75th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2009 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 307
House Joint Resolution 39
Sponsored by Representatives DEMBROW, CANNON
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 to establish minimum
amounts that must be appropriated by Legislative Assembly for
kindergarten through grade 12 system, community college system
and higher education system. Authorizes Legislative Assembly to
appropriate amount that is less than required minimum amount if
approved by three-fifths of members in each house.
Provides for phase-in of requirement.
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 new sections 8a and 8b 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 each
biennium { - a sum of money sufficient to ensure that 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. - }
{ + an amount of money for each segment of the state's system
of public education as follows:
(a) For the kindergarten through grade 12 public education
system, an amount not less than 100 percent of the projected cost
of meeting the quality goals established by law for all students
in kindergarten through grade 12.
(b) For the public community college system, an amount not less
than 50 percent of the projected cost of providing an education
for all students in the public community college system, as
determined by a commission established by law. The commission, in
determining the projected cost of providing an education, shall
consider projected changes in enrollment and in the cost of
providing an education in the public community college system.
(c) For the public higher education system, an amount not less
than 70 percent of the projected cost of providing an education
for all students in the public higher education system, as
determined by a commission established by law. The commission, in
determining the projected cost of providing an education, shall
consider projected changes in enrollment and in the cost of
providing an education in the public higher education system.
(2) For any segment of the state's system of public education
described in subsection (1) of this section, the Legislative
Assembly may appropriate an amount of money for a biennium that
is less than the amount required for that segment by 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 - }
{ + the + } 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 - } { + the school + } districts approve
local option taxes as described in Article XI, section 11
(4)(a)(B) of this Constitution. The amount of { - such - }
{ + the Equalization + } 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 8a. + } { + (1) The amendment to section 8 of
this Article by House Joint Resolution 39 (2009) applies to
biennia beginning on or after July 1, 2013.
(2) This section is repealed on January 2, 2014. + }
{ + SECTION 8b. + } { + (1) Notwithstanding subsection (2)
of section 8 of this Article and only for the 2013-2015,
2015-2017, 2017-2019, 2019-2021 and 2021-2023 biennia, the
Legislative Assembly, without the approval of three-fifths of the
members serving in each house of the Legislative Assembly, may
appropriate for any segment of the state's system of public
education described in subsection (1) of section 8 of this
Article an amount of money that is less than the amount required
for that segment by paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of subsection (1)
of section 8 of this Article.
(2) The Legislative Assembly may make an appropriation for a
biennium as described in subsection (1) of this section only if,
in comparison to the previous biennium, the appropriation for a
segment of the state's system of public education is a greater
percentage of the amount required for that segment by paragraph
(a), (b) or (c) of subsection (1) of section 8 of this Article.
(3) This section is repealed on July 1, 2023. + }
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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