PRINTER'S NO. 928
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
832
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY DINNIMAN, TEPLITZ, TARTAGLIONE, COSTA, FONTANA,
VULAKOVICH AND BREWSTER, MAY 14, 2015
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, MAY 14, 2015
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in charter schools, providing for
charter school and cyber charter school fund balance limits.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding sections
to read:
Section 1733-A. Charter School Fund Balance Limit.--(a) For
the 2014-2015 school year and each school year thereafter, a
charter school that is not a cyber charter school shall not
accumulate an unassigned fund balance greater than the charter
school fund balance limit, which will be determined as follows:
Charter School Entity
Total Budgeted Expenditures
Maximum Unassigned Fund
Balance as Percentage of
Total Budgeted Expenditures
Less than or equal to $11,999,999 12%
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Between $12,000,000 and $12,999,999 11.5%
Between $13,000,000 and $13,999,999 11%
Between $14,000,000 and $14,999,999 10.5%
Between $15,000,000 and $15,999,999 10%
Between $16,000,000 and $16,999,999 9.5%
Between $17,000,000 and $17,999,999 9%
Between $18,000,000 and $18,999,999 8.5%
Greater than or equal to $19,000,000 8%
(b) Any unassigned fund balance in place on June 30, 2015,
that exceeds the charter school fund balance limit shall be
refunded on a per student pro rata basis within ninety (90) days
to all school districts that made payments under section 1725-A
in the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 school years. The funds may not
be used to pay bonuses to any administrator, board of trustees
member, employe, staff or contractor or be transferred to a
charter school foundation.
(c) For the 2015-2016 school year and each school year
thereafter, any unassigned fund balance in excess of the charter
school fund balance limit shall be refunded on a per student pro
rata basis to all school districts that made payments under
section 1725-A in the prior school year.
(d) By August 15, 2015, and by August 15 of each year
thereafter, each charter school shall provide the department
with information certifying compliance with this section. The
information shall be provided in a form and manner prescribed by
the department and shall include information on the charter
school's estimated ending unassigned fund balance expressed as a
dollar amount and as a percentage of the charter school's total
budgeted expenditures for that school year.
(e) As used in this section, "unassigned fund balance" shall
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mean that portion of the fund balance which represents the part
of the spendable fund balance that has not been categorized as
restricted, committed or assigned.
Section 1752-A. Cyber charter school fund balance limit.
(a) Limit.-- For the 2014-2015 school year and each school
year thereafter, no cyber charter school shall accumulate an
unassigned fund balance greater than the cyber charter school
fund balance limit, which shall be determined as follows:
Charter School Entity
Total Budgeted Expenditures
Maximum Unassigned Fund
Balance as Percentage of
Total Budgeted Expenditures
Less than or equal to $11,999,999 12%
Between $12,000,000 and $12,999,999 11.5%
Between $13,000,000 and $13,999,999 11%
Between $14,000,000 and $14,999,999 10.5%
Between $15,000,000 and $15,999,999 10%
Between $16,000,000 and $16,999,999 9.5%
Between $17,000,000 and $17,999,999 9%
Between $18,000,000 and $18,999,999 8.5%
Greater than or equal to $19,000,000 8%
(b) Distribution.--Any unassigned fund balance in place on
June 30, 2015, that exceeds the cyber charter school fund
balance limit shall be distributed by the cyber charter school
on a per student pro rata basis within 90 days to all school
districts that made payments under section 1725-A to the cyber
charter school in the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 school years. The
funds may not be used to pay bonuses to any administrator, board
of trustees member, employee, staff or contractor or be
transferred to a charter school foundation.
(c) Refunds.--For the 2015-2016 school year and each school
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year thereafter, any unassigned fund balance in excess of the
cyber charter school fund balance limit shall be refunded on a
per student pro rata basis to all school districts that made
payments to the cyber charter school under section 1725-A in the
prior school year.
(d) Certification of compliance.--By August 15, 2015, and by
August 15 of each year thereafter, each cyber charter school
shall provide the department with information certifying
compliance with this section. The information shall be provided
in a form and manner prescribed by the department and shall
include information on the cyber charter school's estimated
ending unassigned fund balance expressed as a dollar amount and
as a percentage of the cyber charter school's total budgeted
expenditures for that school year.
(e) Definition.--As used in this section, "unassigned fund
balance" shall mean that portion of the fund balance which
represents the part of the spendable fund balance that has not
been categorized as restricted, committed or assigned.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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