MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Education; Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Bryan, Ferris, Harden, Simmons, Walls, Gordon, Robertson

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 37-151-1, 37-151-5 AND 37-151-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE CERTAIN DEFINITIONS UNDER THE MISSISSIPPI ADEQUATE EDUCATION PROGRAM FUNDING FORMULA BASED ON A BASE STUDENT COST FUNDING LEVEL, TO CLARIFY THE INSTRUCTIONAL COST COMPONENT OF THE BASE STUDENT COST, TO REVISE THE ADJUSTMENT FOR AT-RISK PUPILS, TO PROVIDE AN ADJUSTMENT FOR ADD-ON PROGRAM COSTS, TO PROVIDE A MILLAGE REQUIREMENT FOR AGRICULTURAL HIGH SCHOOLS AND TO CLARIFY THE REQUIRED STATE EFFORT; TO CREATE AN INTERIM SCHOOL DISTRICT CAPITAL EXPENDITURE FUND TO DISTRIBUTE THE INCREASED ALLOCATIONS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS UNDER THE ADEQUATE EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA ON A PHASED-IN BASIS AND TO PRESCRIBE THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY OR INSTRUCTIONAL EXPENDITURES AUTHORIZED FOR SUCH FUNDS UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE ADEQUATE EDUCATION PROGRAM IS FULLY FUNDED; TO PROVIDE AUTHORITY FOR THE PLEDGE OF STATE ALLOCATIONS AS SECURITY FOR STATE AID CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BONDS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS; TO ESTABLISH CERTAIN MAXIMUM PUPIL-TEACHER RATIOS; TO PROVIDE AN ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS, EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN PROGRAMS, GIFTED EDUCATION AND UNIVERSITY-BASED PROGRAMS, AND FOR STUDENT TRANSPORTATION; TO PROVIDE FOR LOCAL SUPPLEMENTS, TRANSFERRED STUDENTS, DISTRIBUTION OF ADEQUATE PROGRAM REPORTS AND PENALTIES FOR CERTAIN VIOLATIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-21-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DELETE CERTAIN SPECIFIC ALLOTMENTS UNDER THE KINDERGARTEN AND READING IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM; TO AMEND SECTIONS 37-57-1, 37-57-105 AND 37-57-107, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, AND TO CODIFY SECTION 37-57-104, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO PROVIDE 28 MILLS AD VALOREM LEVY OR 27% OF THE DISTRICT'S ADEQUATE EDUCATION PROGRAM COST, WHICHEVER IS LESS, TO PROVIDE A 55-MILL SCHOOL AD VALOREM TAX LIMITATION WITH CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS; AND TO DELETE PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE EQUITY FUNDING MINIMUM AD VALOREM LEVY; TO AMEND SECTION 37-61-33, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPROPRIATION OF EDUCATION ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM FUNDS INTO THE ADEQUATE EDUCATION PROGRAM AND TO REVISE CERTAIN PERCENTAGE DIVERSIONS FROM THE EDUCATION ENHANCEMENT FUND; TO AMEND SECTIONS 27-65-75 AND 27-67-31, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CAP THE SALES AND USE TAX DIVERSIONS INTO THE SCHOOL AD VALOREM TAX REDUCTION FUND AT THE FISCAL YEAR 1997 LEVEL AND TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASED DIVERSION INTO THE EDUCATION ENHANCEMENT FUND; TO AMEND SECTION 37-9-33, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY THERETO; FROM AND AFTER JULY 1, 2002, TO REPEAL SECTIONS 37-19-1 THROUGH 37-19-5 AND 37-19-9 THROUGH 37-19-53, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDE FOR A MINIMUM PROGRAM OF EDUCATION WITH ALLOCATIONS TO EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE BASED UPON GENERATED TEACHER UNITS AND FINANCED THROUGH STATE AND LOCAL REVENUE REQUIREMENTS, SECTIONS 37-22-1 AND 37-22-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDE A MISSISSIPPI SCHOOL DISTRICT UNIFORM MILLAGE ASSISTANCE GRANT AND SECOND LEVEL FUNDING PROGRAM, AND SECTION 37-151-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDES FOR CERTAIN FUNDING PROJECTIONS AND COMPARISONS BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THE TECH-PREP FUND; TO AMEND SECTION 37-151-25, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 37-151-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-151-1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Mississippi Accountability and Adequate Education Program Act of 1997."

SECTION 2. Section 37-151-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-151-5. As used in Sections 37-151-3, 37-151-5 and 37-151-7:

(a) "Adequate program" or "adequate education program" or "Mississippi Adequate Education Program (M.A.E.P.)" shall mean the program proposed to establish adequate current operation funding levels necessary for the programs of such school district to meet at least Level III of the accreditation system as established by the State Board of Education, acting through the Mississippi Commission on School Accreditation, regardless of the school district's geographic location.

(b) "Educational programs or elements of programs not included in the adequate education program calculations, but which may be included in appropriations and transfers to school districts" shall mean:

(i) "Capital outlay" shall mean those funds used for the constructing, improving, equipping, renovating or major repairing of school buildings or other school facilities, or the cost of acquisition of land whereon to construct or establish such school facilities.

(ii) "Pilot programs" shall mean programs of a pilot or experimental nature usually designed for special purposes and for a specified period of time other than those included in the adequate education program.

(iii) "Adult education" shall mean public education dealing primarily with students above eighteen (18) years of age not enrolled as full-time public school students and not classified as students of technical schools, colleges or universities of the state.

(iv) "Food service programs" shall mean those programs dealing directly with the nutritional welfare of the student, such as the school lunch and school breakfast programs.

(c) "Base student" shall mean that student classification that represents the most economically educated pupil in a school system meeting Level III accreditation, as determined by the State Board of Education * * *.

(d) "Base student cost" shall mean the funding level necessary for providing an adequate education program for one (1) base student, subject to any minimum amounts prescribed in Section 37-151-7(1).

(e) "Add-on program costs" shall mean those items which are included in the adequate education program appropriations and are outside of the program calculations:

(i) "Transportation" shall mean transportation to and from public schools for the students of Mississippi's public schools provided for under law and funded from state funds.

(ii) "Vocational or technical education program" shall mean a secondary vocational or technical program approved by the State Department of Education and provided for from state funds.

(iii) "Special education program" shall mean a program for exceptional children as defined and authorized by Sections 37-23-1 through 37-23-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, and approved by the State Department of Education and provided from state funds.

(iv) "Gifted education program" shall mean those programs for the instruction of intellectually or academically gifted children as defined and provided for in Section 37-23-175 et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972.

(v) "Alternative school program" shall mean those programs for certain compulsory-school-age students as defined and provided for in Sections 37-13-92 and 37-19-22, Mississippi Code of 1972.

(vi) "Extended school year programs" shall mean those programs authorized by law which extend beyond the normal school year.

(vii) "University-based programs" shall mean those university-based programs for handicapped children as defined and provided for in Section 37-23-131 et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972.

(viii) "Bus driver training" programs shall mean those driver training programs as provided for in Section 37-41-1, Mississippi Code of 1972.

(f) "Teacher" shall include any * * * employee of a local school who is required by law to obtain a teacher's license from the State Board of Education and who is assigned to an instructional area of work as defined by the State Department of Education.

(g) "Principal" shall mean the head of an attendance center or division thereof.

(h) "Superintendent" shall mean the head of a school district.

(i) "School district" shall mean any type of school district in the State of Mississippi, and shall include agricultural high schools.

(j) "Minimum school term" shall mean a term of at least one hundred eighty (180) days of school in which both teachers and pupils are in regular attendance for scheduled classroom instruction for not less than sixty percent (60%) of the normal school day. It is the intent of the Legislature that any tax levies generated to produce additional local funds required by any school district to operate school terms in excess of one hundred seventy-five (175) days shall not be construed to constitute a new program for the purposes of exemption from the limitation on tax revenues as allowed under Sections 27-39-321 and 37-57-107, Mississippi Code of 1972, for new programs mandated by the Legislature.

(k) The term "transportation density" shall mean the number of transported children in average daily attendance per square mile of area served in a school district, as determined by the State Department of Education.

(l) The term "transported children" shall mean children being transported to school who live within legal limits for transportation and who are otherwise qualified for being transported to school at public expense as fixed by Mississippi state law.

(m) The term "year of teaching experience" shall mean nine (9) months of actual teaching in the public or private schools of this or some other state. In no case shall more than one (1) year of teaching experience be given for all services in one (1) calendar or school year. In determining a teacher's experience, no deduction shall be made because of the temporary absence of the teacher because of illness or other good cause, and the teacher shall be given credit therefor. The State Board of Education shall fix a number of days, not to exceed twenty-five (25) consecutive school days, during which a teacher may not be under contract of employment during any school year and still be considered to have been in full-time employment for a regular scholastic term. If a full-time school administrator returns to actual teaching in the public schools, the term "year of teaching experience" shall include the period of time he or she served as a school administrator.

(n) The term "average daily attendance" shall be the figure which results when the total aggregate attendance during the period or months counted is divided by the number of days during the period or months counted upon which both teachers and pupils are in regular attendance for scheduled classroom instruction less the average daily attendance for self-contained special education classes and, prior to full implementation of the adequate education program the department shall deduct the average daily attendance for the alternative school program provided for in Section 37-19-22, Mississippi Code of 1972.

(o) The term "local supplement" shall mean the amount paid to an individual teacher over and above the adequate education program salary schedule for regular teaching duties.

(p) The term "aggregate amount of support from ad valorem taxation" shall mean the amounts produced by the district's total tax levies for operations.

(q) The term "adequate education program funds" shall mean all funds, both state and local, constituting the requirements for meeting the cost of the adequate program as provided for in Section 37-151-7.

(r) "Department" shall mean the State Department of Education.

(s) "Commission" shall mean the Mississippi Commission on School Accreditation created under Section 37-17-3, Mississippi Code of 1972.

SECTION 3. Section 37-151-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-151-7. The annual allocation to each school district for the operation of the adequate education program shall be determined as follows:

(1) Computation of the basic amount to be included for current operation in the adequate education program. The following procedure shall be followed in determining the annual allocation to each school district:

(a) Determination of average daily attendance. During months two (2) and three (3) of the current school year, the average daily attendance of a school district shall be computed, or the average daily attendance for the prior school year shall be used, whichever is greater. The district's average daily attendance shall be computed and currently maintained in accordance with regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education.

(b) Determination of base student cost. The State Board of Education, on or before August 1, with adjusted estimate no later than January 2, shall annually submit to the Legislative Budget Office and the Governor a proposed base student cost adequate to provide the following cost components of educating a pupil in an average school district meeting Level III accreditation standards required by the Commission on School Accreditation: (i) Instructional Cost; (ii) Administrative Cost; (iii) Operation and Maintenance of Plant; and (iv) Ancillary Support Cost. The department shall utilize a statistical methodology which considers such factors as, but not limited to, (i) school size; (ii) assessed valuation per pupil; (iii) the percentage of students receiving free lunch; (iv) the local district maintenance tax levy; (v) other local school district revenues; and (vi) the district's accreditation level, in the selection of the representative Mississippi school districts for which cost information shall be obtained for each of the above listed cost areas.

For the instructional cost component, the department shall determine the instructional cost of each of the representative school districts selected above, excluding instructional cost of self-contained special education programs and vocational education programs, and the average daily attendance in the selected school districts. The instructional cost is then totalled and divided by the total average daily attendance for the selected school districts to yield the instructional cost component. For the administrative cost component, the department shall determine the administrative cost of each of the representative school districts selected above, excluding administrative cost of self-contained special education programs and vocational education programs, and the average daily attendance in the selected school districts. The administrative cost is then totalled and divided by the total average daily attendance for the selected school districts to yield the administrative cost component. For the plant and maintenance cost component, the department shall determine the plant and maintenance cost of each of the representative school districts selected above, excluding plant and maintenance cost of self-contained special education programs and vocational education programs, and the average daily attendance in the selected school districts. The plant and maintenance cost is then totalled and divided by the total average daily attendance for the selected school districts to yield the plant and maintenance cost component. For the ancillary support cost component, the department shall determine the ancillary support cost of each of the representative school districts selected above, excluding ancillary support cost of self-contained special education programs and vocational education programs, and the average daily attendance in the selected school districts. The ancillary support cost is then totalled and divided by the total average daily attendance for the selected school districts to yield the ancillary support cost component. The total base cost for each year shall be the sum of the instructional cost component, administrative cost component, plant and maintenance cost component and ancillary support cost component, and any estimated adjustments for additional state requirements as determined by the State Board of Education. Provided, however, that the base student cost in Fiscal Year 1998 shall be Two Thousand Six Hundred Sixty-four Dollars ($2,664.00).

(c) Determination of the basic adequate education program cost. The basic amount for current operation to be included in the Mississippi Adequate Education Program for each school district shall be computed as follows:

Multiply the average daily attendance of the district by the base student cost as established by the Legislature, which yields the total base program cost for each school district.

(d) Adjustment to the base student cost for at-risk pupils. The amount to be included for at-risk pupil programs for each school district shall be computed as follows: Multiply the base student cost for the appropriate fiscal year as determined under paragraph (b) by five percent (5%), * * * and multiply that product by the number of pupils participating in the federal free school lunch program in such school district, which yields the total adjustment for at-risk pupil programs for such school district.

