§ 2-2-2001. Legislative Interim Committee on School Finance – Creation

1. Notwithstanding section 2-3-303.3, there is created the legislative interim committee on school finance, referred to in this part 20 as the “interim committee”, to study the issues described in section 2-2-2002 and consider changes to the “Public School Finance Act of 1994”, article 54 of title 22. In addition to meeting during the 2021 and 2022 legislative interims, the interim committee may meet during the 2022 and 2023 legislative sessions to approve legislation. The interim committee consists of:
   1. Four members of the senate, with two members appointed by the president of the senate and two members appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and
   2. Four members of the house of representatives, with two members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and two members appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives.
2. 1. The appointing authorities shall appoint the members of the interim committee as soon as possible after the effective date of this part 20 but not later than thirty days after the effective date of this part 20. The appointing authorities shall, to the extent practicable, ensure that the members of the interim committee represent school districts in all areas of the state, including urban, suburban, and rural school districts, school districts with varying student demographics, and school districts of varying wealth in property valuation and local revenue. If a vacancy arises on the interim committee, the appropriate appointing authority shall appoint a member to fill the vacancy as soon as possible.
   2. The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint the chair of the interim committee for the two-year term of the interim committee, and the minority leader of the senate shall appoint the vice-chair of the interim committee for the two-year term of the interim committee. In the case of a tie vote, the chair of the interim committee shall cast an additional deciding vote.
3. The chair of the interim committee shall schedule the first meeting of the interim committee to be held not later than sixty days after the effective date of this part 20. The interim committee may meet up to five times during each interim in addition to any meetings held during the 2022 or 2023 legislative sessions.
4. The chair and vice-chair of the interim committee may appoint subcommittees. A subcommittee may include members of the interim committee and persons with technical expertise in school finance. Members of a subcommittee serve without compensation and without reimbursement for expenses.
5. The director of research of the legislative council and the director of the office of legislative legal services shall provide staff assistance to the interim committee.
6. The interim committee may introduce up to a total of five bills, joint resolutions, and concurrent resolutions in each of the 2022 and 2023 legislative sessions. Bills that the interim committee introduces are exempt from the five-bill limitation specified in rule 24 (b)(1)(A) of the joint rules of the senate and the house of representatives. Joint resolutions and concurrent resolutions that the interim committee introduces are exempt from the limitations set out in rule 26 (g) of the rules of the house of representatives and rule 30 (f) of the rules of the senate. The interim committee is exempt from the requirement to report bills or other measures to the legislative council as specified in rule 24 (b)(1)(D) and rule 24A (d)(8) of the joint rules of the senate and the house of representatives and in section 2-3-303 (1)(f). The interim committee is subject to rule 24A of the joint rules of the senate and house of representatives, except to the extent that the rule may conflict with this part 20. The interim committee may meet during the 2022 and 2023 legislative sessions to approve legislation. Bills recommended by the interim committee must be introduced by the introduction deadline for house bills specified in rule 23 (a)(1) of the joint rules of the senate and house of representatives. The chair and vice-chair shall jointly establish the last date for the single meeting at which the interim committee may approve bill requests, the last date by which interim committee members must finalize bill drafts or by which bill drafts will be deemed finalized for fiscal note purposes, and the last date by which the interim committee will consider and take final action on bill drafts.
7. The interim committee shall use ninety million dollars from the state education fund, created in section 17 (4) of article IX of the state constitution, as necessary, for the implementation of school finance formula changes.
8. All expenditures that the interim committee incurs, including the cost of contracting for the study pursuant to section 2-2-2003, are subject to approval by the chair of the interim committee and, if approved, shall be paid by vouchers and warrants drawn as provided by law from appropriations made by the general assembly for the purposes of this part 20.

Source: L. 2021: Entire section added, (HB 21-1325), ch. 376, p. 2483, § 1, effective June 29.