Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2008/bills/intro/S-155.HTM
Timestamp: 2018-06-18 13:48:23
Document Index: 109189471

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 5405', '§ 5402', '§ 6067', '§ 5401', '§ 5402', '§ 6066', '§ 6066', '§ 6066', '§ 3108', '§ 6068', '§ 6061', '§ 563', '§ 428', '§ 1981', '§ 1981', '§ 1982', '§ 1991', '§ 1992', '§ 1992', '§ 1993', '§ 1994', '§ 1726', '§ 1735', '§ 2001', '§ 2021', '§ 2025', '§ 2026', '§ 1726', '§ 1735', '§ 1751', '§ 1401', '§ 1401', '§ 2964', '§ 2965', '§ 4003']

Subject: Taxation; education property tax; education
Statement of purpose: This bill proposes to make various changes to education finance and education law to reduce the burden of education property taxes and control education spending, including provisions to: reduce the impact of grand list growth on property tax rates; limit the annual increase in education property tax burden to the rate of Vermont economic growth; cap property tax adjustments at $7,500.00; control education spending growth; allow a portion of education spending to be raised locally; pay property tax adjustment amounts to claimants; consolidate school districts; require a school energy audit; restrict cost of employee health insurance; restrict nonclassroom expenses; create a statewide teachers’ contract; provide tax incentives for voluntary consolidation of districts, special education costs, and responsibilities assumed by the state; and provide state aid reduction for high student-to-teacher ratio.
* * * Reduce the impact of grand list growth on property tax rates * * *
Sec. 1. 32 V.S.A. § 5405(a) is amended to read:
* * * Limit annual increase in education property tax burden to rate of Vermont economic growth * * *
Sec. 2. 32 V.S.A. § 5402b(c) is added to read:
(c) For purposes of calculating projected education spending and projected education fund balances in this section, the commissioner shall use a projected growth rate that is the lesser of:
(1) the actual rate of projected growth in education spending; or
(2) the average of the most recent annual consumer price index inflation rate and the most recent annual rate of growth in Vermont gross domestic product.
* * * Cap property tax adjustments at $7,500.00 * * *
Sec. 3. 32 V.S.A. § 6067 is amended to read:
Only one individual per household per taxable year shall be entitled to a benefit under this chapter. An individual who received a homestead exemption or adjustment with respect to property taxes assessed by another state for the taxable year shall not be entitled to receive an adjustment under this chapter. No taxpayer shall receive total adjustments under this chapter in excess of $10,000.00 $7,500.00 related to any one property tax year.
* * * Control education spending growth * * *
Sec. 4. 32 V.S.A. § 5401(13) is amended to read:
(13) "District spending adjustment" means the greater of: one or a fraction in which the numerator is the district's education spending, up to a maximum of 110 percent of the statewide average education spending per equalized pupil in the prior fiscal year, as determined by the commissioner of education, plus four times the excess spending, per equalized pupil, for the school year; and the denominator is the base education payment for the school year, as defined in section 4001 of Title 16.
* * * Allow portion of education spending to be raised locally * * *
Sec. 5. 32 V.S.A. § 5402(f) is added to read:
(f) A local education tax is imposed on all nonresidential and homestead property at the rate necessary to raise from the municipality’s equalized education grand list the amount of education spending in the municipality’s school district per equalized pupil which is more than 110 percent, but less than 125 percent, of the statewide average education spending per equalized pupil in the prior fiscal year, as determined by the commissioner of education. The legislative body in each municipality shall then bill each property taxpayer at the local education property tax rate determined under this subsection, divided by the municipality’s most recent common level of appraisal, multiplied by the education property tax grand list value of the property.
* * * Pay property tax adjustment amounts to claimants * * *
Sec. 6. 32 V.S.A. § 6066(a) is amended to read:
(3) a claimant whose household income does not exceed $47,000.00 shall also be entitled to a credit against the claimant’s tax liability under chapter 151 of this title equal to the amount by which the property taxes for the municipal fiscal year which began in the taxable year upon the claimant’s housesite, reduced by the adjustment amount determined under subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, exceeds a percentage of the claimant’s household income for the taxable year as follows:
32 V.S.A. § 6066(h) (one percent incentive to allocate income tax refund to property tax payment) is repealed, effective for claims filed in 2008 and after.
