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Bill to incentivize countywide school district resource sharing with QEP boost draws support
Summary
House Bill 567 encourages countywide resource‑sharing among school districts by offering a 50% increase in Quality Educator Pay for participating districts that adopt specified multi‑district agreements; supporters said the bill promotes efficiency and rural retention while the sponsor has requested a fiscal note.
Helena — Representative Brad Barker introduced HB 567, which encourages countywide multi‑district cooperation by offering an incentive: a 50% increase in Quality Educator Pay for districts that enter agreements covering specified shared functions. Barker said the measure aims to help rural districts share resources and address a reported 30% teacher shortage in the state.
Lance Melton of the Montana School Boards Association testified in support and provided background describing similar statutory language adopted previously; he urged the committee to view the bill as a vision for improved cooperation and estimated the full statewide cost if all counties participated could be material. Barker noted he has requested a fiscal note for the QEP increase.
Committee members asked whether cross‑county participation would be allowed (the sponsor confirmed it could) and whether the statutory allocation requirement could be limiting; Melton explained the bill uses direct state aid percentages as a baseline for contribution and said the tool is optional, not mandatory.
Next steps: The hearing closed with the sponsor asking for committee consideration and noting the bill will carry a physical fiscal note when available.
