A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE ON EDUCATION FINANCE REFORM, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM EVALUATION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is created the Joint Legislative Task Force on Education Finance Reform (Task Force).
SECTION 2.  The Task Force shall consist of nine members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and nine members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each appoint a cochair of the Task Force from among its membership. These appointments shall be made no later than September 1, 2017.
SECTION 3.  In consultation with the State Board of Education and the Department of Public Instruction, the Task Force shall study various weighted student formula funding models and develop a new funding model for the elementary and secondary public schools of North Carolina based on a weighted student formula. As a part of this process, the Task Force shall do all of the following:
(1)	Review the State's current public school allotment system and undertake an in‑depth study of various types of weighted student formula funding models. In its study, the Task Force is encouraged to consider models used by other states.
(2)	Determine the base amount of funds that must be distributed on a per student basis to cover the cost of educating a student in the State.
(3)	Identify the student characteristics eligible for weighted funding and the associated weights for each of these characteristics.
(4)	Resolve the extent to which the base amount of funds to be distributed would be adjusted based on the characteristics of each local school administrative unit.
(5)	Decide which funding elements, if any, would remain outside the base of funds to be distributed under a weighted student formula.
(6) 	Study any other issue the Task Force considers relevant.
SECTION 4.  The Task Force shall meet upon the call of its cochairs. A quorum of the Task Force is a majority of its members. No action may be taken except by a majority vote at a meeting at which a quorum is present. The Task Force, while in the discharge of its official duties, may exercise all powers provided for under G.S. 120‑19 and G.S. 120‑19.1 through G.S. 120‑19.4. The Task Force may contract for professional, clerical, or consultant services, as provided by G.S. 120‑32.02. If the Task Force hires a consultant, the consultant shall not be a State employee or a person currently under contract with the State to provide services. Members of the Task Force shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowance as provided in G.S. 120‑3.1. The expenses of the Task Force shall be considered expenses incurred for the joint operation of the General Assembly.
SECTION 5.  The Legislative Services Officer shall assign professional and clerical staff to assist the Task Force in its work. The Director of Legislative Assistants of the House of Representatives and the Director of Legislative Assistants of the Senate shall assign clerical support to the Task Force.
SECTION 6.  Meetings of the Task Force shall begin no later than October 1, 2017. The Task Force shall submit a final report on the results of its study and development, including proposed legislation, to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on or before July 1, 2018, by filing a copy of the report with the Office of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, and the Legislative Library. The Task Force shall terminate on July 1, 2018, or upon the filing of its final report, whichever comes first.
SECTION 7.  This act is effective when it becomes law.