report by certain dates; and generally relating to the Commission on Education
Finance, Equity, and Excellence.

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That:

(a) There is a Commission on Education Finance, Equity, and Excellence.

(b) The Commission shall review the current education financing formulas
and accountability measures and make recommendations for:

(1) ensuring the adequacy of funding for students in public schools
statewide, including early childhood education programs;

(2) ensuring equity in funding for students in public schools statewide;

(3) ensuring excellence in school systems and student performance

statewide;

(4) providing for a smooth transition as current educational funding
initiatives abrogate; and

(5) analyzing whether it is more effective to provide additional State aid
in the form of targeted grants or by increasing funding through the base formula; and

(6) ensuring that local property tax policies do not affect the equitable
allocation of funding for students in public schools statewide.

(c) The Commission shall be composed of 23 25 27 members as follows:

(1) a chairman appointed by the Governor;

(2) the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House;

(2) (3) two members of the Senate Economic and Environmental
Affairs Committee appointed by the President of the Senate;

(3) (4) two members of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee
appointed by the President of the Senate;

(4) (5) two members of the House Ways and Means Committee
appointed by the Speaker of the House;

(5) (6) two members of the House Appropriations Committee
appointed by the Speaker of the House;

(6) (7) the State Superintendent of Schools;

(7) (8) the Secretary of Budget and Management;

(8) (9) the President a member of the State Board of Education;

(9) (10) a representative of the Maryland State Teachers Association
appointed by the Governor;