Sec. 8. 32 V.S.A. § 6066a is amended to read:
(a) Annually, the commissioner shall pay to each claimant the property tax adjustment amount determined under subdivisions 6066(a)(1) and (2) of this title. The payment shall be made to the municipality in which the housesite is located, for credit to the claimant for homestead property tax liabilities, on July 1 for timely-filed claims and on September 15 for late claims filed by September 1 by the latest of: August 1, for claims filed by April 15; 45 days after the claim is filed, for claims filed after April 15; or 30 days prior to the first education property tax installment date for the claimant’s municipality in the fiscal year which begins in the calendar year in which the claim is filed under section 6068 of this title; or 25 days after the grand list has been transmitted in accordance with section 5404(b) of this title. The tax adjustment of a claimant who was assessed property tax by a town which revised the dates of its fiscal year, however, is the excess of the property tax which was assessed in the last 12 months of the revised fiscal year, over the adjusted property tax of the claimant for the revised fiscal year as determined under subdivisions 6066(a)(1), (2), and (3) of this title.
Sec. 9. 32 V.S.A. § 3108(b) is amended to read:
Sec. 10. 32 V.S.A. § 6068 is amended to read:
(b) Late-filing penalties. If the claimant fails to file a timely claim, the amount of the property tax adjustment under this chapter shall be reduced by $15.00, but not below $0.00, which shall be paid to the municipality for the cost of issuing an adjusted homestead property tax bill. No benefit shall be allowed in the calendar year unless the claim is filed with the commissioner on or before September 1.
Sec. 11. 32 V.S.A. § 6061 is amended to read:
(15) “Unadjusted property tax” means the amount of education and municipal property taxes on the homestead parcel before any reduction for a property tax payment under section 6066a of this chapter.
(16) “Adjusted property tax” means the amount of education and municipal property taxes on the homestead parcel after reduction for any property tax payment under section 6066a of this chapter.
* * * Consolidation of school districts * * *
Sec. 12. SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION INITIATIVE
(a) There is created a commission to develop a plan for consolidating school districts and their boards so that there is no more than one district or board per supervisory union or supervisory district in the state. The commission shall be made up of four members appointed by the governor, two members appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate, two members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, and a chair jointly appointed by the governor, president pro tempore, and speaker. Members shall serve without compensation, and the legislative council, joint fiscal office, and department of education shall provide staff services.
(b) The commission’s proposal shall address such transitional issues as:
(1) The process by which districts and boards will be dissolved and created.
(2) The status of existing contracts with private entities.
(3) The ownership of real property.
(4) The status of existing contracts with district employees.
(5) The effect consolidation will have on education finance, school choice, technical centers, pre-school programs, and other issues.
(c) On or before December 1, 2007, the commission shall present its proposed consolidation plan to the general assembly.
* * * Energy audit * * *
Sec. 13. 16 V.S.A. § 563(32) is added to read:
* * * Health insurance; non-classroom expenses * * *
Sec. 14. 16 V.S.A. § 428(c) and (d) are added to read:
(c) No budget shall include a line-item for the health insurance of any employee that is in an amount that exceeds the average per-person cost of health insurance paid in Vermont, as that average is determined on or before January 1 of each year by the commissioner of banking, insurance, securities, and health care administration.
(d) No more than 35 percent of a district’s budget shall be for expenses not directly related to the classroom unless the district receives express preapproval from the voters in the district and the general assembly to present a budget exceeding that percentage. The state board of education shall define by rule those items considered to be directly related to the classroom.
* * * Statewide teacher’s contract * * *
Sec. 15. 16 V.S.A. § 1981(2) is amended to read:
Sec. 16. 16 V.S.A. § 1981(8), (9), (10), and (11) are added to read:
(8) “Public schoolteacher” means a teacher who is employed by a public school board in a position requiring licensure.
(9) “State,” unless the context indicates otherwise, means the state of Vermont represented by the governor or the governor’s authorized representative.
(10) “Exclusive representative” means any individual or employee organization chosen to represent teachers or administrators in negotiations with the state or a school board.
