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 1500
Senate Bill 47
Printed pursuant to Senate Interim Rule 213.28 by order of the
President of the Senate in conformance with presession filing
rules, indicating neither advocacy nor opposition on the part
of the President (at the request of Senate Commission on
Educational Excellence)
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.
Directs Department of Education to establish system for
reviewing business practices of school districts. Establishes
Efficiency Review Advisory Panel to provide advice to department
on school district reviews. Directs department to appoint
efficiency review teams.
Allows department to use moneys from State School Fund for
reviews.
Declares emergency, effective July 1, 2007.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to school finance; and declaring an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. { + (1) The Department of Education shall establish
a system for reviewing the business practices of school
districts. The department shall:
(a) Select school districts for review;
(b) Designate which school district activities to review;
(c) Determine standards for business practices based on best
practices;
(d) Appoint efficiency review teams to conduct the reviews;
(e) Report the findings of the reviews to the school districts;
and
(f) Assist school districts in responding to the reviews.
(2) The department shall report to the State Board of Education
on the results of the reviews and on recommendations for
subsequent actions. The board may accept or modify the
recommendations of the department.
(3) The department shall monitor school district responses to
the recommendations. The department shall report to the board on
the school district responses and make further recommendations if
necessary.
(4) Each biennium, the department shall report the results of
the reviews to the Legislative Assembly in the manner prescribed
in ORS 192.245. + }
SECTION 2. { + (1) There is established an Efficiency Review
Advisory Panel. The panel shall consist of:
(a) One member appointed by the President of the Senate;
(b) One member appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives;
(c) One member appointed by the Governor;
(d) One member appointed by the Superintendent of Public
Instruction, selected from a list of nominees submitted by the
Oregon School Boards Association;
(e) One member appointed by the superintendent, selected from a
list of nominees submitted by the Confederation of Oregon School
Administrators; and
(f) One member appointed by the superintendent, selected from a
list of nominees submitted by the Oregon Education Association.
(2) Members appointed to the panel shall have experience in:
(a) Private sector performance auditing;
(b) Public sector performance auditing; or
(c) School district business practices.
(3) The panel shall advise the Department of Education on:
(a) The designation of school district activities for review
under section 1 of this 2007 Act;
(b) The method of selecting school districts for review;
(c) The development of standards for business practices;
(d) The interpretation and understanding of review results; and
(e) The school district responses to the results of reviews.
(4) A majority of the members of the panel constitutes a quorum
for the transaction of business.
(5) The panel shall meet at times and places specified by the
call of the chairperson or of a majority of the members of the
panel.
(6) Official action by the panel requires the approval of a
majority of the members of the panel.
(7) The panel shall elect one of its members to serve as
chairperson.
(8) The term of office of each member is two years, but a
member serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority. If
there is a vacancy for any cause, the appointing authority shall
make an appointment to become immediately effective.
(9) The department shall provide staff support to the panel.
(10) Members of the panel who are not members of the
Legislative Assembly are not entitled to compensation, but may be
reimbursed for actual and necessary travel and other expenses
incurred by them in the performance of their official duties in
the manner and amounts provided for in ORS 292.495. Claims for
expenses incurred in performing functions of the panel shall be
paid out of funds appropriated to the department for that
purpose.
(11) All agencies of state government, as defined in ORS
174.111, and school districts are directed to assist the panel in
the performance of its duties and, to the extent permitted by
laws relating to confidentiality, to furnish such information and
advice as the members of the panel consider necessary to perform
their duties. + }
SECTION 3. { + (1) The Department of Education shall establish
efficiency review teams. The teams shall consist of individuals
who are retired from school districts, local government, state
government or the private sector and who have extensive
experience with performance auditing.
(2) The department may direct the efficiency review teams to
conduct on-site reviews of the business practices of selected
school districts for activities designated under section 1 of
this 2007 Act. The teams shall work with local school officials
by sharing information and developing a plan for responding to
the review. + }
SECTION 4. { + Notwithstanding ORS 327.008, for the 2007-2009
biennium, the Department of Education may expend up to $1 million
from the State School Fund for the administration of sections 1
to 3 of this 2007 Act. + }
SECTION 5. { + This 2007 Act being necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency
is declared to exist, and this 2007 Act takes effect July 1,
2007. + }
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