Section 6926.1709 - Powers and duties(a)General powers and duties.--The task force shall have the powers and duties authorized under this section.(b)Specific powers and duties.--The task force shall have the overall responsibility, power and duty to investigate, study and make recommendations to the Governor and to the General Assembly concerning current and projected costs to school districts within this Commonwealth and viable options to reduce current and future costs to school districts within this Commonwealth. The task force shall, without limiting its authority to study related subjects, address the following specific areas and issues: (1) Conduct a comprehensive review of the various categories of public school costs and the historic rate of increase in categories of public school costs and determine the reasons behind these increases.(2) Examine the impact of Federal and State mandates on school districts.(3) Determine whether any of the Federal or State mandates should be eliminated, revised or better funded.(4) Identify best practices used by school districts around this Commonwealth and other states to provide services in a cost-effective manner.(5) Offer options and viable recommendations to reduce costs to school districts within this Commonwealth.(6) Provide a report that thoroughly discusses options and viable recommendations considered and expresses clear rationales for options not recommended.(c)Public hearings.--The task force may conduct public hearings to solicit testimony from public and private agencies, citizens, teachers and representatives of local school districts on the topic of costs to school districts of this Commonwealth and means to reduce or minimize these costs. 2006, June 27, P.L. 1873, No. 1(Spec. