House Bill No. introduced by D. Bedey and L. Jones aims to revise public charter school laws in Montana by establishing a clear definition for "public charter school district" and clarifying its authority. The bill mandates the Office of Public Instruction to conduct a fiscal analysis as part of the public charter school application process and requires the Board of Public Education to limit costs associated with new public charter schools while prioritizing proposals that focus on personalized and proficiency-based learning. Notably, the bill removes the Board's authority to waive statutory requirements in charter contracts and allows public charter school districts to receive additional public funding and donations under the Innovative Education Tax Credit Program.

Key amendments include the introduction of new definitions and the establishment of financial obligations for a child's resident school district when serving children with disabilities. The bill clarifies that public charter school districts are not taxing jurisdictions and outlines their governance structure, emphasizing the need for community support in charter proposals. It also sets limits on additional state costs associated with charter schools, ensuring alignment with legislative appropriations. Furthermore, the bill amends Section 20-6-812 of the Montana Code Annotated to clarify the funding structure for public charter schools, establishing equitable per-pupil operational funding and outlining specific provisions regarding tuition and fees. The effective date for this act is set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 20-6-803, 20-6-805, 20-6-811, 20-6-812
HB0251_1(1): 20-6-803, 20-6-805, 20-6-811, 20-6-812
HB0251_1(2): 20-6-803, 20-6-805, 20-6-811, 20-6-812
HB0251_1(3): 20-6-803, 20-6-805, 20-6-811, 20-6-812
HB0251_1(4): 20-6-803, 20-6-805, 20-6-811, 20-6-812
HB0251_1: 20-6-803, 20-6-805, 20-6-811, 20-6-812