Joint Study Order To Establish a Working Group To Identify Unfunded Educational Mandates

the Senate concurring, that the Working Group To Identify Unfunded Educational Mandates is established as follows.

1. Working group established. The Working Group To Identify Unfunded Educational Mandates, referred to in this order as "the working group," is established.

2. Working group membership. The working group consists of 13 members, appointed as follows:

ASix members appointed by the President of the Senate:1Three members of the Senate, one of whom must be a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs;2One member who is a representative of a rural school board;3One member who is a representative of an urban school board; and4One member who is a special education director; andBSeven members appointed by the Speaker of the House:1Four members of the House of Representatives, one of whom must be a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs;2One member who is a superintendent of schools;3One member who is a municipal government official; and4One member who is a representative of the Department of Education.

3. Working group chairs. The first-named Senator is the Senate chair of the working group and the first-named member of the House is the House chair of the working group.

4. Appointments; convening of the working group. All appointments must be made no later than 30 days following passage of this order. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all appointments have been made. When the appointment of all members has been completed, the chairs of the working group shall call and convene the first meeting of the working group.

5. Duties. The working group shall:

AIdentify unfunded education mandates;BIdentify what costs would be if the education mandates were fully funded and assess the costs; andCFor each unfunded mandate, recommend elimination or an appropriate funding source.

6. Staff assistance. The Legislative Council shall provide necessary staffing services to the working group.

7. Report. No later than December 2, 2009, the working group shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs. Pursuant to Joint Rule 353, the working group is not authorized to introduce legislation. Upon receipt of the report required by this section, the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs may, pursuant to Joint Rule 353, introduce a bill during the session to which the report is submitted to implement its recommendations on matters relating to the study.