02/03/1995 09:10 AM Senate HES

 SHES - 2/3/95                                                                 
                                                                               
             SCR  1 FOUNDATION FORMULA TASK FORCE                            
                                                                               
 Number 001                                                                    
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN GREEN called the Senate Health, Education and Social                 
 Services (HESS) Committee to order at 9:10 a.m. and introduced                
  SCR 1  as the first order of business before the committee.                  
                                                                               
 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS, Prime Sponsor of SCR 1, gave a brief                  
 history of the bill and the foundation formula.  He explained that            
 SCR 1 appoints seven members charged with developing a                        
 recommendation for the rewrite of the school foundation formula for           
 the next year.                                                                
                                                                               
 SENATOR LEMAN stated that the number in the bill seems to be                  
 incorrect regarding total cost of K-12 education.  After some                 
 research, he arrived at a more inclusive total cost of $857                   
 million.  He suggested upgrading the number to this more inclusive            
 and accurate amount.  SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS pointed out that the             
 numbers in SCR 1 are from August of 1994.                                     
                                                                               
 SENATOR LEMAN clarified that the cost amount in the bill did not              
 include some of the costs of education which are included in the              
 suggested amount of $857 million.  SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS deferred            
 to the committee.                                                             
                                                                               
 Number 080                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR LEMAN expressed reluctance in forming another task force.             
 He stated that one can often predict what conclusions a task force            
 will report due to its composition.  He suggested starting from               
 where the bill was last year and allow it to move through the                 
 committee process.                                                            
                                                                               
 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS suggested that both the task force and the             
 committee process be pursued in order to end up with something to             
 handle the school foundation formula.  He stated that he would be             
 willing to introduce a bill on Monday, however, the issue should be           
 addressed by the legislature.                                                 
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN GREEN inquired as to the possibility of starting where the           
 bill left off last year.  SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS expressed concern            
 that there would be delay due to teleconferences, public hearings             
 and such.  He reiterated his offer to introduce legislation on                
 Monday, but emphasized that the task force created in SCR 1 would             
 at least cause the Senate, the House, and the Governor to come                
 together and have a dialogue.                                                 
                                                                               
 Number 178                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR LEMAN pointed out that of the three parties needed for                
 dialogue, only the House did not have representation at this                  
 meeting.  He did not feel that anyone was being left out of the               
 process.  SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS stated that in order to even                 
 pursue the modification of the school foundation formula, the                 
 Senate, House and Governor must agree.  Senator Randy Phillips                
 continued to note that timing could be a concern due to other bills           
 that could get in the way of this bill.  He indicated that gaining            
 commitment from the Governor could be a concern.                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS did not feel that many individuals or                  
 legislators know and understand this issue completely.  He inquired           
 as to the committee's thoughts on pursuing the task force and                 
 introducing legislation.  SENATOR LEMAN stated that SCR 1 was                 
 merely an exercise and would not accomplish anything.                         
                                                                               
 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS indicated that a commitment from the Senate,           
 the House, and the Governor to rewrite the school foundation                  
 formula would be satisfactory.                                                
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN GREEN held SCR 1.