(e) Add-on program cost. The amount to be allocated to school districts in addition to the adequate education program cost for add-on programs for each school district shall be computed as follows:

(i) Transportation cost shall be the amount allocated to such school district for the operational support of the district transportation system from state funds.

(ii) Vocational or technical education program cost shall be the amount allocated to such school district from state funds for the operational support of such programs.

(iii) Special education program cost shall be the amount allocated to such school district from state funds for the operational support of such programs.

(iv) Gifted education program cost shall be the amount allocated to such school district from state funds for the operational support of such programs.

(v) Alternative school program cost shall be the amount allocated to such school district from state funds for the operational support of such programs.

(vi) Extended school year programs shall be the amount allocated to school districts for those programs authorized by law which extend beyond the normal school year.

(vii) University-based programs shall be the amount allocated to school districts for those university-based programs for handicapped children as defined and provided for in Section 37-23-131 et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972.

(viii) Bus driver training programs shall be the amount provided for those driver training programs as provided for in Section 37-41-1, Mississippi Code of 1972.

The sum of the items listed above (i) transportation, (ii) vocational or technical education, (iii) special education, (iv) gifted education, (v) alternative school, (vi) extended school year, and (vii) university-based shall yield the add-on cost for each school district.

(f) Total projected adequate education program cost. The total Mississippi Adequate Education Program Cost shall be the sum of the total basic adequate education program cost (paragraph (c)), and the adjustment to the base student cost for at-risk pupils (paragraph (d)) for each school district.

(g) Supplemental grant to school districts. In addition to the adequate education program grant, the State Department of Education shall annually distribute an additional amount as follows: Multiply the base student cost for the appropriate fiscal year as determined under paragraph (b) by .13% and multiply that product by the average daily attendance of each school district. Such grant shall not be subject to the local revenue requirement provided in subsection (2).

(2) Computation of the required local revenue in support of the adequate education program. The amount that each district shall provide toward the cost of the adequate education program shall be calculated as follows:

(a) The State Board of Education shall certify to each school district that twenty-eight (28) mills, less the estimated amount of the yield of the School Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund grants as determined by the State Department of Education, is the millage rate required to provide the district required local effort for that year, or twenty-seven percent (27%) of the basic adequate education program cost for such school district as determined under subsection (c), whichever is a lesser amount. In the case of an agricultural high school the millage requirement shall be set at a level which generates an equitable amount per pupil to be determined by the State Board of Education.

(b) The State Board of Education shall determine (i) the total assessed valuation of nonexempt property for school purposes in each school district; (ii) assessed value of exempt property owned by homeowners aged sixty-five (65) or older or disabled as defined in Section 27-33-67(2), Mississippi Code of 1972; (iii) the school district's tax loss from exemptions provided to applicants under the age of sixty-five (65) and not disabled as defined in Section 27-33-67(1), Mississippi Code of 1972; and (iv) the school district's homestead reimbursement revenues.

(c) The amount of the total adequate education program funding which shall be contributed by each school district shall be the sum of the ad valorem receipts generated by the millage required under this subsection plus the following local revenue sources for the appropriate fiscal year which are or may be available for current expenditure by the school district:

One hundred percent (100%) of Grand Gulf income as prescribed in Section 27-35-309.

(3) Computation of the required state effort in support of the adequate education program.

The required state effort in support of the adequate education program shall be determined by subtracting the sum of the required local tax effort as set forth in subsection (2)(a) of this section and the other local revenue sources as set forth in subsection (2)(c) of this section in an amount not to exceed twenty-seven percent (27%) of the total projected adequate education program cost as set forth in subsection (1)(f) of this section from the total projected adequate education program cost as set forth in subsection (1)(f) of this section.

Provided, however, that in Fiscal Year 1998 and in the fiscal year in which the adequate education program is fully funded by the Legislature, any increase in the said state contribution, including the supplemental grant to school districts provided under subsection (1)(g), to any district calculated under this section shall be not less than eight percent (8%) in excess of the amount received by said district from state funds for the fiscal year immediately preceding. For purposes of this section, state funds shall include minimum program funds less the add-on programs, state Uniform Millage Assistance Grant funds,

Education Enhancement Funds appropriated for Uniform Millage Assistance Grants and state textbook allocations, and State General Funds allocated for textbooks.

(4) The State Adequate Education Program Fund is hereby established in the State Treasury which shall be used to distribute any funds specifically appropriated by the Legislature to such fund, to school districts entitled to increased allocations of state funds under the adequate education program funding formula prescribed in Sections 37-151-3, 37-151-5 and 37-151-7 of this article * * *. If the Legislature provides less funds than the total state funds needed for support of such increased allocations under the adequate education program, the State Department of Education shall reduce all elements of the cost of the adequate education program proportionately. Any such adequate education program funds shall be transferred to the school district maintenance fund of such district in the manner prescribed in Section 37-19-47, Mississippi Code of 1972, and shall be expended in the manner provided by law.

(5) The Interim School District Capital Expenditure Fund is hereby established in the State Treasury which shall be used to distribute any funds specifically appropriated by the Legislature to such fund to school districts entitled to increased allocations of state funds under the adequate education program funding formula prescribed in Sections 37-151-3 through 37-151-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, until such time as the said adequate education program is fully funded by the Legislature. The following percentages of the total state cost of increased allocations of funds under the adequate education program funding formula shall be appropriated by the Legislature into the Interim School District Capital Expenditure Fund to be distributed to all school districts under the formula: Nine and two-tenths percent (9.2%) shall be appropriated in Fiscal Year 1998, twenty percent (20%) shall be appropriated in Fiscal Year 1999, forty percent (40%) shall be appropriated in Fiscal Year 2000, sixty percent (60%) shall be appropriated in Fiscal Year 2001, eighty percent (80%) shall be appropriated in Fiscal Year 2002, and one hundred percent (100%) shall be appropriated in Fiscal Year 2003 into the State Adequate Education Program Fund created in subsection (4). Until such time as the adequate education program is fully funded by the Legislature, such money shall be used by school districts for the following purposes:

(a) Purchasing, erecting, repairing, equipping, remodeling and enlarging school buildings and related facilities, including gymnasiums, auditoriums, lunchrooms, vocational training buildings, libraries, school barns and garages for transportation vehicles, school athletic fields and necessary facilities connected therewith, and purchasing land therefor. Any such capital improvement project by a school district shall be approved by the State Board of Education, and based on an approved long-range plan. The State Board of Education shall promulgate minimum requirements for the approval of school district capital expenditure plans.

(b) Providing necessary water, light, heating, air conditioning, and sewerage facilities for school buildings, and purchasing land therefor.

(c) Paying debt service on existing capital improvement debt of the district or refinancing outstanding debt of a district if such refinancing will result in an interest cost savings to the district.

(d) From and after October 1, 1997, through June 30, 1998, pursuant to a school district capital expenditure plan approved by the State Department of Education, a school district may pledge such funds until July 1, 2002, plus funds provided for in paragraph (e) of this subsection (5) that are not otherwise permanently pledged under such paragraph (e) to pay all or a portion of the debt service on debt issued by the school district under Sections 37-59-1 through 37-59-45, 37-59-101 through 37-59-115, 37-7-351 through 37-7-359, 37-41-89 through 37-41-99, 37-7-301, 37-7-302 and 37-41-81, Mississippi Code of 1972, or debt issued by boards of supervisors for agricultural high schools pursuant to Section 37-27-65, Mississippi Code of 1972, or lease-purchase contracts entered into pursuant to Section 31-7-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, or to retire or refinance outstanding debt of a district, if such pledge is accomplished pursuant to a written contract or resolution approved and spread upon the minutes of an official meeting of the district's school board or board of supervisors. It is the intent of this provision to allow school districts to irrevocably pledge their Interim School District Capital Expenditure Fund allotments as a constant stream of revenue to secure a debt issued under the foregoing code sections. To allow school districts to make such an irrevocable pledge, the state shall take all action necessary to ensure that the amount of a district's Interim School District Capital Expenditure Fund allotments shall not be reduced below the amount certified by the department or the district's total allotment under the Interim Capital Expenditure Fund if fully funded, so long as such debt remains outstanding.

(e) From and after October 1, 1997, through June 30, 1998, in addition to any other authority a school district may have, any school district may issue State Aid Capital Improvement Bonds secured in whole by a continuing annual pledge of any Mississippi Adequate Education Program funds available to the district, in an amount not to exceed One Hundred Sixty ($160.00) per pupil based on the latest completed average daily attendance count certified by the department prior to the issuance of the bonds. Such State Aid Capital Improvement Bonds may be issued for the purposes enumerated in subsections (a), (b), (c) and (g) of this section. Prior to issuing such bonds, the school board of the district shall adopt a resolution declaring the necessity for and its intention of issuing such bonds and borrowing such money, specifying the approximate amount to be so borrowed, how such money is to be used and how such indebtedness is to be evidenced. Any capital improvement project financed with State Aid Capital Improvement Bonds shall be approved by the department, and based on an approved long-range plan. The State Board of Education shall promulgate minimum requirements for the approval of such school district capital expenditure plans. The State Board of Education shall not approve any capital expenditure plan for a pledge of funds under this paragraph unless it determines (i) that the quality of instruction in such district will not be reduced as a result of this pledge, and (ii) the district has other revenue available to attain and maintain at least Level III accreditation. A district issuing State Aid Capital Improvement Bonds may pledge for the repayment of such bonds all funds received by the district from the state, in an amount not to exceed One Hundred Sixty Dollars ($160.00) per pupil in average daily attendance in the school district as set forth above, and not otherwise permanently pledged under paragraph (d) of this subsection or under Section 37-61-33(2)(d), Mississippi Code of 1972. The district's school board shall specify by resolution the amount of state funds, which are being pledged by the district for the repayment of the State Aid Capital Improvement Bonds. Once such a pledge is made to secure the bonds, the district shall notify the department of such pledge. Upon making such a pledge, the school district may request the department which may agree to irrevocably transfer a specified amount or percentage of the district's state revenue pledged to repay the district's State Aid Capital Improvement Bonds directly to a state or federally chartered bank serving as a trustee or paying agent on such bonds for the payment of all or portion of such State Aid Capital Improvement Bonds. Such instructions shall be incorporated into a resolution by the school board for the benefit of holders of the bonds and may provide that such withholding and transfer of such other available funds shall be made only upon notification by a trustee or paying agent on such bonds that the amounts available to pay such bonds on any payment date will not be sufficient. It is the intent of this provision to allow school districts to irrevocably pledge a certain, constant stream of revenue as security for State Aid Capital Improvement Bonds issued hereunder. To allow school districts to make such an irrevocable pledge, the state shall take all action necessary to ensure that the amount of a district's state revenues up to an amount equal to One Hundred Sixty Dollars ($160.00) per pupil as set forth above which have been pledged to repay debt as set forth herein shall not be reduced so long as any State Aid Capital Improvement Bonds are outstanding.

Any such State Aid Capital Improvement bonds shall mature as determined by the district's school bond over a period not to exceed twenty (20) years. Such bonds shall not bear a greater overall maximum interest rate to maturity than that allowed in Section 75-17-101, Mississippi Code of 1972. The further details and terms of such bonds shall be as determined by the school board of the district.

The provisions of this subsection shall be cumulative and supplemental to any existing funding programs or other authority conferred upon school districts or school boards. Debt of a school district secured in whole by a pledge of revenue pursuant to this section shall not be subject to any debt limitation.

For purposes of this paragraph (e), "State Aid Capital Improvement Bond" shall mean any bond, note, or other certificate of indebtedness issued by a school district under the provisions hereof.

This paragraph (e) shall stand repealed from and after June 30, 1998.

(f) As an alternative to the authority granted under paragraph (e), a school district, in its discretion, may authorize the State Board of Education to withhold an amount of the district's adequate education program allotment equal to up to One Hundred Sixty Dollars ($160.00) per student in average daily attendance in the district to be allocated to the State Public School Building Fund to the credit of such school district. A school district may choose the option provided under this paragraph (e) or paragraph (f), but not both. In addition to the grants made by the state pursuant to Section 37-47-9, a school district shall be entitled to grants based on the allotments to the State Public School Building Fund credited to such school district under this paragraph. This paragraph (f) shall stand repealed from and after June 30, 1998.

(g) The State Board of Education may authorize the school district to expend not more than twenty percent (20%) of its annual allotment of such funds or Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00), whichever is greater, for technology needs of the school district, including computers, software, telecommunications, cable television, interactive video, film low-power television, satellite communications, microwave communications, technology-based equipment installation and maintenance, and the training of staff in the use of such technology-based instruction. Any such technology expenditure shall be reflected in the local district technology plan approved by the State Board of Education under Section 37-151-17, Mississippi Code of 1972.

(h) To the extent a school district has not utilized twenty percent (20%) of its annual allotment for technology purposes under paragraph (g), a school district may expend not more than twenty percent (20%) of its annual allotment or Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00), whichever is greater, for instructional purposes. The State Board of Education may authorize a school district to expend more than said twenty percent (20%) of its annual allotment for instructional purposes if it determines that such expenditures are needed for accreditation purposes.

(i) The State Department of Education or the State Board of Education may require that any project commenced pursuant to this act with an estimated project cost of not less than Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00) shall be done only pursuant to program management of the process with respect to design and construction. Any individuals, partnerships, companies or other entities acting as a program manager on behalf of a local school district and performing program management services for projects covered under this subsection shall be approved by the State Department of Education.

