Brief ⁽¹⁾

HB 2631, as amended, concerns the four-year-old at-risk program and would expand the number of children who could be counted as 0.5 pupil under the School Finance Act from 1,794 children to 2,994, an increase of 1,200 children.

Background

Beginning in FY 1999, the state has funded a four-year-old at-risk program as part of the School Finance Act. Under the formula, school districts may count four-year-old at-risk children as 0.5 pupil for school funding purposes, up to a statutory limit of 1,794 children. Eligibility to participate in the program is based on federal Head Start guidelines, which place strong emphasis on children from low-income families.

HB 2631, in its original version, was introduced by Senator Bond and would have increased the four-year-old at-risk program by 400 children. The House Committee amendments would increase the program by 1,200 children.

The fiscal impact of the House Committee's amendment is estimated to be $3.0 million. In his budget message to the Legislature, the Governor recommended that the existing four-year-old at-risk program be expanded by 400 children and included $1.0 million in tobacco money in his budget for FY 2001. The House Committee's amendment would exceed the Governor's recommended budget by $2.0 million.

1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/bill_search.html