1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to education; creating a legislative task 
  1.3             force on reducing the complexity of kindergarten 
  1.4             through grade 12 education funding statutes and rules. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE ON REDUCING THE 
  1.7   COMPLEXITY OF KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE 12 EDUCATION FUNDING 
  1.8   STATUTES AND RULES.] 
  1.9      (a) The legislative task force on reducing the complexity 
  1.10  of kindergarten through grade 12 education funding consists of 
  1.11  12 members.  The speaker of the house of representatives shall 
  1.12  appoint four members from the house, two of whom must be from 
  1.13  the minority caucus.  The subcommittee on committees of the 
  1.14  senate committee on rules and administration shall appoint four 
  1.15  members from the senate, two of whom must be from the minority 
  1.16  caucus.  The task force membership shall also consist of the 
  1.17  following persons or their designees: 
  1.18     (1) the commissioner of the department of children, 
  1.19  families, and learning; 
  1.20     (2) the executive director of the Minnesota school boards 
  1.21  association; 
  1.22     (3) the executive director of the Minnesota association of 
  1.23  school business officials; and 
  1.24     (4) the parent of a school-age child appointed by the 
  1.25  governor.  
  2.1      (b) The task force shall study and make recommendations to 
  2.2   the legislature by January 15, 2002, on any changes in statutes 
  2.3   and rules needed to simplify, clarify, and reduce the complexity 
  2.4   of the kindergarten through grade 12 education funding system.  
  2.5   The task force shall consider, at least, the following in making 
  2.6   its recommendations for changes in statutes and rules: 
  2.7      (1) the extent to which funding system provisions are 
  2.8   readily readable and understandable; 
  2.9      (2) the extent to which the funding system can be 
  2.10  simplified; 
  2.11     (3) the extent to which references to other sections or 
  2.12  provisions of law or rule are minimized; 
  2.13     (4) the extent to which definitional provisions are 
  2.14  incorporated in the text of the statutes or rules; and 
  2.15     (5) the extent to which the legislative process of funding 
  2.16  kindergarten through grade 12 education can be improved to 
  2.17  provide school districts with timely, accurate information 
  2.18  concerning legislative decisions. 
  2.19     (c) The task force shall seek the input of various 
  2.20  kindergarten through grade 12 education stakeholders as well as 
  2.21  the general public in making its recommendations.  The task 
  2.22  force may call upon the staff of the legislature and the 
  2.23  department of children, families, and learning to assist with 
  2.24  its duties.  Upon submission of its recommendations, the task 
  2.25  force expires.