(11) “Negotiating unit” means a group of employees eligible for exclusive representation by an employee organization in professional negotiations. The negotiating unit includes those who are members of the employee organization and those who are not members.
Sec. 17. 16 V.S.A. § 1982 is amended to read:
(a) Teachers shall have the right to self‑organize, and to or not to join, assist, or participate in any teachers’ organization of their choosing. However, teachers may be required to pay an agency fee pursuant to an agreement negotiated under this chapter.
(c) Neither the state or the school board, nor any employee of the state or the school board, serving in any capacity, nor any other person or organization shall interfere with, restrain, coerce, or discriminate in any way against or for any teacher or administrator engaged in activities protected by this legislation.
Sec. 18. 16 V.S.A. § 1991 is amended to read:
Sec. 19. 16 V.S.A. § 1992 is amended to read:
§ 1992. ADMINISTRATORS AND INDEPENDENT SCHOOLTEACHERS; REFERENDUM PROCEDURE FOR REPRESENTATION
(a) An organization purporting to represent a majority of all of the teachers independent schoolteachers or of all the administrators employed by the a school board may be recognized by the school board without the necessity of a referendum upon the submission of a petition bearing the valid signatures of a majority of the teachers independent schoolteachers or administrators employed by that school board. Within fifteen 15 days after receiving the petition the school board shall notify the teachers or administrators of the school district in writing of its intention to either to require or waive a secret ballot referendum. If the school board gives notice of its intention to waive a referendum and recognize an organization, ten percent of the teachers or administrators employed by the school board may submit a petition within fifteen 15 days thereafter, objecting to the granting or recognition without a referendum, in which event a secret ballot referendum shall be held among the administrators or independent schoolteachers in the district for the purpose of choosing an exclusive representative according to the guidelines for referendum contained in this legislation.
Sec. 20. 16 V.S.A. § 1993 is added to read:
Sec. 21. 16 V.S.A. § 1994 is added to read:
For the purpose of preventing unfair labor practices between teachers and the state, public schoolteachers and the state shall be subject to the provisions of 21 V.S.A. §§ 1726–1729 pursuant to 21 V.S.A. § 1735. For the purposes of relations between teachers and the state, “employer” means the state, and:
Sec. 22. 16 V.S.A. chapter 57, subchapter 3 is redesignated to read:
Sec. 23. 16 V.S.A. § 2001 is amended to read:
Sec. 24. 16 V.S.A. chapter 57, subchapter 5 is added to read:
The state and the recognized public schoolteacher exclusive representative shall meet together at reasonable times, upon request of either party, and shall negotiate in good faith on all matters properly before them under the provisions of this chapter.
(a) The exclusive representative and the state shall negotiate on matters of salary, including the number of days and hours per day that the salary covers; insurance benefits; leave excluding extended leave which under rule of the state board requires employment of a licensed substitute; duration of contract; and grievance definition and procedures. Economic conditions of employment for teachers not bargained under this section shall be determined by the local school board and teachers in accordance with subchapter 5 of chapter 9 of this title. Nothing herein shall preclude a school board and teachers from agreeing, pursuant to subchapter 5 of chapter 9 of this title, to a grievance definition and procedure alternative to that negotiated under this section.
The state and the exclusive representative shall enter into a written agreement, incorporating matters agreed to in negotiation.
If, after negotiation has taken place on all matters properly before them, the state and the exclusive representative are unable to reach agreement on specific negotiable items, they may jointly agree upon the services and person of a mediator for the purpose of assisting them in reconciling their differences and resolving the controversy on terms which are mutually acceptable. If agreement cannot be reached upon the identity of a mediator, then either party may request mediation upon any and all unresolved issues to be conducted by the American Arbitration Association or its designee. The parties shall meet with the mediator and make such information available as required.
(b) The fact‑finding committee, which shall be activated as soon as practicable upon request, shall be composed of one member selected by the state, one member selected by the exclusive representative, and one member, who shall serve as chair, chosen by the other two members. In the event that agreement cannot be reached on a third member for the fact‑finding committee, the American Arbitration Association shall be asked to appoint the third member.
(3) Both parties have voluntarily agreed to binding arbitration under subchapter 4 of this chapter, except that in this case, the teachers may strike following a decision of the general assembly to appropriate less than requested under section 2039 of this title.
