HB294 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jay Love

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Education budget, appropriations for the support, maintenance, and development of public education

Summary

HB294 is an Alabama education budget bill from 2012 that appropriates FY2013 funds from the Education Trust Fund and other sources to support public education, debt service, and capital outlays across K-12, higher education, and related programs.

What This Bill Does

It allocates money for the state’s public education system for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2013, funded by ETF and other funds, and distributes funds to a wide range of programs including the Foundation Program for K-12, at-risk programs, school nurses, distance learning (ACCESS), and higher education institutions. It also sets salary structures, fringe benefits, and instructional day requirements, and provides for flexible spending by local boards within regulatory limits. The bill includes specific appropriations for debt service, endowments, and various state agencies, and establishes auditing, reporting, and reversion rules for funding, along with protections for fund transfers and compliance with existing laws.

Who It Affects

• K-12 students and school districts, through Foundation Program funding, at-risk funds, school nurse allocations, distance learning, and technology/resource investments.
• Local boards of education and school systems, which receive flexible expenditure authority (within limits) and must allocate funds per state rules while maintaining 180 instructional days and standard salary structures.
• Higher education institutions (universities and community colleges) and their students, through operating and maintenance funds, auxiliary enterprises, restricted funds, and various program allocations.
• State agencies and education-related entities (Department of Education, Examiners of Public Accounts, Teachers’ Retirement System, SEIB, and others) responsible for administering funds, reporting, audits, and fringe/benefit costs.

Key Provisions

• Appropriates funds for the support, maintenance, and development of public education in Alabama, debt service, and capital outlay for FY2013 (ending 9/30/2013), from the Education Trust Fund and other funds.
• Funds are drawn from ETF and earmarked/appropriated sources and are to be paid into specific accounts (ETF, Peace Officers Standards and Training Fund, Impaired Drivers Trust Fund, Driver Education and Training Fund, Public School Fund, etc.).
• Section 3 and 3B allocate Education Trust Fund earmarked funds to various agencies (Legislative, Executive, and Judicial-related programs) for audits, legislative operations, scholarships, historical resources, arts, and other educational activities.
• Foundation Program funding for K-12 is established with a salary matrix and 187-contract-day framework; includes allowances for instructional salaries, fringe benefits, and classroom instructional support, with provisions for substitute staff and materials such as textbooks and supplies.
• At-Risk Student Program receives a large allocation (including ASIMS funding of $750,000) to support targeting at-risk students, with local district allocation of funds based on at-risk definitions and school-level recommendations, and flexibility to fund technology and related resources.
• Distance Learning (ACCESS) funding supports statewide online collaboration and requires job descriptions and quarterly reporting for transparency and implementation.
• Funding for higher education is allocated across the University of Alabama system, Auburn University system, UAB, UAH, Troy, South Alabama, Jacksonville State, and other colleges, including operations, maintenance, auxiliary enterprises, and restricted funds, with detailed breakdowns for each institution.
• Special programs and obligations include Knight v. Alabama funding for financial obligations, underperformance relief for RSA investments, and other settlement-related appropriations, with conditions and timeframes.
• Section 12 allows local boards flexibility in line-item expenditures without reducing earned teacher units or support staff, subject to state and federal requirements.
• Section 15 sets fixed SEIB health insurance rates for employees, with potential increases up to $805 per month upon gubernatorial and financial recommendation, and Section 16 sets TRS employer rates at 9.93% for FY2013.
• Section 4 provides a conditional appropriation of $8,940,252 from ETF representing remaining interest from Sixteenth Section lands, conditioned on fund availability and governor approval.
• Appropriations include grant reimbursements, auditing costs, requisitions to the Comptroller, and a framework for encumbrance lapse rules and transfer of funds between departments as needed.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education Trust Fund