HB 2022 Summary

• Establishes a five-year resource and service consolidation grant program administered by the Department of Education for county school superintendents and groups of superintendents.

• Eligible applicants must submit proposals demonstrating the need for consolidation, requests from local education agencies, cost savings or efficiencies, and self-sufficiency within five years; services may include consolidation for school districts, charter schools, libraries, tribal schools, detention centers, and jails.

• Department of Education must award grants by February 1, 2022, and disburse funds annually for five consecutive years or until the Department determines the proposal is self-sufficient, whichever occurs first.

• Department may discontinue funding if it determines the proposal will not achieve self-sufficiency within five years or if grant monies are not used according to proposal terms.

• Appropriates $10,000,000 from the state general fund in fiscal year 2021-2022 for the grant program, with exemption from lapsing appropriations; program repeals June 30, 2027.