74th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2007 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .
 
 LC 3283
 
                    House Joint Resolution 54
 
Sponsored by Representative CANNON; Representatives BARNHART,
  BUCKLEY, CLEM, GREENLICK, HOLVEY, NOLAN, READ, ROBLAN, SHIELDS,
  WITT
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.
 
  Proposes amendment to Oregon Constitution requiring Legislative
Assembly to appropriate biennially minimum sum for state system
of public education. Specifies bases for amounts required for
kindergarten through grade 12 system, community college system
and higher education system. Provides for phase-in of
constitutional requirement.
  Authorizes Legislative Assembly to appropriate amount that is
less than amount constitutionally required if approved by
three-fifths of members in each house.
  Refers proposed amendment to people for their approval or
rejection at next regular general election.
 
                        JOINT RESOLUTION
Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of
  Oregon:
  PARAGRAPH 1. The Constitution of the State of Oregon is amended
by creating a new section 9 to be added to and made a part of
Article VIII, and by amending section 8, Article VIII, such
sections to read:
   { +  Sec. 8. + } Adequate and Equitable Funding. (1)
 { - The - }   { + Except as provided in subsection (2) of this
section, the + } Legislative Assembly shall appropriate
 { - in - }   { + for + } each biennium { +  beginning on or
after July 1, 2011, + } a  { + total + } sum of money
 { - sufficient to ensure that - }   { + for + } the state's
system of public education   { - meets quality goals established
by law, and publish a report that either demonstrates the
appropriation is sufficient, or identifies the reasons for the
insufficiency, its extent, and its impact on the ability of the
state's system of public education to meet those goals. - }  { +
that ensures each of the following minimum amounts are met:
  (a) An amount not less than 100 percent of the cost of meeting
the quality goals established by law for the kindergarten through
grade 12 public education system.
  (b) An amount not less than 50 percent of the total projected
cost of providing an education, as determined by a commission
established by law, in the public community college system. The
commission, in determining the total projected cost of providing
an education, shall consider projected enrollment and projected
changes to costs of providing an education in the public
community college system.
  (c) An amount not less than 70 percent of the total projected
cost of providing an education, as determined by a commission
established by law, in the public higher education system. The
commission, in determining the total projected cost of providing
an education, shall consider projected enrollment and projected
changes to costs of providing an education in the public higher
education system.
  (2) The Legislative Assembly may appropriate a total sum of
money for a biennium that is less than an amount required in
paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of subsection (1) of this section if
the amount is approved by three-fifths of the members serving in
each house of the Legislative Assembly. + }
    { - (2) - }  { +  (3) + } Consistent with such legal
obligation as it may have to maintain substantial equity in state
funding, the Legislative Assembly shall establish a system of
Equalization Grants to eligible  { + school + } districts for
each year in which the voters of such  { + school + } districts
approve local option taxes as described in Article XI, section 11
(4)(a)(B) of this Constitution. The amount of such Grants and
eligibility criteria shall be determined by the Legislative
Assembly.
   { +  (4) As used in this section:
  (a) 'Cost of providing an education' means operational costs
and capital costs.
  (b) 'Public higher education system' does not include the
Oregon Health and Science University. + }
   { +  SECTION 9. Notwithstanding section 8 of this Article, for
the purpose of phasing in the minimum appropriation requirements
of subsection (1) of section 8 of this Article, the Legislative
Assembly may appropriate for the 2011-2013, 2013-2015, 2015-2017,
2017-2019 and 2019-2021 biennia a total sum of money that is less
than an amount required by paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of
subsection (1) of section 8 of this Article if the amount is
equal to a percentage that is greater than the percentage of the
total projected cost of providing an education for that segment
of the state's system of public education for the biennium that
precedes the biennium for which the amount is appropriated. + }
 
  PARAGRAPH 2.  { + The amendment proposed by this resolution
shall be submitted to the people for their approval or rejection
at the next regular general election held throughout this
state. + }
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