00 Enrolled HB 16                                                                                                          
01 Relating to funding for school districts operating statewide residential educational programs;                          
02 and providing for an effective date.                                                                                    
03                           _______________                                                                               
04    * Section 1. AS 14.16 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                  
05    Article 2. School Districts Operating Statewide Residential Educational Programs.                                  
06            Sec. 14.16.200. State funding for districts operating statewide residential                                
07       educational programs. (a) A district that, before January 1, 2005, began operating a                            
08       statewide residential educational program for students in grades nine through 12 that                             
09       has been approved by the department under regulations adopted by the board is                                     
10       eligible to receive reimbursement for the costs incurred by the district in operating that                        
11       program. To be eligible for reimbursement for costs, the district-operated statewide                              
12       residential educational program must provide a suitable student dormitory and daily                               
13       access to a public school offering the appropriate grade level.                                                   
14            (b)  Costs that may be claimed by a district for reimbursement under (a) of this                             
01       section are                                                                                                       
02                 (1)  one round trip on the least expensive means of transportation                                      
03       between the student's community of residence and the school during the school year if                             
04       the district expends money for the trip; and                                                                      
05                 (2)  a per-pupil monthly stipend to cover room and board expenses as                                    
06       determined by the department on a regional basis and not to exceed the following                                  
07       amounts:                                                                                                          
08                      (A)  for the Southeast Region (Region I), $410;                                                    
09                      (B)  for the Southcentral Region (Region II), $400;                                                
10                      (C)  for the Interior Region (Region III), $484;                                                   
11                      (D)  for the Southwest Region (Region IV), $503;                                                   
12                      (E)  for the Northern Remote Region (Region V), $592.                                              
13            (c)  In this section,                                                                                        
14                 (1)  "district" has the meaning given in AS 14.17.990;                                                  
15                 (2)  "district-operated statewide residential educational program" means                                
16       a public school operated by a school district for students in grades nine through 12 that                         
17       provides education, room, and board for a full school year without regard to the                                  
18       student's district of residence.                                                                                  
19    * Sec. 2. This Act takes effect July 1, 2006.