Any interest accruing on any unexpended balance in the Interim School District Capital Expenditure Fund shall be invested by the State Treasurer and placed to the credit of each school district participating in such fund in its proportionate share.

The provisions of this subsection shall be cumulative and supplemental to any existing funding programs or other authority conferred upon school districts or school boards.

SECTION 4. Pupil-teacher ratio. To qualify for funds provided in this act, each school district shall not exceed a pupil-teacher ratio based on enrollment in Grades 1, 2, 3 and 4 as follows: 27:1

For Grades Kindergarten and 5 through 12, pupil-teacher ratio shall be determined based on appropriate accreditation standards developed by the Mississippi Commission on School Accreditation.

Any local district may apply to the State Board of Education for approval of a waiver to this section by submitting and justifying an alternative educational program to serve the needs of enrollment in Grades Kindergarten and 1 through 4. The State Board of Education shall approve or disapprove of such waiver forty-five (45) days after receipt of such application. If a school district violates the provisions of this section, the state aid for the ensuing fiscal year to such school district shall be reduced by the percentage variance that the actual pupil-teacher ratios in such school district has to the required pupil-teacher ratios mandated in this section. Provided, that notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the State Board of Education is authorized to waive the pupil-teacher requirements specified herein upon a finding that a good faith effort is being made by the school district concerned to comply with the ratio provisions but that for lack of classroom space which was beyond its control it is physically impossible for the district to comply, and the cost of temporary classroom space cannot be justified. In the event any school district meets Level 4 or 5 accreditation standards, the State Board of Education may, in its discretion, exempt such school district from the maximum pupil-teacher ratio in Grades 1, 2, 3 and 4 prescribed herein.

SECTION 5. Allowance of state funds for vocational education programs. In addition to other funds provided for in this act, there shall be added to the allotment for each school district for each vocational teacher employed full time during the regular school term in a vocational education program approved by the State Department of Education the value of one-half (1/2) of the adequate education program salary schedule provided in Section 37-19-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, based on the type of certificate and number of years' teaching experience held by each approved vocational teacher plus one hundred percent (100%) of the applicable employer's rate for Social Security and State Retirement.

SECTION 6. Allowance of state funds for special education, gifted education and university-based programs. (1) In addition to other funds provided for in this act, there shall be added to the allotment for each school district for each teacher employed in a State Department of Education approved program for exceptional children as defined in Section 37-23-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, the value of one hundred percent (100%) of the adequate education program salary schedule prescribed in Section 37-19-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, based on the type of certificate and number of years' teaching experience held by each approved special education teacher plus one hundred percent (100%) of the applicable employer's rate for Social Security and State Retirement, except that only seventy percent (70%) of the value will be added for the program for three- and four-year old exceptional children.

(2) In addition to the allowances provided above, for each handicapped child who is being educated by a public school district or is placed in accord with Section 37-23-77, Mississippi Code of 1972, and whose individualized educational program (IEP) requires an extended school year in accord with the State Department of Education criteria, a sufficient amount of funds shall be allocated for the purpose of providing the educational services the student requires. The State Board of Education shall promulgate such regulations as are required to insure the equitable distribution of these funds. All costs for the extended school year for a particular summer shall be reimbursed from funds appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1 of that summer. If sufficient funds are not made available to finance all of the required educational services, the State Department of Education shall expend available funds in such a manner that it does not limit the availability of appropriate education to handicapped students more severely than it does to nonhandicapped students.

(3) The State Department of Education is hereby authorized to match adequate education program and other funds allocated for provision of services to handicapped children with Division of Medicaid funds to provide language-speech services, physical therapy and occupational therapy to handicapped students who meet State Department of Education or Division of Medicaid standards and who are Medicaid eligible. Provided further, that the State Department of Education is authorized to pay such funds as may be required as a match directly to the Division of Medicaid pursuant to an agreement to be developed between the State Department of Education and the Division of Medicaid.

(4) In addition to other funds provided for in this act, there shall be added to the allotment for each school district for each teacher employed in a State Department of Education approved program for gifted education as defined in Sections 37-23-173 through 37-23-181, Mississippi Code of 1972, the value of one hundred percent (100%) of the adequate education program salary schedule prescribed in Section 37-19-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, based on the type of certificate and number of years' teaching experience held by each approved gifted education teacher plus one hundred percent (100%) of the applicable employer's rate for Social Security and State Retirement.

(5) When any children who are residents of the State of Mississippi and qualify under the provisions of Section 37-23-31, Mississippi Code of 1972, shall be provided a program of education, instruction and training within a school under the provisions of said section, the State Department of Education shall allocate the value of one hundred percent (100%) of the adequate education program salary schedule prescribed in Section 37-19-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, for each approved program based on the type of certificate and number of years' teaching experience held by each approved teacher plus one hundred percent (100%) of the applicable employer's rate for Social Security and State Retirement. The university or college shall be eligible for state and federal funds for such programs on the same basis as local school districts. The university or college shall be responsible for providing for the additional costs of the program.

(6) In addition to the allotments provided above, a school district may provide a program of education and instruction to children ages five (5) years through twenty-one (21) years, who are resident citizens of the State of Mississippi, who cannot have their educational needs met in a regular public school program and who have not finished or graduated from high school, if those children are determined by competent medical authorities and psychologists to need placement in a state licensed facility for inpatient treatment, day treatment or residential treatment or a therapeutic group home. Such program shall operate under rules, regulations, policies and standards of school districts as determined by the State Board of Education. If a private school approved by the State Board of Education is operated as an integral part of the state licensed facility that provides for the treatment of such children, the private school within the facility may provide a program of education, instruction and training to such children by requesting the State Department of Education to allocate one (1) teacher unit or a portion of a teacher unit for each approved class. The facility shall be responsible for providing any additional costs of the program.

Such funds will be allotted based on the type of certificate and number of years' teaching experience held by each approved teacher. Such children shall not be counted in average daily attendance when determining regular teacher unit allocation.

SECTION 7. (1) In addition to other funds allowed under the Adequate Education Program, each school district shall receive a grant for the support of alternative school programs established under Section 37-13-92, Mississippi Code of 1972, in accordance with the following: Three-fourths of one percent (.75%) of the school district's average daily attendance or twelve (12) pupils, whichever is greater, multiplied by the average expenditure of public monies per pupil in the State of Mississippi, as determined by the State Board of Education.

(2) An alternative school advisory board may be created within each school district maintaining a freestanding alternative school or two (2) or more adjacent school districts operating a freestanding alternative school pursuant to a contract approved by the State Board of Education. The advisory board shall meet no less than two (2) times during each school year to study the alternative school program and to make recommendations for improvements to the superintendent of the local school board or boards, as the case may be, and the State Superintendent of Education. The alternative school advisory board shall consist of the following members: one (1) school administrator to be appointed by each local school board of the school district or districts operating the alternative school; one (1) school board member and one (1) parent to be appointed by each superintendent of the school district or districts operating the alternative school; one (1) classroom teacher to be appointed by the classroom teachers in each school district operating the alternative school; one (1) individual to be appointed by the local youth court judge, or if there is no such court the chancery court judge; and one (1) law enforcement officer to be appointed by the local sheriff. The initial members of the advisory board shall serve as follows: One-third (1/3) of the members shall serve two (2) years; one-third (1/3) of the members shall serve three (3) years; and one-third (1/3) of the members shall serve four (4) years, to be designated by the appointing authority at the time of appointment. Thereafter, the term of each member shall be for a period of four (4) years.

An alternative school advisory board shall have no governing authority over the alternative school program, and not in any manner shall an advisory board's authority supersede the authority of the school district or lead district in those alternative school programs operated jointly by two (2) or more districts.

SECTION 8. Transportation allowance. (1) The amount to be allotted by the State Board of Education for transportation shall be determined as follows:

The State Department of Education shall calculate the cost of transportation in school districts by ascertaining the average cost per pupil in average daily attendance of transported pupils in school districts classified in different density groups as determined by the State Department of Education. Based on these calculations, the State Department of Education shall develop a scale for determining the allowable cost per pupil in different density groups, which scale shall provide greatest allowance per pupil transported in school districts with lowest densities and smallest allowance per pupil in school districts with highest densities. The total allowance in the adequate education program for transported children for any school district for the current year shall be the average daily attendance of the transported children for the nine (9) months of the prior year, multiplied by the allowance per transported pupil as provided herein. However, the State Department of Education is hereby authorized and empowered to make proper adjustments in allotments, under rules and regulations of the State Board of Education, in cases where major changes in the number of children in average daily attendance transported occur from one year to another as a result of changes or alterations in the boundaries of school districts, a change in or relocation of attendance centers, or for other reasons which would result in major decrease or increase in the number of children in average daily attendance transported during the current school year as compared with the preceding year. Moreover, the State Board of Education is hereby authorized and empowered to make such payments to all districts and/or university-based programs as deemed necessary in connection with transporting exceptional children as defined in Section 37-23-3. The State Board of Education shall establish and implement all necessary rules and regulations to allot transportation payments to university-based programs. In developing density classifications under the provisions hereof, the State Department of Education may give consideration to the length of the route, the sparsity of the population, the lack of adequate roads, highways and bridges, and the presence of large streams or other geographic obstacles. In addition to funds allotted under the above provisions, funds shall be allotted to each school district that transports students from their assigned school or attendance center to classes in an approved vocational-technical center at a rate per mile not to exceed the average statewide cost per mile of school bus transportation during the preceding year exclusive of bus replacement. All such transportation must have prior approval by the State Department of Education.

(2) The average daily attendance of transported children shall be reported by the school district in which such children attend school. If children living in a school district are transported at the expense of such school district to another school district, the average daily attendance of such transported children shall be deducted by the State Department of Education from the aggregate average daily attendance of transported children in the school district in which they attend school and shall be added to the aggregate average daily attendance of transported children of the school district from which they come for the purpose of calculating transportation allotments. However, such deduction shall not be made for the purpose of calculating adequate education program pupil-based funding.

(3) The State Department of Education shall include in the allowance for transportation for each school district an amount for the replacement of school buses or the purchase of new buses, which amount shall be calculated upon the estimated useful life of all school buses being used for the transportation of children in such school district, whether such buses be publicly or privately owned.

(4) The school boards of all districts operating school bus transportation are authorized and directed to establish a salary schedule for school bus drivers. No school district shall be entitled to receive the funds herein allotted for transportation unless it pays each of its nonstudent adult school bus drivers paid from such transportation allotments a minimum of One Hundred Ninety Dollars ($190.00) per month. In addition, local school boards may compensate school bus drivers for actual expenses incurred when acquiring an initial commercial license or any renewal of a commercial license in order to drive a school bus.

(5) The State Board of Education shall be authorized and empowered to use such part of the funds appropriated for transportation in the adequate education fund as may be necessary to finance driver training courses as provided for in Section 37-41-1, Mississippi Code of 1972.

SECTION 9. Reduction of local supplement or support from ad valorem taxation. No school district shall pay any teacher less than the state minimum salary. No school district shall receive any funds under the provisions of this act for any school year during which the aggregate amount of local supplement as defined in Section 1 of this act shall have been reduced below such amount for the previous year; however, where there has been a reduction in adequate education program allocations for such district in such year, where there has been a reduction in the amount of federal funds to such district below the previous year, or where there has been a reduction in ad valorem taxes to such school district for the 1986-1987 school year below the amount for the previous year due to the exemption of nuclear generating plants from ad valorem taxation, pursuant to Section 27-35-309, Mississippi Code of 1972, the aggregate amount of local supplement in such district may be reduced proportionately without loss of funds under this act. No school district may receive any funds under the provisions of this act for any school year if the aggregate amount of support from ad valorem taxation shall be reduced during such school year below such amount for the previous year; however, where there is a loss in adequate education program allocations, or where there is or heretofore has been a decrease in the total assessed value of taxable property within a school district, the aggregate amount of such support may be reduced proportionately. Nothing herein contained shall prohibit any school district from adopting or continuing a program or plan whereby teachers are paid varying salaries according to the teaching ability, classroom performance and other similar standards.

SECTION 10. Salary payments from other funds. The minimum base pay for all classroom teachers may be increased by the district from any funds available to it; and those districts which have not prior to July 1, 1978, so increased said base pay, shall increase the minimum base pay for classroom teachers as fixed by this act and as authorized by any of the provisions of or standards set forth in this act.

SECTION 11. Salary schedules. The school boards of all school districts may establish salary schedules based on training, experience and other such factors as may be incorporated therein, including student progress and performance as developed by the State Board of Education, paying teachers greater amounts than the scale provided herein, but no teacher may be paid less than the amount based upon the minimum scale of pay provided in the adequate education program as prescribed in Section 37-19-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, and all supplements paid from local funds shall be based upon the salary schedules so established. The school boards may call upon the State Department of Education for aid and assistance in formulating and establishing such salary schedules, and it shall be the duty of the State Department of Education, when so called upon, to render such aid and assistance. The amount actually paid to each teacher shall be based upon and determined by the type of certificate held by such teacher.

