MS HB294

Requires receiving school districts to certify to the State Department of Education by September 1 each year the number of students transferred from their district of residence under open enrollment provisions.

Requires transferring school districts to certify the total number of students residing in the district and the number transferring to other districts, allowing the state to calculate the percentage of students who transferred.

Directs the levying authority of the transferring school district to remit to the receiving school district an amount of ad valorem tax proceeds equal to the per-pupil pro rata share based on the percentage of students transferred, beginning with the 2018-2019 school year.

Pro rata tax transfers must include levies under the adequate education program and operational levies but exclude taxes for bonded indebtedness, short-term notes, and vocational-technical education support.

Payments from transferring to receiving school districts must be made within three business days of funds being distributed to the transferring district.