House Bill No. [insert bill number] proposes to revise school funding laws in Montana by moving the second enrollment count date used for calculating the Average Number Belonging (ANB) from the first Monday in February to the last Monday in January. This change is intended to allow for a more timely calculation of school funding based on student enrollment. The bill amends Section 20-9-311 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to reflect this adjustment, along with other related provisions regarding the calculation of ANB, including the treatment of students enrolled in various educational programs and the inclusion of certain absences in enrollment counts.

Additionally, the bill establishes an effective date of July 1, 2025, and specifies that it will apply to school fiscal years beginning and enrollment counts conducted on or after this date. The revisions aim to streamline the funding process for schools and ensure that funding reflects current enrollment figures more accurately. The bill also includes provisions for calculating ANB for students in special circumstances, such as those participating in extracurricular activities or receiving special education services.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 20-9-311
HB0023_1(1): 20-9-311
HB0023_1(2): 20-9-311
HB0023_1(3): 20-9-311
HB0023_1(4): 20-9-311
HB0023_1: 20-9-311