SB 32 - This act provides that when students eligible to attend the Missouri School for the Deaf or the Missouri School for the Blind instead attend a local school district, that district may bill the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for excess costs of educating such students, but that reimbursement of the districts shall be subject to appropriation.

This act is similar to SB 931 from 2000.
OTTO FAJEN

HCA 1 - URBAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS (162.481) - The act exempts the Columbia (Boone County) School District and the Lee's Summit R- VII from a change in school board term otherwise required pursuant to section 162.481, RSMo, upon becoming an "urban school district" as defined in section 160.011, RSMo.

A "seven-director school district" shall also be an "urban school district" if it contains all or the greater part of a city with a population in excess of 70,000 persons. Both Columbia (2000 pop. of 84,531) and Lee's Summit (2000 pop. of 70,700) have reached the minimum population threshold by reason of the 2000 federal decennial census (figures were announced in March 2001), and the designation shall become effective for the coming school year.

Under the HCA, the school board terms for Columbia and Lee's Summit districts shall remain at three years, rather than increasing to six years, as provided for districts which become "urban". Similar language was previously enacted for Springfield, to allow for three-year board member terms.

The provisions of this HCA are also contained in the TAT version of SCS/HCS/HB 660.