House Bill No. introduced by M. Romano, at the request of the Education Interim Committee, proposes revisions to school funding laws 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 reflected in the amendment to Section 20-9-311 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA), where the previous date is deleted and the new date is inserted. The bill also includes various provisions regarding the calculation of ANB, such as the inclusion of students enrolled in specific programs and the treatment of students with disabilities, while maintaining the overall structure of the existing law.

The bill establishes an effective date of July 1, 2025, and specifies that it applies to school fiscal years beginning and enrollment counts conducted on or after this date. This timeline allows for a transition period for schools to adjust to the new enrollment count date and its implications for funding calculations. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the school funding process and ensure that enrollment counts are conducted in a timely manner to better reflect student attendance and funding needs.

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(5): 20-9-311
HB0023_1: 20-9-311