SB 359 - This act renders several modifications to the state's education, education funding, and taxation policies.

School Board members may submit a notarized statement attesting that no conflict of interest exists concerning such school board member's duties and the business of that district to the Missouri Ethics Commission in lieu of the financial disclosure statements currently required (Section 105.483, RSMo).

The school district operating levy in every school district will be lowered by $2.10 per $100 assessed valuation, with a floor of $1.00 per $100 assessed valuation. The $1.00 floor is specified in Section 163.021, RSMo and does not apply to rates lowered below $1.00 per $100 assessed valuation by means of a constitutionally-mandated roll-back (Section 137.073, RSMo).

A 2.22% income tax surcharge is imposed, the receipts of which are earmarked for education (Section 143.013, RSMo).

The one percent professional development set-aside is reduced to one-quarter of one percent. The ninety percent of one percent of the formula allocation that the commissioner distributes to address the statewide areas of critical need for learning and development is reduced to one-quarter of one percent. Further, several of the State-wide areas of critical need for learning and development have been removed (Section 160.530, RSMo).

The A+ schools program has been altered to pay only tuition, not books and fees, and students are required to take both the ACT and SAT assessment exams or either assessment exam twice as an added condition to receive an A+ scholarship. Also, a school must offer gifted and dual credit courses as a condition of being labeled "A+" (Section 160.545, RSMo).

The State Board of Education's ability to lapse a school district is removed (Section 162.081, RSMo).

In order to receive state aid, a school district must levy a school district operating levy of not less than $1.00 per $100 assessed valuation, however, a district may levy less than $1.00 if required by a constitutionally-mandated roll-back. Also, in order to be eligible for state aid, school districts must lengthen the school year to the specifications articulated in the section and adopt the uniform start date of the last Monday in August (Section 163.021, RSMo).

The foundation formula has been replaced with a system that distributes all monies appropriated for the public schools of this state on a per-average daily attendance basis, except for transportation, special and gifted education categoricals (Section 163.031, RSMo).

The transportation categorical is reduced from %75 to %60 (Section 163.161, RSMo).

The minimum salary structure has been altered so that the minimum teacher's salary shall be $26,000; with at least five years teaching experience the minimum salary shall be $32,000; and with a master's degree and at least fifteen years teaching experience the minimum salary shall be $40,000. Also, this act removes several of the criteria regarding the qualifications for school districts to receive funds from the excellence in education fund for the purpose of fulfilling the minimum salary requirements (Section 163.172, RSMo).

Several formula-related sections in Chapter 163, RSMo, have been deleted.

Certificates of license to teach shall be valid for the life span of the possessor. Any person who holds a valid life classification, professional classification I, professional classification II, or a continuous professional classification certificate of license to teach on August 28, 2003, shall be issued a lifetime certificate of license to teach (Section 168.021, RSMo).

The career ladder program is eliminated (Sections 168.500- 168.520, RSMo).

School districts must adopt the uniform start date of the last Monday in August. Also, this section increases the school year term from 1,044 hours to 1,200 hours and the maximum number of hours a school day may be from seven hours to eight hours (Section 171.031, RSMo).

This act contains a referendum clause.
DONALD THALHUBER