SECTION 12. Counting of legally transferred students; payment maintenance funds to transferee school. (1) Legally transferred students going from one school district to another shall be counted for adequate education program allotments by the school district wherein the pupils attend school, but shall be counted for transportation allotment purposes in the school district which furnishes or provides the transportation. The school boards of the school districts which approve the transfer of a student under the provisions of Section 37-15-31 shall enter into an agreement and contract for the payment or nonpayment of any portion of their local maintenance funds which they deem fair and equitable in support of any transferred student. Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, local maintenance funds shall be transferred only to the extent specified in the agreement and contract entered into by the affected school districts. The terms of any local maintenance fund payment transfer contract shall be spread upon the minutes of both of the affected school district school boards. The school district accepting any transfer students shall be authorized to accept tuition from such students under the provisions of Section 37-15-31(1) and such agreement may remain in effect for any length of time designated in the contract. The terms of such student transfer contracts and the amounts of any tuition charged any transfer student shall be spread upon the minutes of both of the affected school boards. No school district accepting any transfer students under the provisions of Section 37-15-31(2), which provides for the transfer of certain school district employee dependents, shall be authorized to charge such transfer students any tuition fees.

(2) Local maintenance funds shall be paid by the home school district to the transferee school district for students granted transfers under the provisions of Sections 37-15-29(3) and 37-15-31(3), Mississippi Code of 1972, not to exceed the "base student cost" as defined in Section 37-151-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, multiplied by the number of such legally transferred students.

SECTION 13. Payment for health insurance for certain school district employees; federal funding; withholding of district funding for failure to report data. Mississippi Adequate Education Program funds shall include one hundred percent (100%) of the cost of the Public School Employees Health Insurance Plan created under Article 7, Chapter 15, Title 25, Mississippi Code of 1972, for all district employees who work no less than twenty (20) hours during each week and regular nonstudent school bus drivers employed by the district.

Where the use of federal funding is allowable to defray, in full or in part, the cost of participation in the insurance plan by district employees who work no less than twenty (20) hours during each week and regular nonstudent school bus drivers, whose salaries are paid, in full or in part, by federal funds, the allowance under this section shall be reduced to the extent of the federal funding. Where the use of federal funds is allowable but not available, it is the intent of the Legislature that school districts contribute the cost of participation for such employees from local funds, except that parent fees for child nutrition programs shall not be increased to cover such cost.

The State Department of Education, in accordance with rules and regulations established by the State Board of Education, may withhold a school district's adequate program funds for failure of the district to timely report student, fiscal and personnel data necessary to meet state and/or federal requirements. The rules and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education shall require the withholding of minimum program funds for those districts that fail to remit premiums, interest penalties and/or late charges under the Public School Employees Health Insurance Plan. Noncompliance with such rules and regulations shall result in a violation of compulsory accreditation standards as established by the State Board of Education and Commission on School Accreditation.

SECTION 14. Annual information report of State Department of Education. The State Department of Education shall develop an annual reporting process to inform the Legislature, local district personnel and the general public as to the ongoing and future plans for the state's educational programs. The annual reporting process will include those vital statistics that are commonly reported by schools and districts and that can provide clear demographic, strategic and educational information to constituencies such as, but not limited to, the following information:

(a) Student enrollment, attendance, drop-out and graduation;

(b) Overall student and district achievement;

(c) Budget, administrative costs and other pertinent fiscal information;

(d) Teacher and administrator certification and experience levels; and

(e) Other as directed by the State Board of Education.

Further, the reporting process will include an annual report developed specifically to relate the mission and goals of the State Board of Education, state superintendent and departments. This document will become the method through which the strategic planning and management process of the department is articulated to the public. It will explain and inform the public of the major initiatives of the department and clearly identify rationale for program development and/or elimination. The report will establish benchmarks, future plans and discuss the effectiveness of educational programs.

In addition to the information specified herein, the State Board of Education shall have full and plenary authority and power to require the furnishing of such further, additional and supplementary information as it may deem necessary for the purpose of determining the cost of the adequate education program in such school district for the succeeding fiscal year, the amount of the adequate education program funds to be allotted to each school district for the succeeding fiscal year, and for any other purpose authorized by law or deemed necessary by said State Board of Education.

It shall be the duty of the State Department of Education to prescribe the forms for the reports provided for in this section.

SECTION 15. Preliminary estimate of education cost and amounts to be distributed. Based upon the information obtained pursuant to Section 14 and upon such other and further information as provided by law, the State Department of Education shall, on or before June 1 of each year, or as soon thereafter as is practical, furnish each school board the preliminary estimate of the amount each will receive from the common school fund and the adequate education program fund for the succeeding scholastic year, and at the same time shall furnish each such school board with a tentative estimate of the cost of the adequate education program in the school district for such succeeding fiscal year.

SECTION 16. Distribution of funds. It shall be the duty of the State Department of Education to file with the State Treasurer and the State Fiscal Officer such data and information as may be required to enable the said State Treasurer and State Fiscal Officer to distribute the common school funds and adequate education program funds by electronic funds transfer to the several school districts at the time required and provided under the provisions of this act. Such data and information so filed shall show in detail the amount of funds to which each school district is entitled from such common school fund and adequate education program fund. Such data and information so filed may be revised from time to time as necessitated by law. At the time provided by law, the State Treasurer and the State Fiscal Officer shall distribute to the several school districts the amounts to which they are entitled from the common school fund and the adequate education program fund as provided by this act. Such distribution shall be made by electronic funds transfer to the depositories of the several school districts designated in writing to the State Treasurer based upon the data and information supplied by the State Department of Education for such distribution. In such instances, the State Treasurer shall submit a request for an electronic funds transfer to the State Fiscal Officer, which shall set forth the purpose, amount and payees, and shall be in such form as may be approved by the State Fiscal Officer so as to provide the necessary information as would be required for a requisition and issuance of a warrant. A copy of the record of said electronic funds transfers shall be transmitted by the school district depositories to the Treasurer, who shall file duplicates with the State Fiscal Officer. The Treasurer and State Fiscal Officer shall jointly promulgate regulations for the utilization of electronic funds transfers to school districts.

SECTION 17. Payment of funds. Funds due each school district under the terms of this act from the Common School Fund and the Adequate Education Program Fund shall be paid in the following manner: On the twenty-fifth day of each month, or the next business date after that date, there shall be paid to each school district by electronic funds transfer one-twelfth (1/12) of the funds to which the district is entitled from funds appropriated for the Common School Fund and the Adequate Education Program Fund. Provided, however, that in December said payments shall be made on December 15th or the next business day after that date.

Provided, however, that if the cash balance in the State General Fund is not adequate on the due date to pay the amounts due to all school districts in the state as determined by the State Superintendent of Education, the State Fiscal Officer shall not transfer said funds payable to any school district or districts until money is available to pay the amount due to all districts.

SECTION 18. Regulations. The State Board of Education shall have the authority to make such regulations not inconsistent with law which it deems necessary for the administration of this act. The State Board of Education, if it deems such practice necessary, may use reports of the first six (6) months of school for the purpose of determining average daily attendance and the number of pupils transported for that year.

SECTION 19. Violations; penalties. Any superintendent of education, member of the local school board of any school district, superintendent, principal, teacher, carrier, bus driver or member or employee of the State Department of Education or State Board of Education, or any other person, who shall willfully violate any of the provisions of this act, or who shall willfully make any false report, list or record, or who shall willfully make use of any false report, list or record, concerning the number of school children in average daily attendance or the number of children being transported or entitled to be transported in any county or school district, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days or by a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00), nor more than Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court. In addition, any such person shall be civilly liable for all amounts of public funds which are illegally, unlawfully or wrongfully expended or paid out by virtue of or pursuant to such false report, list or record, and upon conviction or adjudication of civil liability hereunder, such person shall forfeit his license to teach for a period of three (3) years, if such person is the holder of such a license. Any suit to recover such funds illegally, unlawfully or wrongfully expended or paid out may be brought in the name of the State of Mississippi by the Attorney General or the proper district attorney or county attorney, and, in the event such suit be brought against a person who is under bond, the sureties upon such bond shall likewise be liable for such amount illegally, unlawfully or wrongfully expended or paid out.

SECTION 20. Section 37-21-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-21-7. (1) This section shall be referred to as the "Mississippi Elementary Schools Assistant Teacher Program," the purpose of which shall be to provide an early childhood education program that assists in the instruction of basic skills. The State Board of Education is authorized, empowered and directed to implement a statewide system of assistant teachers in kindergarten classes and in the first, second and third grades. The assistant teacher shall assist pupils in actual instruction under the strict supervision of a certified teacher.

(2)(a) Each school district shall employ the total number of assistant teachers funded under subsection (6) of this section. The superintendent of each district shall assign the assistant teachers to the kindergarten, first-, second- and third-grade classes in the district in a manner that will promote the maximum efficiency, as determined by the superintendent, in the instruction of skills such as verbal and linguistic skills, logical and mathematical skills, and social skills.

(b) If a certified teacher to whom an assistant teacher has been assigned is required to be absent from the classroom, the assistant teacher may assume responsibility for the classroom in lieu of a substitute teacher. However, no assistant teacher shall assume sole responsibility of the classroom for more than three (3) consecutive school days. Further, in no event shall any assistant teacher be assigned to serve as a substitute teacher for any teacher other than the certified teacher to whom that assistant teacher has been assigned.

(3) Assistant teachers shall have, at a minimum, a high school diploma or a GED equivalent, and shall show demonstratable proficiency in reading and writing skills. The State Department of Education shall develop a testing procedure for assistant teacher applicants to be used in all school districts in the state.

(4)(a) In order to receive funding, each school district shall:

(i) Submit a plan on the implementation of a reading improvement program to the State Department of Education; and

(ii) Develop a plan of educational accountability and assessment of performance, including pretests and posttests, for reading in Grades 1 through 6.

(b) Additionally, each school district shall:

(i)  Provide annually a mandatory preservice orientation session, using an existing in-school service day, for administrators and teachers on the effective use of assistant teachers as part of a team in the classroom setting and on the role of assistant teachers, with emphasis on program goals;

(ii) Hold periodic workshops for administrators and teachers on the effective use and supervision of assistant teachers;

(iii) Provide training annually on specific instructional skills for assistant teachers;

(iv) Annually evaluate their program in accordance with their educational accountability and assessment of performance plan; and

(v) Designate the necessary personnel to supervise and report on their program.

(5) The State Department of Education shall:

(a) Develop and assist in the implementation of a statewide uniform training module, subject to the availability of funds specifically appropriated therefor by the Legislature, which shall be used in all school districts for training administrators, teachers and assistant teachers. The module shall provide for the consolidated training of each assistant teacher and teacher to whom the assistant teacher is assigned, working together as a team, and shall require further periodical training for administrators, teachers and assistant teachers regarding the role of assistant teachers;

(b) Annually evaluate the program on the district and state level. Subject to the availability of funds specifically appropriated therefor by the Legislature, the department shall develop: (i) uniform evaluation reports, to be performed by the principal or assistant principal, to collect data for the annual overall program evaluation conducted by the department; or (ii) a program evaluation model that, at a minimum, addresses process evaluation; and

(c) Promulgate rules, regulations and such other standards deemed necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section. Noncompliance with the provisions of this section and any rules, regulations or standards adopted by the department may result in a violation of compulsory accreditation standards as established by the State Board of Education and Commission on School Accreditation.

(6) * * * No assistant teacher shall be paid less than the amount he or she received in the prior school year. In the 1995-1996 school year and school years thereafter, no school district shall receive any funds under this section for any school year during which the aggregate amount of the local contribution to the salaries of assistant teachers by the district shall have been reduced below such amount for the previous year. The assistant teachers shall not be restricted to working only in the grades for which the funds were allotted, but may be assigned to other classes as provided in subsection (2)(a) of this section.

(7)(a) As an alternative to employing assistant teachers, the State Board of Education may authorize any school district meeting Level 3, 4 or 5 accreditation requirements to use the adequate education program allotments * * * for the purpose of employing certified teachers for kindergarten, first-, second- and third-grade classes; however, no school district shall be authorized to use the funds for assistant teachers for the purpose of employing certified teachers unless the district has established that the employment of certified teachers using such funds will reduce the teacher:student ratio in the kindergarten, first-, second- and third-grade classes. All adequate education program funds for assistant teachers shall be applied to reducing teacher:student ratio in Grades K-3.

It is the intent of the Legislature that no school district shall dismiss any assistant teacher for the purpose of using state funds to employ certified teachers. School districts may rely only upon normal attrition to reduce the number of assistant teachers employed in that district.

(b) In the event any school district meets Level 4 or 5 accreditation requirements, the State Board of Education, in its discretion, may exempt such school district from any accreditation requirements for the district's early childhood education program or reading improvement program.

SECTION 21. The following provision shall be codified as Section 37-57-104, Mississippi Code of 1972:

37-57-104. (1) Each school board shall submit to the levying authority for the school district a certified copy of an order adopted by the school board requesting an ad valorem tax effort in dollars for the support of the school district. The copy of the order shall be submitted by the school board when the copies of the school district's budget are filed with the levying authority pursuant to Section 37-61-9. Upon receipt of the school board's order requesting the ad valorem tax effort in dollars, the levying authority shall determine the millage rate necessary to generate funds equal to the dollar amount requested by the school board. For the purpose of calculating this millage rate, any additional amount that is levied pursuant to Section 37-57-105(1) to cover anticipated delinquencies and costs of collection or any amount that may be levied for the payment of the principal and interest on school bonds or notes shall be excluded from the limitation of fifty-five (55) mills provided for in subsection (2) of this section.