An agreement between the state and the exclusive representative shall be submitted to the governor, who shall request from the general assembly the amount necessary to compensate the teachers according to the negotiated compensation schedule.
Sec. 25. 16 V.S.A. § 2021 is amended to read:
(b) The parties may mutually agree to accept binding interest arbitration at any time after impasse is reached. If the parties have neither accepted all recommendations of a fact‑finder nor reached an independent agreement on all issues in dispute, either the state, the school board, or the recognized representative organization may request binding interest arbitration by written notice to the other party. The parties shall mutually agree on one of the following limitations on the jurisdiction of the arbitrator:
(B) The last best offer of the recognized representative organization.
Sec. 26. 16 V.S.A. § 2025 is amended to read:
Sec. 27. 16 V.S.A. § 2026 is amended to read:
Sec. 28. 16 V.S.A. chapter 9, subchapter 5 is added to read:
(h) The council shall be exempt from the open meeting law of subchapter 2 of chapter 5 of Title 1.
For the purpose of preventing unfair labor practices, teachers and school boards shall be subject to the provisions of 21 V.S.A. §§ 1726–1729, pursuant to 21 V.S.A. § 1735. For the purposes of relations between teachers and their school boards, subdivisions 1726(a)(8) and (b)(6) do not apply. In addition, subdivisions 1726(a)(5) and (b)(4) shall not apply:
Sec. 29. 16 V.S.A. § 1751 is amended to read:
(a) Notwithstanding the fact that the teachers’ compensation schedule is negotiated between the state of Vermont and the recognized teacher organization, and notwithstanding the fact that the school district receives aid from the state of Vermont for funding teacher compensation, a teacher shall be an employee of the school board. Decisions regarding hiring, evaluation, suspension, nonrenewal of contract, conditions of employment other than those negotiated under chapter 57 of this title, and dismissal of the teacher shall be made by the school board.
(c) A public schoolteacher shall be compensated by a public school board according to the agreement negotiated between the state and the public
schoolteacher negotiating unit. Except as provided in this subsection, a school board may not enter into separate negotiations with a teacher and may not provide the teacher compensation beyond or below that set forth in the contract for a teacher of equal experience and qualifications performing the same duties. For extra student‑attendance days and teacher in‑service education days and extra hours worked during student‑attendance and in‑service days, a school board shall pay compensation according to the statewide contract on a prorated basis. A board, however, may pay compensation at a different rate from that set forth in the statewide contract for the performance of extra‑ or cocurricular activities or days or hours worked during days that are not student‑attendance or teacher in‑service days.
Sec. 30. TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS AND EFFECTIVE DATE
(a) Unless otherwise agreed to by the parties, collective bargaining agreements between school boards and their employees entered into before July 1, 2008 shall remain in effect until their expiration and until the terms of the successor agreements are established.
(c) School employers and employees within multi-district supervisory unions who are engaged in collective bargaining as of July 1, 2008, are encouraged, but are not required, to do so in accordance with the provisions of this act.
(d) School employers and employees beginning negotiations for a collective bargaining agreement after July 1, 2008 shall do so in accordance with the provisions of this act.
(e) Nothing in this act shall prevent a school district and its employees from amending an existing agreement to expire on a date earlier than previously agreed to for purposes of entering into an agreement under this act.
(f) Nothing shall prevent an agreement negotiated under this act from containing staggered effective dates for the different districts within the supervisory union.
* * * Voluntary consolidation; tax benefit * * *
Sec. 31. VOLUNTARY CONSOLIDATION; TAX BENEFIT
* * * Special education costs and responsibility * * *
Sec. 32. 16 V.S.A. chapter 101 is amended to read:
CHAPTER 101. SPECIAL EDUCATION
It is the policy of the state to ensure equal educational opportunities for all children in Vermont. As applied to children with disabilities, this means that such children are entitled to receive a free appropriate public education. It is further the policy of the state to pay 60 100 percent of the statewide costs expended by public education to children with disabilities and to assume responsibility for the implementation of all aspects of special education in the public schools. The purpose of this chapter is to enable the state department of education to ensure the provision of the special educational facilities and instruction which are necessary to meet the needs of children with disabilities. The purpose is also for the department to assume the role of the local educational agency for purposes of 20 U.S.C. § 1401(19) and related federal laws.
