State Fiscal Highlights
· No direct fiscal effect on the state.
Local Fiscal Highlights
· The bill eliminates or modifies most mandates associated with school operations. It grants local school boards authority over day-to-day operations of schools.
· Since most student education requirements remain unchanged under the bill, it is not very likely that school districts will drastically alter their current operations, especially in the near future. However, over time, school districts may be able to realize some savings from the greater administrative flexibility granted in the bill.
Detailed Fiscal Analysis
The bill eliminates or modifies most current mandates associated with school operations.[1] Among various changes, the bill eliminates the obligations of school districts to collectively bargain with their nonmanagement employees and to transport K-8 students who live at least two miles from school. Instead of mandating that school districts to meet various requirements, the bill grants local school boards broad authority over day-to-day operations of schools, including broad contracting authority to hire, compensate, discipline, and dismiss employees. The bill, however, generally retains state and federal mandates associated with student education, such as compulsory school attendance, the minimum school year calendar, the minimum high school graduation requirements, special and career-technical education services, and student achievement testing.
The bill provides local school boards with greater flexibility in day-to-day operations of schools. However, since the student education requirements largely remain unchanged under the bill, most school districts are presumably not likely to drastically change their current operations, especially in the near future. Over time, school districts may be able to achieve some savings from the greater administrative flexibility granted by the bill.
HB0178IN.docx/th
[1] See the LSC bill analysis of H.B. 178 for the specific mandates eliminated, modified, or retained by the bill.
