ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor

Ch. 6

Bridge to Excellence in Public Schools Act.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Chapter 288 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2002
Section 20

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Chapter 288 of the Acts of 2002

SECTION 20. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That:

(a)     Except as otherwise provided in this section, Sections 1 and 2 of this Act
shall take effect July 1, 2003.

(b)     On or before September 30, 2002, the Prince George's County Board of
Education shall develop and submit to the State Department of Education a
comprehensive master plan that meets the requirements of § 5-401 of the Education
Article as enacted under Section 2 of this Act.

(c)     On or before September 30, 2002, the State Department of Education shall
contract with a private entity to conduct the study required under § 5-202(f)(2) of the
Education Article as enacted under Section 2 of this Act.

[(d) (1) For the additional State aid for education as enacted by Section 2 of
this Act to be implemented in fiscal 2005, the General Assembly at the 2004 regular
session shall affirm by joint resolution adopted no later than the fiftieth day of the
session that the additional State aid for education is within the State's fiscal
resources for fiscal 2005.

(2) If a joint resolution pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection is
not adopted by the fiftieth day, then the additional State aid for education contained
in Section 2 of this Act shall be funded in fiscal 2005 at 105 percent of the fiscal 2004
level as enacted by Section 2 of this Act for each county from the appropriations
proposed by the Governor for the additional State aid enacted by Section 2 of this Act.
The balance of the appropriations proposed by the Governor for additional State aid
for education shall revert to the General Fund.

(e) If subsection (d)(2) of this section is implemented, then the additional
State aid for education contained in Section 2 of this Act shall be funded at the
following percentage of the fiscal 2004 level as enacted by Section 2 of this Act for
each county:

(1)     110.25 percent in fiscal 2006;

(2)     115.75 percent in fiscal 2007; and

(3)     121.50 percent in fiscal 2008.]

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emergency
measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health or safety,

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