PRINTER'S NO. 762
No. 703 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY SCHWARTZ, MELLOW, MUSTO, O'PAKE, LAVALLE, COSTA,
BELAN, HUGHES, KUKOVICH, WAGNER AND MOWERY, APRIL 7, 1999
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, APRIL 7, 1999
AN ACT
1 Establishing a joint legislative task force on public school
2 finances; and prohibiting school districts from levying taxes
3 on real property.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Joint legislative task force on public school
7 finances.
8 (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established a joint
9 legislative task force to be known as the Joint Legislative Task
10 Force on Public School Finances.
11 (b) Composition.--The task force shall be composed of the
12 following members of the General Assembly or their designees:
13 (1) The chairman and minority chairman of the
14 Appropriations Committee of the Senate.
15 (2) The chairman and the minority chairman of the
16 Finance Committee of the Senate.
17 (3) The chairman and the minority chairman of the
18 Education Committee of the Senate.
1 (4) The chairman and the minority chairman of the
2 Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives.
3 (5) The chairman and the minority chairman of the
4 Finance Committee of the House of Representatives.
5 (6) The chairman and the minority chairman of the
6 Education Committee of the House of Representatives.
7 (c) Initial meeting.--The task force shall conduct its
8 initial meeting within 30 days of the effective date of this
9 act. At this meeting the members will select a chairperson and
10 vice chairperson. The task force will be supported by the staff
11 of the various standing committees.
12 (d) Duties.--Within six months of the effective date of this
13 act, the task force shall submit to the Governor and the General
14 Assembly a report containing recommendations for a system of
15 financing public schools which addresses at least all of the
16 following issues:
17 (1) The Commonwealth has a fundamental obligation to
18 fund a system of public education that is both equitable and
19 adequate.
20 (2) Local wealth, whether real property or income,
21 should not be the basis for the education of any student.
22 (3) Any system of Commonwealth finances and subsidies
23 shall result in substantially equal educational opportunities
24 across this Commonwealth.
25 (4) Local priorities should determine the direction and
26 educational program of each school district.
27 (5) The restriction of resources should be determined at
28 the local level.
29 (6) There shall be ongoing accountability for student
30 achievement.
19990S0703B0762 - 2 -
1 Section 2. Real property tax prohibition.
2 Effective June 1, 2000, school districts shall not levy or
3 collect real property taxes for any purpose.
4 Section 3. Effective date.
5 This act shall take effect immediately.
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