S105 - 2021 Appropriations Act. (SL 2021-180)

Overview: Section 7.12 of S.L. 2021-180 authorizes the use of the Special State Reserve Fund (SSRF) to cover extraordinary transportation costs for high-needs children with disabilities. Funds from the SSRF can be provided by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to local school administrative units (LEAs) and charter schools for this purpose through an application process that awards funds based on certain criteria.

A Transportation Reserve Fund for Homeless and Foster Children (TRF) is established to provide a grant program for extraordinary school transportation costs for homeless and foster children. Funds from the TRF can be provided by DPI to LEAs and charter schools for this purpose through an application process that awards funds based on certain criteria.

DPI must report by March 15 annually on certain data points to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Education/Higher Education, the House Appropriations Committee on Education, the Fiscal Research Division, and the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on the use of funds appropriated to the TRF using data collected from the prior school year.

This section became effective July 1, 2021.