(2)(a) Except as otherwise provided under paragraphs (b) or (c) of this subsection, if the millage rate necessary to generate funds equal to the dollar amount requested by the school board is greater than fifty-five (55) mills, and if this millage rate is higher than the millage then being levied pursuant to the school board's order requesting the ad valorem tax effort for the currently existing fiscal year, then the levying authority shall call a referendum on the question of exceeding, during the next fiscal year, the then existing millage rate being levied for school district purposes. The referendum shall be scheduled for not more than six (6) weeks after the date on which the levying authority receives the school board's order requesting the ad valorem tax effort.

When a referendum has been called, notice of the referendum shall be published at least five (5) days per week, unless the only newspaper published in the school district is published less than five (5) days per week, for at least three (3) consecutive weeks, in at least one (1) newspaper published in the school district. The notice shall be no less than one-fourth (1/4) page in size, and the type used shall be no smaller than eighteen (18) point and surrounded by a one-fourth-inch solid black border. The notice may not be placed in that portion of the newspaper where legal notices and classified advertisements appear. The first publication of the notice shall be made not less than twenty-one (21) days before the date fixed for the referendum, and the last publication shall be made not more than seven (7) days before that date. If no newspaper is published in the school district, then the notice shall be published in a newspaper having a general circulation in the school district. The referendum shall be held, as far as is practicable, in the same manner as other referendums and elections are held in the county or municipality. At the referendum, all registered, qualified electors of the school district may vote. The ballots used at the referendum shall have printed thereon a brief statement of the amount and purpose of the increased tax levy and the words "FOR INCREASING THE MILLAGE LEVIED FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT PURPOSES FROM (MILLAGE RATE CURRENTLY LEVIED) MILLS TO (MILLAGE RATE REQUIRED UNDER SCHOOL BOARD'S ORDER) MILLS," and "AGAINST INCREASING THE MILLAGE LEVIED FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT PURPOSES FROM (MILLAGE RATE CURRENTLY LEVIED) MILLS TO (MILLAGE RATE REQUIRED UNDER SCHOOL BOARD'S ORDER) MILLS." The voter shall vote by placing a cross (X) or check mark (/) opposite his choice on the proposition.

If a majority of the registered, qualified electors of the school district who vote in the referendum vote in favor of the question, then the ad valorem tax effort in dollars requested by the school board shall be approved. However, if a majority of the registered, qualified electors who vote in the referendum vote against the question, the millage rate levied by the levying authority shall not exceed the millage then being levied pursuant to the school board's order requesting the ad valorem tax effort for the then currently existing fiscal year.

Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require any school district that is levying more than fifty-five (55) mills pursuant to Sections 37-57-1 and 37-57-105 to decrease its millage rate to fifty-five (55) mills or less. Further, nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require a referendum in a school district where the requested ad valorem tax effort in dollars requires a millage rate of greater than fifty-five (55) mills but the requested dollar amount does not require any increase in the then existing millage rate. Further, nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require a referendum in a school district where, because of a decrease in the assessed valuation of the district, a millage rate of greater than fifty-five (55) mills is necessary to generate funds equal to the dollar amount generated by the ad valorem tax effort for the currently existing fiscal year.

(b) Provided, however, that if a levying authority is levying in excess of fifty-five (55) mills on July 1, 1997, the levying authority may levy an additional amount not exceeding three (3) mills in the aggregate for the period beginning July 1, 1997, and ending June 30, 2003, subject to the limitation on increased receipts from ad valorem taxes prescribed in Sections 37-57-105 and 37-57-107.

(c) If the levying authority for any school district lawfully has decreased the millage levied for school district purposes, but subsequently determines that there is a need to increase the millage rate due to a disaster in which the Governor has declared a disaster emergency or the President of the United States has declared an emergency or major disaster, then the levying authority may increase the millage levied for school district purposes up to an amount that does not exceed the millage rate in any one (1) of the immediately preceding ten (10) fiscal years without any referendum that otherwise would be required under this subsection.

(3) If the millage rate necessary to generate funds equal to the dollar amount requested by the school board is equal to fifty-five (55) mills or less, but the dollar amount requested by the school board exceeds the next preceding fiscal year's ad valorem tax effort in dollars by more than four percent (4%), but not more than seven percent (7%) (as provided for under subsection (4) of this section), then the school board shall publish notice thereof at least five (5) days per week, unless the only newspaper published in the school district is published less than five (5) days per week, for at least three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper published in the school district. The notice shall be no less than one-fourth (1/4) page in size, and the type used shall be no smaller than eighteen (18) point and surrounded by a one-fourth-inch solid black border. The notice may not be placed in that portion of the newspaper where legal notices and classified advertisements appear. The first publication shall be made not less than fifteen (15) days before the final adoption of the budget by the school board. If no newspaper is published in the school district, then the notice shall be published in a newspaper having a general circulation in the school district. If at any time before the adoption of the budget a petition signed by not less than twenty percent (20%) or fifteen hundred (1500), whichever is less, of the registered, qualified electors of the school district is filed with the school board requesting that a referendum be called on the question of exceeding the next preceding fiscal year's ad valorem tax effort in dollars by more than four percent (4%), then the school board shall adopt, not later than the next regular meeting, a resolution calling a referendum to be held within the school district upon the question. The referendum shall be called and held, and notice thereof shall be given, in the same manner provided for in subsection (2) of this section. The ballot shall contain the language "FOR THE SCHOOL TAX INCREASE OVER FOUR PERCENT (4%)" and "AGAINST THE SCHOOL TAX INCREASE OVER FOUR PERCENT (4%)." If a majority of the registered, qualified electors of the school district who vote in the referendum vote in favor of the question, then the increase requested by the school board shall be approved. For the purposes of this subsection, the revenue sources excluded from the increase limitation under Section 37-57-107 also shall be excluded from the limitation described in this subsection in the same manner as they are excluded under Section 37-57-107.

(4) If the millage rate necessary to generate funds equal to the dollar amount requested by the school board is equal to fifty-five (55) mills or less, but the dollar amount requested by the school board exceeds the seven percent (7%) increase limitation provided for in Section 37-57-107, the school board may exceed the seven percent (7%) increase limitation only after the school board has determined the need for additional revenues and three-fifths (3/5) of the registered, qualified electors voting in a referendum called by the levying authority have voted in favor of the increase. The notice and manner of holding the referendum shall be as prescribed in subsection (2) of this section for a referendum on the question of increasing the millage rate in school districts levying more than fifty-five (55) mills for school district purposes.

(5) The aggregate receipts from ad valorem taxes levied for school district purposes pursuant to Sections 37-57-1 and 37-57-105, excluding collection fees, additional revenue from the ad valorem tax on any newly constructed properties or any existing properties added to the tax rolls or any properties previously exempt which were not assessed in the next preceding year, and amounts received by school districts from the School Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund pursuant to Section 37-61-35, shall be subject to the increase limitation under this section and Section 37-57-107.

(6) The school board shall pay to the levying authority all costs that are incurred by the levying authority in the calling and holding of any election under this section.

(7) The provisions of this section shall not be construed to affect in any manner the authority of school boards to levy millage for the following purposes:

(a) The issuance of bonds, notes and certificates of indebtedness, as authorized in Sections 37-59-1 through 37-59-45 and Sections 37-59-101 through 37-59-115;

(b) The lease of property for school purposes, as authorized under the Emergency School Leasing Authority Act of 1986 (Sections 37-7-351 through 37-7-359);

(c) The lease or lease-purchase of school buildings, as authorized under Section 37-7-301;

(d) The issuance of promissory notes in the event of a shortfall of ad valorem taxes and/or revenue from local sources, as authorized under Section 27-39-333; and

(e) The construction of school building outside the school district, as authorized under Section 37-7-401.

Any millage levied for the purposes specified in this subsection shall be excluded from the millage limitations established under this section.

SECTION 22. Section 37-57-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

[Until July 1, 2002, this section shall read as follows:]

37-57-1. (1)(a) The boards of supervisors of the counties shall levy and collect all taxes for and on behalf of all school districts which were within the county school system or designated as special municipal separate school districts prior to July 1, 1986. Such taxes shall be collected by the county tax collector at the same time and in the same manner as county taxes are collected by him, and the same penalties for delinquency shall be applicable.

The governing authorities of the municipalities shall levy and collect all taxes for and on behalf of all school districts which were designated as municipal separate school districts prior to July 1, 1986. Such taxes shall be collected by the municipal tax collector at the same time and in the same manner as municipal taxes are collected by him, and the same penalties for delinquency shall be applicable.

The county or municipal tax collector, as the case may be, shall pay such tax collections, except for taxes collected for the payment of the principal of and interest on school bonds or notes and except for taxes collected to defray collection costs, into the school depository and report to the school board of the appropriate school district at the same time and in the same manner as the tax collector makes his payments and reports of other taxes collected by him.

Provided, however, the State Board of Education shall determine the appropriate levying authority for any school district created or reorganized after July 1, 1987.

(b) For the purposes of this chapter and any other laws pertaining to taxes levied or bonds or notes issued for and on behalf of school districts, the term "levying authority" means the board of supervisors of the county or the governing authorities of the municipality, whichever levies taxes for and on behalf of the particular school district as provided in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection.

(2) On or before September 1 of each year, the State Board of Education shall certify to the levying authority for each school district the amount of the minimum local ad valorem tax effort in dollars required of such school district for the current fiscal year under the provisions of Chapter 19 of this title. The levying authority for the school district shall, at the same time and in the same manner as other taxes are levied by the levying authority, levy a tax for the then current fiscal year for the support of the minimum education program upon all of the taxable property of the school district. Such tax shall be expressed in mills or a decimal fraction of a mill, and shall be at such a rate as will, when applied to the assessed valuation of the school district according to the assessment rolls of the county or municipality, as the case may be, produce a sum of money which is equal to the amount which said school district is required to contribute as its minimum local ad valorem tax effort under the provisions of Chapter 19 of this title. However, in no case shall the minimum local ad valorem tax effort for any school district be equal to an amount that would require a millage rate exceeding fifty-five (55) mills in that school district. Provided, however, that if a levying authority is levying in excess of fifty-five (55) mills on July 1, 1997, the levying authority may levy an additional amount not exceeding three (3) mills in the aggregate for the period beginning July 1, 1997, and ending June 30, 2003, subject to the limitation on increased receipts from ad valorem taxes prescribed in Sections 37-57-105 and 37-57-107. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require any school district that is levying more than fifty-five (55) mills pursuant to Sections 37-57-1 and 37-57-105 to decrease its millage rate to fifty-five (55) mills or less. In making such levy, the levying authority shall levy an additional amount sufficient to cover anticipated delinquencies and costs of collection so that the net amount of money to be produced by such levy shall be equal to the amount which the school district is required to contribute as its said minimum local ad valorem tax effort. The tax so levied shall be collected by the tax collector at the same time and in the same manner as other ad valorem taxes are collected by him. The amount of taxes so collected as a result of such levy shall be paid into the minimum education program fund of the school district by the tax collector at the same time and in the same manner as reports and payments of other ad valorem taxes are made by said tax collector, except that the amount collected to defray costs of collection may be paid into the county general fund. The levying authority shall have the power and authority to direct and cause warrants to be issued against such fund for the purpose of refunding any amount of taxes erroneously or illegally paid into such fund where such refund has been approved in the manner provided by law.

37-57-1. (1)(a) The boards of supervisors of the counties shall levy and collect all taxes for and on behalf of all school districts which were within the county school system or designated as special municipal separate school districts prior to July 1, 1986. Such taxes shall be collected by the county tax collector at the same time and in the same manner as county taxes are collected by him, and the same penalties for delinquency shall be applicable.

The governing authorities of the municipalities shall levy and collect all taxes for and on behalf of all school districts which were designated as municipal separate school districts prior to July 1, 1986. Such taxes shall be collected by the municipal tax collector at the same time and in the same manner as municipal taxes are collected by him, and the same penalties for delinquency shall be applicable.

The county or municipal tax collector, as the case may be, shall pay such tax collections, except for taxes collected for the payment of the principal of and interest on school bonds or notes and except for taxes collected to defray collection costs, into the school depository and report to the school board of the appropriate school district at the same time and in the same manner as the tax collector makes his payments and reports of other taxes collected by him.

Provided, however, the State Board of Education shall determine the appropriate levying authority for any school district created or reorganized after July 1, 1987.

(b) For the purposes of this chapter and any other laws pertaining to taxes levied or bonds or notes issued for and on behalf of school districts, the term "levying authority" means the board of supervisors of the county or the governing authorities of the municipality, whichever levies taxes for and on behalf of the particular school district as provided in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection.

