funds towards the education of children with special needs, including a weighted funding formula which allocates dollars based on the type and severity of the child's disability.
Section 2.(c) The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall each designate a cochair of the Commission.  The Commission shall meet upon the call of the cochairs.  A quorum of the Commission is nine members.  While in the discharge of its official duties, the Commission may exercise all the powers provided under G.S. 120-19 and G.S. 120-19.1 through G.S. 120-19.4.
Section 2.(d)	Members of the Commission shall receive subsistence and travel allowances in accordance with G.S. 120-3.1.
Section 2.(e)  Upon approval of the Legislative Services Commission, the Legislative Services Officer shall assign appropriate professional staff from the Legislative Services Office of the General Assembly to assist with the study.  The House of Representatives' and the Senate's Supervisors of Clerks shall assign clerical staff to the Commission, upon the direction of the Legislative Services Commission.  The Commission may meet in the Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building upon the approval of the Legislative Services Commission.
Section 2.(f)  The Commission shall submit an interim report to the 1999 General Assembly, 2000 Regular Session, upon its convening.  The Commission shall submit a final report to the General Assembly upon the convening of the 2001 General Assembly.  The Commission shall terminate upon filing its final report.
Section 2.(g)  From appropriations to the General Assembly, the Legislative Services Commission may allocate funds for the expenses of the Legislative Study Commission on Special Needs Children.
Section 3. This act becomes effective July 1, 1999.