115.364 Aid for school mental health programs.

(1) In this section:

(a) “Eligible independent charter school” is a school under contract with one of the entities under s. 118.40 (2r) (b) 1. or with the director under s. 118.40 (2x) that increased the amount it expended in the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers over the amount it expended in the school year immediately preceding the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers.

(am) “Eligible private school” means a private school participating in a parental choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23 that increased the amount it expended in the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers over the amount it expended in the school year immediately preceding the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers.

(b) “Eligible school district” is a school district that increased the amount it expended in the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers over the amount it expended in the school year immediately preceding the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers.

(2)

(a) Beginning in the 2018-19 school year and annually thereafter, the state superintendent shall do all of the following:

1. Subject to par. (b), from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (da), pay to an eligible school district an amount equal to 50 percent of the amount by which the school district increased its expenditures in the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers over the amount it expended in the school year immediately preceding the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers.

2. Subject to par. (b), from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (da), pay to an eligible independent charter school an amount equal to 50 percent of the amount by which the independent charter school increased its expenditures in the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers over the amount it expended in the school year immediately preceding the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers.

3. Subject to par. (b), from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (da), pay to an eligible private school an amount equal to 50 percent of the amount by which the private school increased it expenditures in the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers over the amount it expended in the school year immediately preceding the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers.

(b)

1. If the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (da) in any fiscal year is insufficient to pay the full amount of aid under par. (a), the state superintendent shall prorate state aid payments among the school districts, private schools, and independent charter schools eligible for the aid.

2.

a. Subject to subd. 2. b., if, after making the payments required under par. (a), moneys remain in the appropriation account under s. 20.255 (2) (da), the state superintendent shall reimburse eligible school districts, private schools, and independent charter schools for an amount equal to expenditures made by the school district, private school, or independent charter school in the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers less the amount of increased expenditures for which the school district, private school, or independent charter school was reimbursed under par. (a).

b. If the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (da) in any fiscal year is insufficient to pay the full amount of aid under subd. 2. a., the state superintendent shall prorate state aid payments among the school districts, private schools, and independent charter schools eligible for the aid.

(3) The department shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this section.

History: 2017 a. 59.