HB984.html

To provide for legislative findings; to amend Code Section 20_2_182 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to program weights for state funding under the Quality Basic Education Formula, so as to provide that each program weight shall reflect the funds to pay 100 percent of the state_wide average cost of textbooks per student in the program for the preceding school year; to define a term; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

The General Assembly finds that the total funds expended for textbooks in the public schools in Georgia were $88.9 million in Fiscal Year 1998, $86.5 million in Fiscal Year 1999, and $112.9 million in Fiscal Year 2000. The General Assembly further finds that the percentage of such cost for textbooks funded by the state was 33.11 percent in Fiscal Year 1998, 40.18 percent in Fiscal Year 1999, and 31.26 percent in Fiscal Year 2000. The General Assembly further finds that this low percentage of state funding for textbooks is one component of the relatively poor performance by many of Georgia´s students.

Code Section 20_2_182 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to program weights for state funding under the Quality Basic Education Formula, is amended by striking subsections (f) and (g) and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
"(f) ~~Reserved~~ Each program weight, when multiplied by the base amount, shall reflect sufficient funds to pay 100 percent of the state_wide average cost of textbooks approved or adopted by the State Board of Education in accordance with Article 19 of this chapter per student in such program for the preceding school year. As used in this subsection, the term 'textbooks' means systematically designed instructional material in any medium, print or nonprint, that constitutes the principal source of study for or directly enhances the instruction of a state_funded course.
(g) All program weights, when multiplied by the base amount, shall reflect sufficient funds to pay the cost of sick and personal leave for teachers, the employer´s portion of costs for membership in the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia and health insurance programs authorized by law, the cost of essential instructional materials other than textbooks approved or adopted by the State Board of Education and equipment needed to operate effectively such instructional programs, and the cost of travel required of personnel in order to deliver educational services to enrolled students, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly."