HOUSE BILL NO. 624
INTRODUCED BY G. MASOLO
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT CREATING A CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM; PROVIDING RULEMAKING AUTHORITY; REQUIRING THAT THE STATE FUND TRANSFER $2 MILLION TO THE GENERAL FUND; APPROPRIATING $2 MILLION FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION FOR THE GRANT PROGRAM; AMENDING SECTION 39-71-2320, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE."
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
NEW SECTION. Section 1. Career and technical education grant program -- eligibility -- rulemaking -- grant account. (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall administer a career and technical education grant program for school districts. In order to be eligible for a grant, a school district must have an approved career and technical education program and receive funding for the program either from a biennial appropriation in accordance with 20-7-305 and 20-7-306 or from the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act, as amended. A school district may use the grant for programs in a middle school, a junior high school, or a high school.
(2) A school district that receives a grant shall use the money for:
(a) professional development;
(b) new equipment and equipment upgrades;
(c) new curriculum and curriculum updates; and
(d) career guidance and counseling.
(3) Grant proposals must be screened by a panel of state officials, business leaders, and educators. Proposals must be scored on the basis of how the proposal will help improve the Montana economy.
(4) The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules for the administration of the grant program. The rules must include but are not limited to:
(a) the application procedure, including the application form and the application timelines;
(b) the selection of the panel participants;
(c) the development of specific criteria for rating the grant proposals. The specific criteria must conform to the general criteria of improving Montana's economy.
(5) A grant award is in addition to any existing funding that a school district may have for its career and technical education programs. A grant award may not supplant any existing funding.
(6) There is a career and technical education account in the state special revenue fund as provided in 17-2-102. The money in the account must be used by the superintendent of public instruction to award grants to school districts in accordance with the provisions of this section.
Section 2. Section 39-71-2320, MCA, is amended to read:
"39-71-2320. Property of state fund -- investment required -- exception. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), all premiums and other money paid to the state fund, all property and securities acquired through the use of money belonging to the state fund, and all interest and dividends earned upon money belonging to the state fund are the sole property of the state fund and must be used exclusively for the operations and obligations of the state fund. The money collected by the state fund may not be used for any other purpose. However, state fund money must be invested by the board of investments provided for in 2-15-1808.
(2) The state fund shall pay to the general fund:
(a) $10 $1 million in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1998 2001; and
(b) $10 $1 million in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999 2002."
NEW SECTION. Section 3. Appropriation for career and technical education. There is appropriated $2 million from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for the biennium beginning July 1, 2001. The money must be deposited in the career and technical education account established in [section 1].
NEW SECTION. Section 4. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 20, chapter 7, part 3, and the provisions of Title 20, chapter 7, part 3, apply to [section 1].
NEW SECTION. Section 5. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2001.
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Latest Version of HB 624 (HB0624.01)
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