Bill No.:                     SF0104                                   Drafter:  TH

LSO No.:                   13LSO-0083                         Effective Date:  Immediate

Enrolled Act No.:    SEA0001

Chapter No.:                        CH0001

Prime Sponsor:       Senator Coe

Catch Title:              Education-state administration.

Subject:                     Modifying the duties of the state superintendent and creation of the director of the state department of education.

Summary/Major Elements:

· Establishes a director of the state department of education to be appointed by the governor from a list of three (3) names submitted by the state board of education.

o Director serves at the pleasure of the governor and may be removed by him under the provisions of W.S. 9-1-202;

o Provides for the appointment of an interim director immediately.

· Delegates existing and specified duties to the director – including assessment, school finance, accountability, education data, and federal programs.

· Maintains the role and responsibility of the state superintendent for the general supervision of public schools as prescribed by law.

o Duties include a report to the legislature on the general status of public schools, provision of professional development for teachers via regional workshops and school safety responsibilities.

· Provides for immediate transfer of all divisions, agencies, programs, positions, personnel, property, appropriated funds and functions of the state department of education to the interim director.

· Requires the enforcement of any lawful policies, contracts, or obligations of the state superintendent by the director upon transfer.

· Requires the review of personnel changes by the interim director that were made by the superintendent 60 days prior to the effective date of the act and approval of the governor for any personnel changes proposed by the interim director upon the transfer of duties.

· Department of Administration and Information tasked with reviewing all state department of education authorized positions and appropriated funds and submitting a list to the governor by November 1, 2013, of all positions and funds providing services related to duties transferred to the director.  The listing is to identify source of position funding and determine impact on funding sources of positions not wholly funded by state general fund.

· JAC to review position lists provided to governor and forward necessary funding and budget modifications to effectuate the transfer through the 2014 budget bill.

· Status report on transfer due to governor, JEC, JAC and Select Education Accountability Committee by December 1, 2013.

· State Superintendent required to submit budget for the biennium commencing July 1, 2014, for positions and funds determined by A&I to remain with the state superintendent’s functions.

Comments:

· Multiple reports required.