The bill amends Section 13-13-79 of South Dakota law to modify the maximum sparsity benefit that sparse school districts can receive. Under the new provisions, the secretary of the Department of Education will distribute funds to these districts based on a calculation from existing law, specifically using either subdivision 13-13-78(2) or subdivision 13-13-78(3). The funding will be calculated by multiplying the result by seventy-five percent of the per student equivalent as defined in 13-13-10.1.

A significant change introduced by this bill is the cap on the sparsity benefit, which is set at one hundred thirty-seven thousand dollars per fiscal year for any sparse school district. This amendment aims to provide a clearer framework for funding distribution while ensuring that no single district exceeds the specified maximum benefit.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/14/2025: 13-13-79
Senate Appropriations Engrossed, 02/20/2025: 13-13-79
Enrolled, 03/11/2025: 13-13-79