(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
"Large rural district" means a district in Colorado that the department of educationdetermines is rural, based on the geographic size of the district and the distance of the district from the nearest large, urbanized area, and that had a funded pupil count for the prior budget year of one thousand pupils or more but fewer than six thousand five hundred pupils.
"Per pupil distribution amount" means:
For a large rural district, an amount equal to thirty million dollars multiplied by thepercentage specified in subsection (2)(a) of this section and then divided by the sum of the total funded pupil count for the prior budget year of all large rural districts; and
For a small rural district, an amount equal to thirty million dollars multiplied by thepercentage specified in subsection (2)(b) of this section and then divided by the sum of the total funded pupil count for the prior budget year of all small rural districts;
(c) "Small rural district" means a district in Colorado that the department of education determines is rural, based on the geographic size of the district and the distance of the district from the nearest large, urbanized area, and that had a funded pupil count for the prior budget year of fewer than one thousand pupils.
(2) For the 2017-18 budget year, all of the gross retail marijuana sales tax proceeds transferred from the general fund to the state public school fund created in section 22-54-114 (1) as required by section 39-28.8-203 (1)(b)(I.3)(B) is appropriated from the state public school fund to the department for monthly distribution to each large rural district and each small rural district for the purpose of improving student learning and the educational environment, including but not limited to loan forgiveness for educators and staff, technology, and transportation, as follows:
Fifty-five percent of the money is allocated to large rural districts and distributed toeach large rural district in an amount equal to the per pupil distribution amount multiplied by the large rural district's funded pupil count for the prior budget year for proportional apportionment to every school in the district based on the number of students enrolled in each school for the prior budget year; and
Forty-five percent of the money is allocated to small rural districts and distributed toeach small rural district in an amount equal to the per pupil distribution amount multiplied by the small rural district's funded pupil count for the prior budget year for proportional apportionment to every school in the district based on the number of students enrolled in each school for the prior budget year.
(3) For the 2019-20 budget year and for each budget year thereafter, the general assembly may appropriate all or any portion of the gross retail marijuana sales tax proceeds transferred from the general fund to the state public school fund created in section 22-54-114 (1) during the prior budget year as required by section 39-28.8-203 (1)(b)(I.5)(B) to the department to meet the state's share of the total program of all districts and funding for institute charter schools.
Source: L. 2017: Entire section added, (SB 17-267), ch. 267, p. 1438, § 4, effective May 30. L. 2018: (3) amended, (HB 18-1101), ch. 43, p. 468, § 1, effective March 15.
Cross references: For the legislative declaration in SB 17-267, see section 1 of chapter 267, Session Laws of Colorado 2017.