The bill aims to revise laws related to school funding in Montana by eliminating the proration of debt service assistance and requiring the Superintendent of Public Instruction to request supplemental appropriations when necessary to fully fund all forms of state equalization aid for schools. Key amendments include changes to several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA), specifically sections 20-9-346, 20-9-351, 20-9-371, 20-9-516, and 20-9-525. Notably, the bill removes limitations on the distribution of state advances and reimbursements for school facilities, ensuring that eligible districts receive the full amount necessary for debt service obligations without proration.

Additionally, the bill modifies the definitions and calculations related to state equalization aid, replacing references to "BASE" aid with "state equalization" aid and clarifying the funding requirements for debt service assistance. It mandates that the Superintendent of Public Instruction distribute state advances and reimbursements for school facilities to eligible districts, ensuring that these funds are used to reduce levy requirements for outstanding bonded indebtedness. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2023.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 20-9-346, 20-9-351, 20-9-371, 20-9-516, 20-9-525