GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1999

S	1 

SENATE BILL 1540

Short Title:  Group Homes/Local Educ. Funding.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Senator Rand.

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Referred to:  Education/Higher Education.

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May 30, 2000

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT THE COST OF EDUCATING A CHILD PLACED IN A GROUP HOME, FOSTER HOME, OR OTHER SIMILAR FACILITY, SHALL BE BORNE BY THE LOCAL BOARD OF EDUCATION IN THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE CHILD'S PARENT, GUARDIAN, OR LEGAL CUSTODIAN RESIDES, AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO INCREASE THE STATE ALLOTMENT FOR THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 115C-140.1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C-140.1. Cost of education of children in group homes, foster homes, etc.
(a)	Notwithstanding the provisions of any other statute, the cost of a free appropriate public education for a child with special needs who is placed in or assigned to a group home, foster home or other similar facility, pursuant to State and federal law, shall be borne by the local board of education in the county in which the child's parent, guardian, or legal custodian resides. Nothing in this section obligates any local board of education to bear any cost for the care and maintenance of a child with special needs in a group home, foster home or other similar facility.
(b)	The State Board of Education shall use State and federal funds appropriated for children with special needs to establish a reserve fund to reimburse local boards of education for the education costs of children assigned to group homes or other facilities as provided in subsection (a) of this section."
Section 2. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the State Board of Education the sum of six hundred thirteen thousand three hundred twenty-eight dollars ($613,328) for the 2000-2001 fiscal year.  These funds shall be used to increase the State allotment for group homes, foster homes, or other similar facilities for the education of special-needs children.
Section 3. This act becomes effective July 1, 2000.