(2) * * * The levying authority for the school district shall, at the same time and in the same manner as other taxes are levied by the levying authority, levy a tax of not less than twenty-eight (28) mills for the then current fiscal year, less the estimated amount of the yield of the School Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund grant to the school district as determined by the State Department of Education or twenty-seven percent (27%) of the basic adequate education program cost for such school district, whichever is a lesser amount, upon all of the taxable property of the school district, as required under Section 37-151-7(2)(a). However, in no case shall the minimum local ad valorem tax effort for any school district be equal to an amount that would require a millage rate exceeding fifty-five (55) mills in that school district. Provided, however, that if a levying authority is levying in excess of fifty-five (55) mills on July 1, 1997, the levying authority may levy an additional amount not exceeding three (3) mills in the aggregate for the period beginning July 1, 1997, and ending June 30, 2003, subject to the limitation on increased receipts from ad valorem taxes prescribed in Sections 37-57-105 and 37-57-107. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require any school district that is levying more than fifty-five (55) mills pursuant to Sections 37-57-1 and 37-57-105 to decrease its millage rate to fifty-five (55) mills or less. In making such levy, the levying authority shall levy an additional amount sufficient to cover anticipated delinquencies and costs of collection so that the net amount of money to be produced by such levy shall be equal to the amount which the school district is required to contribute as its said minimum local ad valorem tax effort. The tax so levied shall be collected by the tax collector at the same time and in the same manner as other ad valorem taxes are collected by him. The amount of taxes so collected as a result of such levy shall be paid into the district maintenance fund of the school district by the tax collector at the same time and in the same manner as reports and payments of other ad valorem taxes are made by said tax collector, except that the amount collected to defray costs of collection may be paid into the county general fund. The levying authority shall have the power and authority to direct and cause warrants to be issued against such fund for the purpose of refunding any amount of taxes erroneously or illegally paid into such fund where such refund has been approved in the manner provided by law.

SECTION 23. Section 37-57-105, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-57-105. (1) In addition to the taxes levied under Section 37-57-1, the levying authority for the school district, as defined in Section 37-57-1, upon receipt of a certified copy of an order adopted by the school board of the school district requesting an ad valorem tax effort in dollars for the support of the school district, shall, at the same time and in the same manner as other ad valorem taxes are levied, levy an annual ad valorem tax in the amount fixed in such order upon all of the taxable property of such school district, which shall not be less than * * * the millage rate certified by the State Board of Education as the uniform minimum school district ad valorem tax levy * * * for the support of the adequate education program in such school district under Section 37-57-1. Provided, however, that any school district levying less than the uniform minimum school district ad valorem tax levy on July 1, 1997, * * * shall only be required to increase its local district maintenance levy in four (4) mill annual increments in order to attain such millage requirements. In making such levy, the levying authority shall levy an additional amount sufficient to cover anticipated delinquencies and costs of collection so that the net amount of money to be produced by such levy shall be equal to the amount which is requested by said school board. The proceeds of such tax levy, excluding levies for the payment of the principal of and interest on school bonds or notes and excluding levies for costs of collection, shall be placed in the school depository to the credit of the school district and shall be expended in the manner provided by law for the purpose of supplementing teachers' salaries, extending school terms, purchasing furniture, supplies and materials, and for all other lawful operating and incidental expenses of such school district, funds for which are not provided by adequate education program fund allotments.

The monies authorized to be received by school districts from the School Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund pursuant to Section 37-57-35 shall be included as ad valorem tax receipts. The levying authority for the school district, as defined in Section 37-57-1, shall reduce the ad valorem tax levy for such school district in an amount equal to the amount distributed to such school district from the School Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund each calendar year pursuant to said Section 37-61-35. Such reduction shall not be less than the millage rate necessary to generate a reduction in ad valorem tax receipts equal to the funds distributed to such school district from the School Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund pursuant to Section 37-61-35. Such reduction shall not be deemed to be a reduction in the aggregate amount of support from ad valorem taxation for purposes of Section 37-19-11. The millage levy certified by the State Board of Education as the uniform minimum ad valorem tax levy or the millage levy that would generate funds in an amount equal to a school district's district entitlement, as defined in Section 37-22-1(2)(e), shall be subject to the provisions of this paragraph.

In any county where there is located a nuclear generating power plant on which a tax is assessed under Section 27-35-309(3), such required levy and revenue produced thereby may be reduced by the levying authority in an amount in proportion to a reduction in the base revenue of any such county from the previous year. Such reduction shall be allowed only if the reduction in base revenue equals or exceeds five percent (5%). "Base revenue" shall mean the revenue received by the county from the ad valorem tax levy plus the revenue received by the county from the tax assessed under Section 27-35-309(3) and authorized to be used for any purposes for which a county is authorized by law to levy an ad valorem tax. For purposes of determining if the reduction equals or exceeds five percent (5%), a levy of millage equal to the prior year's millage shall be hypothetically applied to the current year's ad valorem tax base to determine the amount of revenue to be generated from the ad valorem tax levy. For the purposes of this section and Section 37-57-107, the portion of the base revenue used for the support of any school district shall be deemed to be the aggregate receipts from ad valorem taxes for the support of any school district. This paragraph shall apply to taxes levied for the 1987 fiscal year and for each fiscal year thereafter. If the Mississippi Supreme Court or another court finally adjudicates that the tax levied under Section 27-35-309(3) is unconstitutional, then this paragraph shall stand repealed.

(2) When the tax is levied upon the territory of any school district located in two (2) or more counties, the order of the school board requesting the levying of such tax shall be certified to the levying authority of each of the counties involved, and each of the levying authorities shall levy the tax in the manner specified herein. The taxes so levied shall be collected by the tax collector of the levying authority involved and remitted by the tax collector to the school depository of the home county to the credit of the school district involved as provided above, except that taxes for collection fees may be retained by the levying authority for deposit into its general fund.

(3) The aggregate receipts from ad valorem taxes levied for school district purposes, excluding collection fees, pursuant to this section and Section 37-57-1 and excluding any amounts received by school districts from the School Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund pursuant to Section 37-61-35 shall be subject to the increased limitation under Section 37-57-107; however, if the ad valorem tax effort in dollars requested by the school district for the fiscal year exceeds the next preceding fiscal year's ad valorem tax effort in dollars by more than four percent (4%) but not more than seven percent (7%), then the school board shall publish notice thereof once each week for at least three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper having general circulation in the school district involved, with the first publication thereof to be made not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the final adoption of the budget by the school board. If at any time prior to said adoption a petition signed by not less than twenty percent (20%) or fifteen hundred (1500), whichever is less, of the qualified electors of the school district involved shall be filed with the school board requesting that an election be called on the question of exceeding the next preceding fiscal year's ad valorem tax effort in dollars by more than four percent (4%) but not more than seven percent (7%), then the school board shall, not later than the next regular meeting, adopt a resolution calling an election to be held within such school district upon such question. The election shall be called and held, and notice thereof shall be given, in the same manner for elections upon the questions of the issuance of the bonds of school districts, and the results thereof shall be certified to the school board. The ballot shall contain the language "For the School Tax Increase Over Four Percent (4%)" and "Against the School Tax Increase Over Four Percent (4%)." If a majority of the qualified electors of the school district who voted in such election shall vote in favor of the question, then the stated increase requested by the school board shall be approved. For the purposes of this paragraph, the revenue sources excluded from the increased limitation under Section 37-57-107 shall also be excluded from the limitation described herein in the same manner as they are excluded under Section 37-57-107.

SECTION 24. Section 37-57-107, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-57-107. Beginning with the tax levy for the 1997 fiscal year and for each fiscal year thereafter, the aggregate receipts from taxes levied for school district purposes pursuant to Sections 37-57-105 and 37-57-1 shall not exceed the aggregate receipts from those sources during any one (1) of the immediately preceding three (3) fiscal years, as determined by the school board, plus an increase not to exceed seven percent (7%). For the purpose of this limitation, the term "aggregate receipts" when used in connection with the amount of funds generated in a preceding fiscal year shall not include excess receipts required by law to be deposited into a special account, and shall not include any amounts received by school districts from the School Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund pursuant to Section 37-61-35. The additional revenue from the ad valorem tax on any newly constructed properties or any existing properties added to the tax rolls or any properties previously exempt which were not assessed in the next preceding year may be excluded from the seven percent (7%) increase limitation set forth herein. Taxes levied for payment of principal of and interest on general obligation school bonds issued heretofore or hereafter shall be excluded from the seven percent (7%) increase limitation set forth herein. Any additional millage levied to fund any new program mandated by the Legislature shall be excluded from the limitation for the first year of the levy and included within such limitation in any year thereafter. For the purposes of this section, the term "new program" shall include, but shall not be limited to, (a) the Early Childhood Education Program required to commence with the 1986-1987 school year as provided by Section 37-21-7 and any additional millage levied and the revenue generated therefrom, which is excluded from the limitation for the first year of the levy, to support the mandated Early Childhood Education Program shall be specified on the minutes of the school board and of the governing body making such tax levy, (b) any additional millage levied and the revenue generated therefrom which shall be excluded from the limitation for the first year of the levy, for the purpose of generating additional local contribution funds required for the adequate education program for the 2003 fiscal year and for each fiscal year thereafter * * * under Section 37-151-7(2); * * * and (c) any additional millage levied and the revenue generated therefrom which shall be excluded from the limitation for the first year of the levy, for the purpose of support and maintenance of any agricultural high school which has been transferred to the control, operation and maintenance of the school board by the board of trustees of the community college district under provisions of Section 37-29-272.

The seven percent (7%) increase limitation prescribed in this section may be increased an additional amount only when the school board has determined the need for additional revenues and has held an election on the question of raising the limitation prescribed in this section. The limitation may be increased only if three-fifths (3/5) of those voting in the election shall vote for the proposed increase. The resolution, notice and manner of holding the election shall be as prescribed by law for the holding of elections for the issuance of bonds by the respective school boards. Revenues collected for the fiscal year in excess of the seven percent (7%) increase limitation pursuant to an election shall be included in the tax base for the purpose of determining aggregate receipts for which the seven percent (7%) increase limitation applies for subsequent fiscal years.

Except as otherwise provided for excess revenues generated pursuant to an election, if revenues collected as the result of the taxes levied for the fiscal year pursuant to this section and Section 37-57-1 exceed the increase limitation, then it shall be the mandatory duty of the school board of the school district to deposit such excess receipts over and above the increase limitation into a special account and credit it to the fund for which the levy was made. It will be the further duty of such board to hold said funds and invest the same as authorized by law. Such excess funds shall be calculated in the budgets for the school districts for the purpose for which such levies were made, for the succeeding fiscal year. Taxes imposed for the succeeding year shall be reduced by the amount of excess funds available. Under no circumstances shall such excess funds be expended during the fiscal year in which such excess funds are collected.

For the purposes of determining ad valorem tax receipts for a preceding fiscal year under this section, the term "fiscal year" means the fiscal year beginning October 1 and ending September 30.

SECTION 25. Section 37-61-33, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-61-33. (1) There is hereby created within the State Treasury a special fund to be designated the "Education Enhancement Fund" into which shall be deposited all the revenues collected pursuant to Sections 27-65-75(8), 27-67-32(b) and 27-103-203(1).

(2) Of the amount deposited into the Education Enhancement Fund, excluding revenues deposited pursuant to Section 27-103-203(1), Sixteen Million Dollars ($16,000,000.00) shall be appropriated each fiscal year to the State Department of Education to be distributed to all school districts. Such money shall be distributed to all school districts in the proportion that the average daily attendance of each school district bears to the average daily attendance of all school districts within the state for the following purposes:

(a) Purchasing, erecting, repairing, equipping, remodeling and enlarging school buildings and related facilities, including gymnasiums, auditoriums, lunchrooms, vocational training buildings, libraries, teachers' homes, school barns, transportation vehicles (which shall include new and used transportation vehicles) and garages for transportation vehicles, and purchasing land therefor.

(b) Establishing and equipping school athletic fields and necessary facilities connected therewith, and purchasing land therefor.

(c) Providing necessary water, light, heating, air conditioning and sewerage facilities for school buildings, and purchasing land therefor.

(d) As a pledge to pay all or a portion of the debt service on debt issued by the school district under Sections 37-59-1 through 37-59-45, 37-59-101 through 37-59-115, 37-7-351 through 37-7-359, 37-41-89 through 37-41-99, 37-7-301, 37-7-302 and 37-41-81, Mississippi Code of 1972, or debt issued by boards of supervisors for agricultural high schools pursuant to Section 37-27-65, Mississippi Code of 1972, if such pledge is accomplished pursuant to a written contract or resolution approved and spread upon the minutes of an official meeting of the district's school board or board of supervisors. The annual grant to such district in any subsequent year during the term of the resolution or contract shall not be reduced below an amount equal to the district's grant amount for the year in which the contract or resolution was adopted. The intent of this provision is to allow school districts to irrevocably pledge a certain, constant stream of revenue as security for long-term obligations issued under the code sections enumerated in this paragraph or as otherwise allowed by law. It is the intent of the Legislature that the provisions of this paragraph shall be cumulative and supplemental to any existing funding programs or other authority conferred upon school districts or school boards. Debt of a district secured by a pledge of sales tax revenue pursuant to this paragraph shall not be subject to any debt limitation contained in the foregoing enumerated code sections.

(3) The remainder of the money deposited into the Education Enhancement Fund, excluding funds deposited pursuant to Section 27-103-203(1), shall be appropriated as follows:

(a) To the State Department of Education as follows:

  (i) Sixteen and sixty-one one-hundredths percent (16.61%) to the cost of the adequate education program determined under Section 37-151-7;

(ii) Seven and ninety-seven one-hundredths percent (7.97%) to assist the funding of transportation operations and maintenance pursuant to Section 37-19-23; and

(iii) Nine and sixty-one one-hundredths percent (9.61%) for classroom supplies, instructional materials and equipment, including computers and computer software, to be distributed to all school districts in the proportion that the average daily attendance of each school district bears to the average daily attendance of all school districts within the state. It is the intent of the Legislature that all classroom teachers shall be involved in the development of a spending plan that addresses individual classroom needs and supports the overall goals of the school regarding supplies, instructional materials, equipment, computers or computer software under the provisions of this subparagraph, including the type, quantity and quality of such supplies, materials and equipment. This plan shall be submitted to the school principal for approval. School districts need not fully expend the funds received under this subparagraph in the year in which they are received, but such funds may be carried forward for expenditure in any succeeding school year.

