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Committee backs bill to make payments to four child-focused programs mandatory
Summary
HB 12121212 would convert discretionary Department of Education payments for four specialized children's programs into mandatory payments so base student costs follow the child through age five; senators debated the funding formula’s local impacts before passing the measure by voice vote.
Chairman DeBarr introduced House Bill 12121212 and explained it affects four child-focused programs (listed in the record as UMMC's Children's Hospital, T.K. Martin, USM's Children's Center, and DeBard) that currently receive discretionary payments from the Department of Education. Under the bill, those payments would be required by statute so the funding is more predictable and would "provide them some security as to budgets," the chairman said.
Senator McClendon raised concerns about recent funding-formula changes and whether districts like DeSoto were cut by the new formula; the chairman responded that departmental numbers showed DeSoto was not cut and that changes in student weightings produced apparent discrepancies. After discussion the committee passed the bill and referred it to appropriations for further consideration.
