_________ Bill No. _______

Introduced By _______________________________________________________________________________



A Bill for an Act entitled: "An Act requiring the superintendent of public instruction to prepare an education planning report for the legislature; and amending section

20-3-105, MCA."



Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Montana:



NEW SECTION. Section 1.  Education planning report. (1) The superintendent shall prepare a biennial report on the future of education in Montana for presentation to the legislature. The report must include information that will assist the legislature in planning for the needs of education over a 10-year period. The report must include but is not limited to the following:

(a) projected growth or decline in school enrollment, certified personnel, and support personnel;

(b) projected growth or decline in spending to address:

(i) the issues identified in the report; and

(ii) the anticipated ongoing expenses of the education system;

(c) anticipated construction needs based on projected school enrollment, building age and condition, and environmental concerns;

(d) changes in informational and instructional technology that will affect students and teachers;

(e) anticipated changes in federal laws and regulations affecting education;

(f) projected changes in the economy and the workforce that will necessitate new skills being taught in the schools;

(g) projected changes in social conditions that affect students, such as poverty levels, violence and crime, family structure, drugs, teen pregnancy, and immigration; and

(h) other information considered necessary for future education planning.

(2) The report must include, where feasible, options for consideration by the legislature in addressing the identified needs.

(3) The report must cover a period of 10 years and must be updated every 2 years.



Section 2.  Section 20-3-105, MCA, is amended to read:

"20-3-105.   Administrative powers and duties. In administering the affairs of his the office, the superintendent of public instruction shall have the power and it shall be his duty to:

(1)  keep a record of his official acts and all documents applicable to the administration of the office, preserve all official reports submitted to him the superintendent for the period required by law, and surrender them to his successor at the expiration of his term;

(2)  preserve all books, educational media, instructional equipment, and any other articles of educational interest and value which come into his possession and surrender them to his successor at the expiration of his term;

(3)  cause the printing print and distribution of distribute all reports and forms necessary for the proper conduct of business by a district or school in the manner prescribed by the provisions of this title;

(4)  provide and keep an official seal of the superintendent of public instruction by which his to authenticate official acts shall be authenticated;

(5)  if he deems necessary, cause the printing of print a complete and updated volume of the school laws of the state, which shall to be offered and sold at cost of the printing and shipping to any school official or other person;

(6)  whenever a replacement volume is not printed under the provisions of subsection (5), cause the printing of print a cumulative supplement to the most recent volume of school laws immediately after the conclusion of any a session of the legislature at which new school laws or amendments to the school laws were adopted. It shall must be offered and sold at cost of the printing and shipping to any school official or other person.

(7)  if deemed necessary, publish a biennial report of the superintendent of public instruction;

(8)  counsel with and advise county superintendents on matters involving the welfare of the schools and, when requested, give a county superintendent a written answer to any question concerning school law;

(9)  call an annual meeting of the county superintendents when he deems it advisable;

(10) as far as he shall find it practicable, address public assemblies on subjects pertaining to education in Montana; and

(11) prepare an education planning report as provided in [section 1]; and

(11)(12) faithfully work in all practical and possible ways for the welfare of the public schools of the state."



NEW SECTION. Section 3.  Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 20, chapter 3, part 1, and the provisions of Title 20, chapter 3, part 1, apply to [section 1].

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