(b) Twenty-two and nine one-hundredths percent (22.09%) to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning for the purpose of supporting institutions of higher learning, and fourteen and forty-one one-hundredths percent (14.41%) to the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges for the purpose of providing support to community and junior colleges.

(4) The amount remaining in the Education Enhancement Fund after funds are distributed as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, excluding funds deposited pursuant to Section 27-103-203(1), shall be disbursed as follows:

(a) Twenty-five Million Dollars ($25,000,000.00) shall be deposited into the Working Cash-Stabilization Reserve Fund created pursuant to Section 27-103-203(1), until the balance in such fund reaches the maximum balance of seven and one-half percent (7-1/2%) of the General Fund appropriations in the appropriate fiscal year. After the maximum balance in the Working Cash-Stabilization Reserve Fund is reached, such money shall remain in the Education Enhancement Fund to be appropriated in the manner provided for in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b) The remainder shall be appropriated for other educational needs.

(5) None of the funds appropriated pursuant to subsection (3)(a) of this section shall be used to reduce the state's general fund appropriation for the categories listed in an amount below the following amounts:

(a) For subsection (3)(a)(ii) of this section Thirty-six Million Seven Hundred Thousand Dollars ($36,700,000.00);

(b) For the aggregate of minimum program allotments in the 1997 fiscal year, formerly provided for in Chapter 19, Title 37, Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended, excluding those funds for transportation as provided for in subsection (5)(a) herein.

(6) At the end of a fiscal year such amounts as required by Section 27-103-203(1) to be transferred to the Education Enhancement Fund shall be deposited into said Education Enhancement Fund and shall be kept separate from other monies in the fund by the State Treasurer. Beginning with the 1994 fiscal year the monies in such special fund deposited pursuant to said Section 27-103-203(1) shall be subject to appropriation by the Legislature in the following manner: (a) fifty percent (50%) to support public education, including but not limited to, Grades K through 12, Mississippi Educational Television and/or the Mississippi Library Commission; (b) twenty-five percent (25%) to support institutions of higher learning; and (c) twenty-five percent (25%) to support the junior or community colleges. Any amount of such monies transferred into said separate fund pursuant to Section 27-103-203(1) which are not appropriated by the Legislature shall not lapse but shall carry over and be subject to appropriation by the Legislature in the succeeding fiscal year in the same manner provided in this subsection (6). The interest earned on the investment of such monies transferred pursuant to Section 27-103-203(1) shall be paid into said separate fund within the Education Enhancement Fund.

SECTION 26. Section 27-65-75, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

27-65-75. On or before the fifteenth day of each month, the revenue collected under the provisions of this chapter during the preceding month shall be paid and distributed as follows:

(1) On or before August 15, 1992, and each succeeding month thereafter through July 15, 1993, eighteen percent (18%) of the total sales tax revenue collected during the preceding month under the provisions of this chapter, except that collected under the provisions of Sections 27-65-15, 27-65-19(3) and 27-65-21, on business activities within a municipal corporation shall be allocated for distribution to such municipality and paid to such municipal corporation. On or before August 15, 1993, and each succeeding month thereafter, eighteen and one-half percent (18-1/2%) of the total sales tax revenue collected during the preceding month under the provisions of this chapter, except that collected under the provisions of Sections 27-65-15, 27-65-19(3) and 27-65-21, on business activities within a municipal corporation shall be allocated for distribution to such municipality and paid to such municipal corporation.

A municipal corporation, for the purpose of distributing the tax under this subsection, shall mean and include all incorporated cities, towns and villages.

Monies allocated for distribution and credited to a municipal corporation under this subsection may be pledged as security for any loan received by the municipal corporation for the purpose of capital improvements as authorized under Section 57-1-303, or loans as authorized under Section 57-44-7, or water systems improvements as authorized under Section 41-3-16.

In any county having a county seat which is not an incorporated municipality, the distribution provided hereunder shall be made as though the county seat was an incorporated municipality; however, the distribution to such municipality shall be paid to the county treasury wherein the municipality is located and such funds shall be used for road, bridge and street construction or maintenance therein.

(2) On or before September 15, 1987, and each succeeding month thereafter, from the revenue collected under this chapter during the preceding month One Million One Hundred Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($1,125,000.00) shall be allocated for distribution to municipal corporations as defined under subsection (1) of this section in the proportion that the number of gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel sold by distributors to consumers and retailers in each such municipality during the preceding fiscal year bears to the total gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel sold by distributors to consumers and retailers in municipalities statewide during the preceding fiscal year. The State Tax Commission shall require all distributors of gasoline and diesel fuel to report to the commission monthly the total number of gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel sold by them to consumers and retailers in each municipality during the preceding month. The State Tax Commission shall have the authority to promulgate such rules and regulations as is necessary to determine the number of gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel sold by distributors to consumers and retailers in each municipality. In determining the percentage allocation of funds under this subsection for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1987, and ending June 30, 1988, the State Tax Commission may consider gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel sold for a period of less than one (1) fiscal year. For the purposes of this subsection, the term "fiscal year" means the fiscal year beginning July 1 of a year.

(3) On or before September 15, 1987, and on or before the fifteenth day of each succeeding month, until the date specified in Section 65-37-35, the proceeds derived from contractors' taxes levied under Section 27-65-21 on contracts for the construction or reconstruction of highways designated under the Four-Lane Highway Program created under Section 65-3-97 shall be deposited into the State Treasury to the credit of the State Highway Fund to be used to fund such Four-Lane Highway Program. The Mississippi Department of Transportation shall provide to the State Tax Commission such information as is necessary to determine the amount of proceeds to be distributed under this subsection.

(4) On or before August 15, 1994, and on or before the fifteenth day of each succeeding month, from the proceeds of gasoline, diesel fuel or kerosene taxes as provided in Section 27-5-101(a)(ii)1, Four Million Dollars ($4,000,000.00) shall be deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of a special fund designated as the "State Aid Road Fund," created by Section 65-9-17. Such funds shall be pledged to pay the principal of and interest on state aid road bonds heretofore issued under Sections 19-9-51 through 19-9-77, in lieu of and in substitution for the funds heretofore allocated to counties under this section. Such funds may not be pledged for the payment of any state aid road bonds issued after April 1, 1981; however, this prohibition against the pledging of any such funds for the payment of bonds shall not apply to any bonds for which intent to issue such bonds has been published, for the first time, as provided by law prior to March 29, 1981. From the amount of taxes paid into the special fund pursuant to this subsection and subsection (9) of this section, there shall be first deducted and paid the amount necessary to pay the expenses of the Office of State Aid Road Construction, as authorized by the Legislature for all other general and special fund agencies. The remainder of the fund shall be allocated monthly to the several counties in accordance with the following formula:

(a) One-third (1/3) shall be allocated to all counties in equal shares;

(b) One-third (1/3) shall be allocated to counties based on the proportion that the total number of rural road miles in a county bears to the total number of rural road miles in all counties of the state; and

(c) One-third (1/3) shall be allocated to counties based on the proportion that the rural population of the county bears to the total rural population in all counties of the state, according to the latest federal decennial census.

For the purposes of this subsection, the term "gasoline, diesel fuel or kerosene taxes" means such taxes as defined in paragraph (f) of Section 27-5-101.

The amount of funds allocated to any county under this subsection for any fiscal year after Fiscal Year 1994 shall not be less than the amount allocated to such county for Fiscal Year 1994. Monies allocated to a county from the State Aid Road Fund for Fiscal Year 1995 or any fiscal year thereafter that exceed the amount of funds allocated to that county from the State Aid Road Fund for Fiscal Year 1994, first must be expended by the county for replacement or rehabilitation of bridges on the state aid road system that have a sufficiency rating of less than twenty-five (25), according to National Bridge Inspection standards, before such monies may be approved for expenditure by the State Aid Road Engineer on other projects that qualify for the use of state aid road funds.

Any reference in the general laws of this state or the Mississippi Code of 1972 to Section 27-5-105 shall mean and be construed to refer and apply to subsection (4) of Section 27-65-75.

(5) One Million Six Hundred Sixty-six Thousand Six Hundred Sixty-six Dollars ($1,666,666.00) each month shall be paid into the special fund known as the "State Public School Building Fund" created and existing under the provisions of Sections 37-47-1 through 37-47-67. Such payments into said fund are to be made on the last day of each succeeding month hereafter.

(6) An amount each month beginning August 15, 1983, through November 15, 1986, as specified in Section 6 of Chapter 542, Laws of 1983, shall be paid into the special fund known as the Correctional Facilities Construction Fund created in Section 6 of Chapter 542, Laws of 1983.

(7) On or before August 15, 1992, and each succeeding month thereafter, two and two hundred sixty-six one-thousandths percent (2.266%) of the total sales tax revenue collected during the preceding month under the provisions of this chapter, except that collected under the provisions of Section 27-65-17(2), not to exceed the Fiscal Year 1997 appropriated level shall be deposited by the commission into the School Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund created pursuant to Section 37-61-35, with the balance to be transferred to the Education Enhancement Fund created under Section 37-61-33 for appropriation by the Legislature as other education needs and not subject to the percentage set asides set forth in Section 37-61-33.

(8) On or before August 15, 1992, and each succeeding month thereafter, nine and seventy-three one-thousandths percent (9.073%) of the total sales tax revenue collected during the preceding month under the provisions of this chapter, except that collected under the provisions of Section 27-65-17(2) shall be deposited into the Education Enhancement Fund created pursuant to Section 37-61-33.

(9) On or before August 15, 1994, and each succeeding month thereafter, from the revenue collected under this chapter during the preceding month, Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) shall be paid into the State Aid Road Fund.

(10) On or before August 15, 1994, and each succeeding month thereafter through August 15, 1995, from the revenue collected under this chapter during the preceding month, Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) shall be deposited into the Motor Vehicle Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund established in Section 27-51-105.

(11) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section to the contrary, on or before February 15, 1995, and each succeeding month thereafter, the sales tax revenue collected during the preceding month under the provisions of Section 27-65-17(2) shall be deposited, without diversion, into the Motor Vehicle Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund established in Section 27-51-105.

(12) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section to the contrary, on or before August 15, 1995, and each succeeding month thereafter, the sales tax revenue collected during the preceding month under the provisions of Section 27-65-17(1) on retail sales of private carriers of passengers and light carriers of property, as defined in Section 27-51-101, shall be deposited, after diversion, into the Motor Vehicle Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund established in Section 27-51-105.

(13) On or before July 15, 1994, and on or before the fifteenth day of each succeeding month thereafter, that portion of the avails of the tax imposed in Section 27-65-22, which is derived from activities held on the Mississippi state fairgrounds complex, shall be paid into a special fund hereby created in the State Treasury and shall be expended pursuant to legislative appropriations solely to defray the costs of repairs and renovation at such Trade Mart and Coliseum.

(14) The remainder of the amounts collected under the provisions of this chapter shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the General Fund.

(15) It shall be the duty of the municipal officials of any municipality which expands its limits, or of any community which incorporates as a municipality, to notify the commissioner of such action thirty (30) days before the effective date. Failure to so notify the commissioner shall cause such municipality to forfeit the revenue which it would have been entitled to receive during this period of time when the commissioner had no knowledge of the action. If any funds have been erroneously disbursed to any municipality or any overpayment of tax is recovered by the taxpayer, the commissioner may make correction, and adjust the error or overpayment with such municipality by withholding the necessary funds from any subsequent payment to be made to the municipality.

SECTION 27. Section 27-67-31, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

27-67-31. All administrative provisions of the sales tax law, and amendments thereto, including those which fix damages, penalties and interest for failure to comply with the provisions of said sales tax law, and all other requirements and duties imposed upon taxpayer, shall apply to all persons liable for use taxes under the provisions of this article. The commissioner shall exercise all power and authority and perform all duties with respect to taxpayers under this article as are provided in said sales tax law, except where there is conflict, then the provisions of this article shall control.

The commissioner may require transportation companies to permit the examination of waybills, freight bills, or other documents covering shipments of tangible personal property into this state.

On or before the fifteenth day of each month, the amount received from taxes, damages and interest under the provisions of this article during the preceding month shall be paid and distributed as follows:

(a) On or before July 15, 1994, and each succeeding month thereafter, two and two hundred sixty-six one-thousandths percent (2.266%) of the total use tax revenue collected during the preceding month under the provisions of this article not to exceed the Fiscal Year 1997 appropriated level shall be deposited in the School Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund created pursuant to Section 37-61-35, with the balance to be transferred to the Education Enhancement Fund created under Section 37-61-33 for appropriation by the Legislature as other education needs and not subject to the percentage set asides set forth in Section 37-61-33.

(b) On or before July 15, 1994, and each succeeding month thereafter, nine and seventy-three one-thousandths percent (9.073%) of the total use tax revenue collected during the preceding month under the provisions of this article shall be deposited into the Education Enhancement Fund created pursuant to Section 37-61-33.