(1) “Child with a disability” means any child in Vermont determined by the department of education to be eligible under state regulations to receive special education.
(6) “Individualized education plan” means a plan established by the department of education for an eligible child pursuant to 20 U.S.C. § 1401(19) and the implementing federal and state regulations.
(g) The state board of education shall, by rule, adopt the process by which the department shall:
(1) Assess each child in the state for whom an individualized education plan is requested or recommended; and
(2) Develop and implement the individualized education plan for each child whom the department, as the local educational agency, determines to be eligible.
A school district or supervisory union responsible for When developing an individualized education plan for a child with a disability, the department of education may consider the cost of the provision of special education or related services to the child if:
(1) the district or supervisory union department has developed the individualized education plan in accordance with federal law through an individualized plan team that included the parents;
(2) the individualized education plan team has determined that the child’s placement contained in the plan is appropriate for the child as that term is defined in federal law; and
(3) all the options under consideration by the district or supervisory union department for fulfilling the requirements of the child’s individualized education plan would constitute a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment for the child, as those terms are defined in federal law.
Subchapter 2. Aid for Special Education and Support Services
(c) As used in this subchapter, “extraordinary special education expenditures” means a school district’s allowable expenditures which for any one child exceed $50,000.00 for a fiscal year. In this subsection, child means a pupil with disabilities who is three years of age or older in the current school year. The state board shall define allowable expenditures which shall include any expenditures required under federal law, and any costs of mediation conducted by a mediator who is approved by the commissioner.
(d) [Repealed.] [Repealed.]
(b) The amount of a school district’s special education expenditures reimbursement shall be equal to the total of its special education expenditures multiplied by the reimbursement rate for that year.
(B) mainstream service costs, as defined in section 2961(c)(1) of this title; and
(3) “Special education expenditures reimbursement rate” means a percentage of special education expenditures that is calculated to achieve the 60 percent share required by section 2967(b) of this title.
(b) An eligible school district may apply to the commissioner to receive reimbursement under this section. The commissioner shall award reimbursement to a school district under this section if the commissioner makes a determination that the school district considered all the cost-effective and appropriate available alternatives for placement and programs for students before incurring these costs. A decision of the commissioner shall be final. [Repealed.]
§ 2964. SERVICE PLAN
(a) As a condition of receiving assistance under this subchapter, a supervisory union or supervisory district shall file a service plan with the commissioner annually on or before October 15. The service plan shall contain the anticipated special education expenditures for the following school year. The plan shall be in a form prescribed by the commissioner and shall include information on services planned and anticipated expenditures.
(b) If a supervisory union or district fails to file a service plan by October 15, the commissioner may withhold any funds due the supervisory district or school districts under this title until a service plan is filed and accepted by the commissioner as properly completed. [Repealed.]
§ 2965. WITHHOLDING OF AID
If a district or agency fails to meet its legally established obligations toward a child with a disability or the child's parent, and as a result the department of education incurs costs to meet these obligations beyond those otherwise incurred under this chapter, the commissioner shall withhold the amount of funds so incurred from any grants due the district or agency under this subchapter. [Repealed.]
(a) On or before December 15, the commissioner shall publish an estimate, by town school district, city school district, union school district, unified union school district, incorporated school district, and the member school districts of an interstate school district, of the amount of state assistance necessary to fully fund sections 2961 through 2963 of this title provide special education services in the ensuing school year.
(b) The total expenditures made by the state in any fiscal year pursuant to this chapter shall be 60 percent that portion of the statewide total special education expenditures of funds which that are not derived from federal sources. Special education expenditures shall include:
(2) costs for services for the visually handicapped and hearing impaired;
(4) costs for regional multi-handicapped specialists;
(6) funds expended for training under subsection 2969(d) of this title.
(a) On or before November 15, March 15, and August 1 of each school year, each supervisory union and supervisory district shall file a financial report with the commissioner in a form prescribed by the commissioner. The report shall describe total expenditures for special education actually incurred during the preceding period, and shall describe revenues derived from different funding sources, including but not limited to federal assistance, state assistance under this section, and local effort.
