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 3493
 
                   Senate Joint Resolution 38
 
Sponsored by Senator DEVLIN
 
 
                             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 clarify
requirement that Legislative Assembly must appropriate in each
biennium amount sufficient to ensure that state's system of
public education meets quality goals established by law.
  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 8a 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
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 - }
 { + . In addition, the Legislative Assembly shall + } publish a
report  { + in each biennium + } that
  { - either - }  demonstrates  { + that + } the appropriation
 { + for the biennium + } 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.
  (2) 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 districts for each year in which the voters of such
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.
   { +  SECTION 8a. + }  { + (1) Notwithstanding the provisions
of section 8 of this Article that require the Legislative
Assembly to appropriate a sum of money sufficient to ensure that
the state's system of public education meets quality goals
established by law:
  (a) For the 2011-2013 and 2013-2015 biennia, the Legislative
Assembly shall appropriate in each biennium not less than 85
percent of the sum of money sufficient to ensure that the state's
system of public education meets quality goals established by
law.
  (b) For the 2015-2017 and 2017-2019 biennia, the Legislative
Assembly shall appropriate in each biennium not less than 90
percent of the sum of money sufficient to ensure that the state's
system of public education meets quality goals established by
law.
  (c) For the 2019-2021 and 2021-2023 biennia, the Legislative
Assembly shall appropriate in each biennium not less than 95
percent of the sum of money sufficient to ensure that the state's
system of public education meets quality goals established by
law.
  (2) This section is repealed 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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