Relating to the permissible use of funding from the property tax equity and relief fund

The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. School districts with adjusted additional property tax levy rates that exceed the statewide maximum adjusted additional property tax levy rate are eligible to receive adjusted additional property tax levy aid appropriated from the property tax equity and relief (PTER) fund, which consists of a standing annual appropriation from the general fund of the state and specified amounts of sales and use tax revenues from the secure an advanced vision for education (SAVE) fund. The adjusted additional property tax levy aid is used to lower the school district’s adjusted additional property tax levy rate to the statewide maximum adjusted additional property tax levy rate. For school budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2021, this bill authorizes those eligible school districts to authorize the expenditure of funds from the PTER fund for “school-based mental health and behavioral services”, as defined in the bill. The annual authorization to expend such funds must be by resolution of the board and must be preceded by a public hearing. The maximum amount of the funding from the PTER fund that may be approved for school-based mental health and behavioral services is percent of the difference between the amount received by the school district in the budget year minus the amount received by the school district for the budget year beginning July 1, 2020.