(c) The remainder of the amount received from taxes, damages and interest under the provisions of this article shall be paid into the General Fund of the State Treasury by the commissioner.

SECTION 28. Section 37-9-33, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-9-33. In employing and contracting with appointed superintendents, principals and certificated employees, the school board shall in all cases determine whether the amount of salary to be paid such superintendent, principals and certificated employees is in compliance with the provisions of the adequate education program. No contract shall be entered into where the salary of a superintendent, principal or certificated employee is to be paid in whole or in part from adequate education program funds except where the requirements of said chapter as to the amount of such salary are fully met. Nothing herein shall be construed, however, to prohibit any school district from increasing the salaries of appointed superintendents, principals and certificated employees above the amounts fixed by said chapter, provided that the amount of such increase is paid from funds available to such district other than adequate program funds.

SECTION 29. Wherever the phrase "minimum education program," "minimum program" or "minimum foundation program" shall appear in the laws of this state, it shall be construed to mean the "Mississippi Adequate Education Program" created under Section 1 et seq. of this act.

SECTION 30. Sections 37-19-1, 37-19-3, 37-19-5, 37-19-9, 37-19-11, 37-19-13, 37-19-15, 37-19-17, 37-19-19, 37-19-21, 37-19-23, 37-19-25, 37-19-27, 37-19-29, 37-19-31, 37-19-33, 37-19-35, 37-19-37, 37-19-39, 37-19-41, 37-19-43, 37-19-45, 37-19-47, 37-19-49, 37-19-51 and 37-19-53, Mississippi Code of 1972, which provide for a minimum program of education with allocations to each public school district in the state based upon generated teacher units and financed through state and local revenue requirements, Sections 37-22-1 and 37-22-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, which provide a Mississippi School District Uniform Millage Assistance Grant and Second Level Funding Program, and Section 37-151-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, which provides for certain funding projections and comparisons by the State Department of Education, are hereby repealed.

SECTION 31. As used in Sections 31 through 51 of this act, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(a) "Accreted value" of any bond means, as of any date of computation, an amount equal to the sum of (i) the stated initial value of such bond, plus (ii) the interest accrued thereon from the issue date to the date of computation at the rate, compounded semiannually, that is necessary to produce the approximate yield to maturity shown for bonds of the same maturity.

(b) "State" means the State of Mississippi.

(c) "Commission" means the State Bond Commission.

SECTION 32. For the purpose of providing funds to enable the State Board of Education to make allocations to school districts as provided by Section 37-151-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, the commission is authorized and empowered to issue general obligation bonds of the State of Mississippi under the conditions prescribed in Sections 31 through 51 of this act. The total amount of bonds issued under this act shall not exceed the sum of Twenty-five Million Dollars ($25,000,000.00) in Fiscal Year 1998 and Thirty Million Dollars ($30,000,000.00) in Fiscal Year 1999 through Fiscal Year 2000. Within such limits bonds may be issued from time to time under the conditions prescribed in Sections 31 through 51 of this act.

SECTION 33. Before any bonds are issued under Sections 31 through 51 of this act, the State Board of Education shall transmit to the commission a request for the issuance thereof in the form of a resolution adopted by the Council for Education Technology. The request shall embody the following:

(a) A schedule showing the aggregate amount of bonds issued pursuant to previous requests, the purposes for which the same were issued, and the annual payments required to retire such bonds and the interest thereon;

(b) The amount of bonds sought to be issued, the purpose or purposes for which the bonds are to be issued, and the amount intended for each purpose;

(c) A schedule showing future annual principal requirements and estimated annual interest requirements on the bonds requested to be issued;

(d) The estimated amount of the allotments which the State Board of Education intends to make within the then current fiscal year;

(e) The aggregate amount for which allotments have been approved, but which await completion because the funds necessary to make the same are not available.

SECTION 34. If it shall appear to the satisfaction of the commission from the request provided for in Section 33 of this act that the estimate of the needs for the then current fiscal year as shown pursuant to the requirement of Section 33 of this act requires bonds to be issued in the amount requested; and that the issue will be within the limitations prescribed by Section 32 of this act, then it shall be the duty of the commission to issue general obligation bonds in accordance with such request.

SECTION 35. The principal of and interest on the bonds authorized under Section 32 of this act shall be payable in the manner provided in this section. Such bonds shall bear such date or dates, be in such denomination or denominations, bear interest at such rate or rates (not to exceed the limits set forth in Section 75-17-101, Mississippi Code of 1972), be payable at such place or places within or without the State of Mississippi, shall mature absolutely at such time or times not to exceed ten (10) years from date of issue, be redeemable before maturity at such time or times and upon such terms, with or without premium, shall bear such registration privileges, and shall be substantially in such form, all as shall be determined by resolution of the commission.

SECTION 36. The bonds authorized by Section 32 of this act shall be signed by the chairman of the commission, or by his facsimile signature, and the official seal of the commission shall be affixed thereto, attested by the secretary of the commission. The interest coupons, if any, to be attached to such bonds may be executed by the facsimile signatures of such officers. Whenever any such bonds shall have been signed by the officials designated to sign the bonds who were in office at the time of such signing but who may have ceased to be such officers before the sale and delivery of such bonds, or who may not have been in office on the date such bonds may bear, the signatures of such officers upon such bonds and coupons shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes and have the same effect as if the person so officially signing such bonds had remained in office until their delivery to the purchaser, or had been in office on the date such bonds may bear. However, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, such bonds may be issued as provided in the Registered Bond Act of the State of Mississippi.

SECTION 37. All bonds and interest coupons issued under Sections 31 through 51 of this act have all the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments under the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code, and in exercising the powers granted by this act, the commission shall not be required to and need not comply with the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code.

SECTION 38. The commission shall act as the issuing agent for the bonds authorized under Section 32 of this act, prescribe the form of the bonds, advertise for and accept bids, issue and sell the bonds so authorized to be sold, pay all fees and costs incurred in such issuance and sale, and do any and all other things necessary and advisable in connection with the issuance and sale of such bonds. The commission is authorized and empowered to pay the costs that are incident to the sale, issuance and delivery of the bonds authorized under Sections 31 through 51 of this act from the proceeds derived from the sale of such bonds. The commission shall sell such bonds on sealed bids at public sale, and for such price as it may determine to be for the best interest of the State of Mississippi, but no such sale shall be made at a price less than par plus accrued interest to the date of delivery of the bonds to the purchaser. All interest accruing on such bonds so issued shall be payable semiannually or annually; however, the first interest payment may be for any period of not more than one (1) year.

Notice of the sale of any such bonds shall be published at least one (1) time, not less than ten (10) days before the date of sale, and shall be so published in one or more newspapers published or having a general circulation in the City of Jackson, Mississippi, and in one or more other newspapers or financial journals with a national circulation, to be selected by the commission.

The commission, when issuing any bonds under the authority of Sections 31 through 51 of this act, may provide that bonds, at the option of the State of Mississippi, may be called in for payment and redemption at the call price named therein and accrued interest on such date or dates named therein.

SECTION 39. (1) The Legislature shall appropriate funds from the Education Enhancement Fund to pay the principal and interest on bonds issued in Fiscal Year 1998 as they become due. The Legislature shall appropriate funds from the General Fund to pay the principal and interest on all other bonds as they become due.

(2) The bonds issued under Sections 31 through 51 of this act are general obligations of the State of Mississippi, and for the payment thereof the full faith and credit of the State of Mississippi is irrevocably pledged. If the funds appropriated by the Legislature are insufficient to pay the principal of and the interest on such bonds as they become due, then the deficiency shall be paid by the State Treasurer from any funds in the State Treasury not otherwise appropriated. All such bonds shall contain recitals on their faces substantially covering the provisions of this section.

SECTION 40. Upon the issuance and sale of bonds under Sections 31 through 51 of this act, the commission shall transfer the proceeds of any such sale or sales to the Tech-Prep Fund created in Section 37-151-25, Mississippi Code of 1972.

SECTION 41. The bonds authorized under Sections 31 through 51 of this act may be issued without any other proceedings or the happening of any other conditions or things other than those proceedings, conditions and things which are specified or required by Sections 31 through 51 of this act. Any resolution providing for the issuance of bonds under the provisions of Sections 31 through 51 of this act shall become effective immediately upon its adoption by the commission, and any such resolution may be adopted at any regular or special meeting of the commission by a majority of its members.

SECTION 42. The bonds authorized under the authority of Sections 31 through 51 of this act may be validated in the Chancery Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, in the manner and with the force and effect provided by Chapter 13, Title 31, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the validation of county, municipal, school district and other bonds. The notice to taxpayers required by such statutes shall be published in a newspaper published or having a general circulation in the City of Jackson, Mississippi.

SECTION 43. Any holder of bonds issued under Sections 31 through 51 of this act or of any of the interest coupons pertaining thereto may, either at law or in equity, by suit, action, mandamus or other proceeding, protect and enforce any and all rights granted under Sections 31 through 51 of this act, or under such resolution, and may enforce and compel performance of all duties required by Sections 31 through 51 of this act to be performed, in order to provide for the payment of bonds and interest thereon.

SECTION 44. All bonds issued under Sections 31 through 51 of this act shall be legal investments for trustees and other fiduciaries, and for savings banks, trust companies and insurance companies organized under the laws of the State of Mississippi, and such bonds shall be legal securities which may be deposited with and shall be received by all public officers and bodies of this state and all municipalities and political subdivisions for the purpose of securing the deposit of public funds.

SECTION 45. Bonds issued under Sections 31 through 51 of this act and income therefrom shall be exempt from all taxation in the State of Mississippi.

SECTION 46. The proceeds of the bonds issued under Sections 31 through 51 of this act shall be used solely for the purposes herein provided, including the costs incident to the issuance and sale of such bonds.

SECTION 47. The State Treasurer is authorized, without further process of law, to certify to the Department of Finance and Administration the necessity for warrants, and the Department of Finance and Administration is authorized and directed to issue such warrants, in such amounts as may be necessary to pay when due the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, or the accreted value of, all bonds issued under Sections 31 through 51 of this act; and the State Treasurer shall forward the necessary amount to the designated place or places of payment of such bonds in ample time to discharge such bonds, or the interest thereon, on the due dates thereof.

SECTION 48. Nothing in Sections 31 through 51 of this act shall be construed to prohibit a school district from issuing its bonds, negotiable notes or certificates of indebtedness for the purposes, in the manner, to the extent and subject to the limitations provided by Sections 37-59-1 through 37-59-45, Mississippi Code of 1972, or any other applicable sections, and the authority granted by Sections 31 through 51 of this act shall be construed as being additional, supplemental and cumulative thereto. The proceeds of the sale of any such bonds, negotiable notes or certificates of indebtedness so issued by any such school district may be used for the purpose for which they were issued and may be expended in conjunction with funds provided by the Council for Education Technology under the provisions of Sections 31 through 51 of this act, or may be expended without such funds, if same be not available.

SECTION 49. Any school board of any school district which may be aggrieved by any final rule, regulation or order of the State Board of Education adopted under the provisions of Sections 31 through 51 of this act shall have the right to appeal therefrom to the chancery court of the county in which the school district involved or any part thereof is located in like manner, within the same time, with like effect, and subject in all other respects to appeals from orders, rules and regulations of the State Board of Education, the provisions of which are hereby made applicable in all respects to appeals from orders, rules and regulations of the commission under the provisions of Sections 31 through 51 of this act.

SECTION 50. Sections 31 through 51 of this act shall be deemed to be full and complete authority for the exercise of the powers herein granted, but Sections 31 through 51 of this act shall not be deemed to repeal or to be in derogation of any existing law of this state.

SECTION 51. Section 37-151-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-151-25. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a special fund to be designated as the "Tech-Prep Fund." Any unexpended balance in said fund at the end of the fiscal year shall carryover to the succeeding fiscal year and shall not lapse into the State General Fund. Said fund shall be credited with any funds appropriated by the Legislature, * * * from the proceeds of State Education Technology Bonds for the implementation of the Tech-Prep program in Grades 7-12 and in the public community colleges and junior colleges through approved programs and from the proceeds of bonds issued under Sections 31 through 51 of Senate Bill No. 2649, 1997 Regular Session, and shall be allocated to school districts by the State Board of Education for the following purposes:

(a) Equip labs for hands-on: Career Discovery Course in the 7th grade, Computer Discovery Course in the 8th grade, and Technology Discovery Course in the 9th grade;

(b) Implement application based teaching methodology in existing academic courses;

(c) Develop and implement articulation, integration and sequential course study plans in Vocational and Academic courses;

(d) Administer Occupational Tests;

(e) Implement and Update Career/Educational Plans for each student;

(f) Implement Career Centers for each school;

(g) To provide equipment upgrades to meet technology demands, staff development and teaching materials to implement application based methodology for each of the community college sites.

The State Department of Education is authorized to escalate spending authority based upon the proceeds of bonds issued under Sections 31 through 51 of Senate Bill No. 2649, 1997 Regular Session.

No community or junior college shall deny admittance into its Tech-Prep program funded under this section to any student who has graduated from high school with a qualifying grade point average, regardless of the curriculum or coursework completed by the student.

SECTION 52. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage; provided, however, that Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30 of this act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2002.