2001 Montana Legislature

About Bill -- Links

HOUSE BILL NO. 536

INTRODUCED BY R. SOMERVILLE



A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REQUIRING THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION TO HIRE A COORDINATOR FOR THE GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAM; APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAM; PROVIDING FOR AN INCREASE IN FUNDS APPROPRIATED BY THE GREATER OF EITHER THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX OR AN AMOUNT PROPORTIONATE TO THE INCREASE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING; AMENDING SECTION 20-7-904, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE."



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:



     NEW SECTION.  Section 1.  Gifted and talented appropriation -- consumer price index increase. (1) In addition to any legislative appropriation provided to the gifted and talented program in the general appropriations act or the appropriation provided in [section 3], the office of public instruction must receive for distribution to school districts for gifted and talented programs the greater of:

     (a) the amount appropriated for the gifted and talented program in the prior biennium increased by the consumer price index as determined under 15-30-101(8); or

     (b) the proportional increase provided for the biennium to the superintendent of public instruction for special education.

     (2) The amount determined in subsection (1) must be included in the executive budget for the succeeding biennium.



     Section 2.  Section 20-7-904, MCA, is amended to read:

     "20-7-904.  Review and recommendations of proposals. (1) The policies of the board of public education must assure ensure that program proposals submitted by school districts to the superintendent of public instruction contain:

     (a)  evidence that identification procedures are comprehensive and appropriate;

     (b)  a program description including stated needs and measurable objectives designed to meet those needs;

     (c)  evidence that the activities are appropriate and will serve to achieve the program objectives; and

     (d)  a method to evaluate the effectiveness of the program.

     (2)  School districts may request assistance from the staff of the superintendent in formulating program proposals.

     (3)  The superintendent of public instruction shall supervise and coordinate the programs for gifted and talented children by:

     (a) (i) hiring a coordinator to train and support school district personnel on consistent differentiated curriculum and classroom instruction techniques for providing appropriate academic services to and experiences for gifted and talented children;

     (ii) equitably distributing the gifted and talented funds to the school districts; and

     (iii) assisting school districts in defining programs and services necessary to meet and maintain accreditation;

     (a)(b)  recommending to the board of public education the adoption of those policies necessary to establish a planned and coordinated program; and

     (b)(c)  establishing a procedure for review and approval of program proposals."



     NEW SECTION.  Section 3.  Appropriation. There is appropriated $350,000 from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for each of the fiscal years 2002 and 2003 for distribution to school districts for gifted and talented programs.



     NEW SECTION.  Section 4.  Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 20, chapter 7, part 9, and the provisions of Title 20, chapter 7, part 9, apply to [section 1].



     NEW SECTION.  Section 5.  Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2001.

- END -




Latest Version of HB 536 (HB0536.01)
Processed for the Web on February 10, 2001 (11:42AM)

New language in a bill appears underlined, deleted material appears stricken.

Sponsor names are handwritten on introduced bills, hence do not appear on the bill until it is reprinted. See the status of this bill for the bill's primary sponsor.

Status of this Bill | 2001 Legislature | Leg. Branch Home
All versions of this bill (PDF Format)
Authorized print version w/line numbers (PDF format)

Prepared by Montana Legislative Services

(406)444-3064