2013 -- S 0970

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LC02609

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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A N A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - COOPERATIVE SERVICE AMONG SCHOOL DISTRICTS

     

     

     Introduced By: Senators Gallo, Miller, and Lombardi

     Date Introduced: May 30, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Finance

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 16-3.1-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-3.1 entitled

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"Cooperative Service Among School Districts" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     16-3.1-11. Urban collaborative. -- Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or

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special law to the contrary, the school committees of the cities of Providence, Pawtucket, East

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Providence, Central Falls and other Rhode Island school districts as may be approved for

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inclusion by existing member districts in accordance with collaborative bylaws are authorized and

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empowered to continue and/or initiate cooperative efforts to provide alternate education programs

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and/or diagnostic services required by law or regulation for students achieving limited success in

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traditional settings and to do all things necessary including, but not limited to utilization of

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technology, including television, all on a collaborative basis. The various school committees may

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assign and delegate to their respective school committee chairs or designee or superintendents of

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schools or designee, acting as a regional board any duties, responsibilities, and powers that the

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committees may deem necessary for the conduct, administration, and management of the urban

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collaborative. Beginning on July 1, 2013 the urban collaborative shall be funded pursuant to the

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provisions of section 16-7.2-3. The state share of the permanent foundation education aid shall be

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paid directly to the urban collaborative pursuant to the provisions of section 16-7.2-7. The local

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school district shall transfer the difference between the calculated state share of the permanent

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foundation education aid and the amount calculated pursuant to the provisions of section 16-7.2-7

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to the urban collaborative, until the transition of the state share is complete. In addition, the local

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school district shall pay the local share of education funding to the urban collaborative as outlined

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in section 16-7.2-5.

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     The urban collaborative shall be eligible to receive other aids, grants, Medicaid revenue,

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and any other revenue according to Rhode Island law, as though it were a school district. Federal

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aid received by the state shall be used to benefit students in the urban collaborative, if the school

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qualifies for the aid, as though it were a school district.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

     

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LC02609

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - COOPERATIVE SERVICE AMONG SCHOOL DISTRICTS

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     This act would mandate that the urban collaborative would be treated as a school district

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in order to be eligible to receive other aids, grants, and Medicaid revenue to benefit its students.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

     

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LC02609

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S0970