The Florida Senate

230.23026  Florida School District Review Trust Fund.--

(1)  The Florida School District Review Trust Fund is created, to be administered by the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA). Funds must be credited to the trust fund as provided by s. 230.23025 and as otherwise appropriated by the Legislature for the purposes set forth in that section.

(2)  OPPAGA shall use the funds deposited in the trust fund to pay costs of conducting best financial management practices reviews, or reviews of components of the best practices, in school districts under s. 230.23025. Funds may be expended to pay the expenses of reviews conducted by OPPAGA, by the Auditor General, or by private consultants at the discretion of the director of OPPAGA. The expenses may include professional services, travel expenses of OPPAGA and the Auditor General, and any other necessary expenses incurred as part of a complete or component best practices review. OPPAGA may refund to a school district any portion of funds contributed by the school district that OPPAGA determines are not needed to conduct the complete or component best practices review requested by the district.

(3)(a)  In accordance with s. 19(f)(2), Art. III of the State Constitution, the Florida School District Review Trust Fund, unless terminated sooner, is terminated on July 1, 2002.

(b)  Before the regular legislative session immediately preceding the date on which the trust fund is scheduled to be terminated, OPPAGA shall recommend to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives whether the trust fund should be allowed to terminate or should be re-created. If the trust fund is terminated by the Legislature, OPPAGA must pay any outstanding debts or obligations of the trust fund as soon as practicable, and the Comptroller must close out and remove the trust fund from the various state accounting systems, using generally accepted accounting practices concerning warrants outstanding, assets, and liabilities.

(c)  Notwithstanding s. 216.301, and pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the end of any fiscal year shall remain in the trust fund at the end of the year and be available for carrying out the purposes of the trust fund.

History.--ss. 1, 2, 3, ch. 98-225.