SB199 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arthur OrrSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

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

Summary

SB199 is Alabama's FY2020 education budget bill, outlining Education Trust Fund appropriations for public schools, higher education, and related programs with numerous earmarks and reporting requirements.

What This Bill Does

It allocates ETF money for public education, debt service, and capital outlay for the 2020 fiscal year, and specifies distributions to programs such as the Foundation Program for K-12, reading coaches, and AMSTI. It funds salary supplements for National Board Certified Teachers, additional high-need school incentives, dual enrollment, and various workforce and career-tech initiatives in both K-12 and higher education. It also provides for distance learning (ACCESS), deferred maintenance grants for colleges, numerous targeted grants to state agencies and universities, and requires regular reporting to legislators; funds are to be used only for their designated purposes and are subject to ETF appropriation caps.

Who It Affects

• K-12 students and local school systems: receive Foundation Program funding, reading coaches, at-risk and English language learner supports, and targeted grants to improve literacy, math, and student outcomes; local boards have some budget flexibility but must maintain teacher staffing units.
• Public higher education institutions and related state agencies: receive operating, maintenance, program support, and capital funds, plus earmarked grants for AMSTI, STEM, health and technology initiatives, and various professional development and research programs; faculty, staff, and students in these programs are affected by salary supplements, grants, and mandated reporting.

Key Provisions

• Foundation Program: establishes per-pupil funding by grade bands (K-3, 4-6, 7-8, 9-12) with a salary matrix for instructional salaries and pro-rated adjustments for part-time work; local boards allocate funds for salaries, materials, and related costs, but funds are not intended to pay dues to organizations.
• NBCT salary supplements: provides an annual $5,000 supplement for NBCTs teaching in public K-12 schools, with prorated amounts for part-time or leave situations, and a separate potential $5,000 bonus for teaching in challenging/high-need schools under specific criteria; NBCTs must renew certificates to keep the supplement.
• Reading initiative funding: substantial allocation for the Alabama Reading Initiative to employ reading coaches in K-3 and support for reading-related professional development; funds are distributed to local boards to support reading programs and must be reported on.
• Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative (AMSTI) and related STEM efforts: dedicated funds for AMSTI sites and related programs, with regular reporting on expenditures and outcomes; funds are site-bound and not transferrable to other uses.
• Distance learning (ACCESS): dedicated funds to expand statewide distance learning, with job descriptions developed for funded positions, and participation open to non-public schools through a fee-based program.
• Deferred maintenance grants: a separate fund to provide grants for deferred maintenance on existing college facilities, with a cap per institution and a dollar-for-dollar match requirement; funds cannot be used for new construction.
• Higher education and agency earmarks: numerous grants for health, science, engineering, humanities, and community programs across universities and colleges, including special programs (EPSCoR, STARS, AGSC, etc.) and reporting requirements to the Legislature.
• Gifts and external funding: Section 4 allows gifts, grants, and entitlements to be reappropriated to the original purpose if recurring, and permits inter-agency staffing and auditing support as needed.
• ETF appropriation cap: confirms compliance with the Education Trust Fund Rolling Reserve Act cap for FY2020 and states total appropriations must not exceed the cap; no conditional appropriations allowed beyond the cap.
• City school system transfers: when a new city system is certified as operational, Foundation Program funds allocated to the parent county board may be transferred to the new city system for ongoing operations.

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