House Bill No. [insert number] enacts R.S. 17:22.1, which grants the state superintendent of education the authority to assign a chief operating officer to local school systems that fail to meet minimum instructional expenditure requirements for two consecutive years, as outlined in the Minimum Foundation Program formula. This chief operating officer will be a temporary contract employee, not a permanent state employee, and will not receive a state salary or benefits. The officer's responsibilities include researching the financial practices of the non-compliant school system and providing a written report with findings and recommendations to both the local school board and the state superintendent.

Additionally, the school board is required to develop a compliance plan based on the officer's recommendations and submit it to the state superintendent for approval before implementation. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is tasked with adopting rules to facilitate the implementation of this new provision. This bill aims to enhance financial accountability and ensure that school boards adhere to established expenditure requirements.