(b) If a supervisory union or school district fails to file a complete report by August 1, until the properly completed August 1 report is filed and accepted by the commissioner, the commissioner may withhold any funds due the supervisory union or district under this title and shall subtract $100.00 per business day from funds due to the district under this title for that fiscal year. The commissioner may waive the $100.00 penalty required under this subsection upon appeal by the supervisory union or school district. The commissioner by rule shall establish procedures for administration of this subsection.
(c) The commissioner shall review and monitor the reports set forth in subsection (a) of this section as well as the service plans set forth in section 2964 of this title, and shall assist supervisory unions and school districts to complete and submit these documents in a timely and accurate fashion.
(d) Special education receipts and expenditures shall be included within the audits required of supervisory unions and school districts pursuant to sections 323 and 563(17) of this title. [Repealed.]
(a) On or before August 15, December 15, and April 15 of each school year, the state treasurer shall withdraw from the education fund, based on warrant of the commissioner of finance and management, and shall forward to each school district the commissioner of education, the amount of state assistance funds estimated in accordance with state board rules to be necessary to fund sections 2961 through 2963a of this title special education services in the current fiscal period. The state board shall by rule ensure that the amount of such assistance shall be adjusted to compensate for any overpayments or underpayments determined, after review and acceptance of the reports submitted under section 2968 of this title, to have been made in previous periods. Notwithstanding this subsection, failure to submit the reports within the timelines established by subsection 2968(a) of this title shall result in the withholding of any payments until the report is filed.
(c) For the purpose of meeting the needs of students with emotional behavioral problems, each fiscal year the commissioner shall use for training, program development, and building school and regional capacity, up to one percent of the state funds appropriated under this subchapter.
(d) Each fiscal year the commissioner shall use for the training of teachers, administrators and other personnel in the identification and evaluation of, and provision of education services to children who require educational supports, up to 0.75 percent of the state funds appropriated under this subchapter. In order to set priorities for the use of these funds, the commissioner shall identify effective practices and areas of critical need. The commissioner may expend up to five percent of these funds for statewide training and shall distribute the remaining funds to school districts or supervisory unions. School districts and supervisory unions that apply for funds under this section must submit a plan for training which will result in lasting changes in their school systems and give assurances that at least 50 percent of the costs of training including in-kind costs will be assumed by the applicant. The commissioner shall establish written procedures and criteria for the award of such funds. In addition, the commissioner may identify schools most in need of training assistance and may pay for 100 percent of help provided to these schools.
(6) the status of the education support systems in school districts.
(b) The commissioner shall review high spending districts to determine whether:
(2) the district made reasonable efforts to provide, purchase or contract for goods or services that are the most reasonably priced yet appropriate for its students;
(4) all expenditures identified as special education expenditures were properly attributed to eligible students and the services for which the expenditures were made were included in the students' individualized education plans. [Repealed.]
(c) The commissioner shall review low spending districts to determine the reasons for their spending patterns and whether those districts used
cost-effective strategies appropriate to replicate in other districts. [Repealed.]
(d) For the purposes of this section, a "high spending district" is a school district that, in the previous school year, spent at least 20 percent more than the statewide average of special education eligible costs per average daily membership. Also for the purposes of this section, a "low spending district" is a school district that, in the previous school year, spent no more than 80 percent of the statewide average of special education eligible costs per average daily membership. [Repealed.]
(e) For the purpose of advising the commissioner and providing technical assistance to school districts, the state board shall appoint a fiscal review panel of seven people who have expertise in the areas of data collection and finance, and in the fields of special education, business or health and human services. The panel, at the request of a district school board, shall work with the department of education to review spending patterns and provision of special education services in the district and provide advice to the school board and staff concerning cost control mechanisms and cost-effective practices. In addition, the panel shall make recommendations on what types of data to collect for purposes of the annual report required under subsection (a) of this section, and how the data should be analyzed.
* * * Student-to-teacher ratio * * *
Sec. 33. 16 V.S.A. § 4003(c) is added to read:
(c) No district shall receive aid under this chapter if the number of children in any classroom in the district is less than 75 percent of the average number of children per classroom nationally, as the national average is determined by the department of education on or before August 1 of each year.
This bill shall take effect upon passage, except Secs. 1–11 shall apply to fiscal years 2009 and after.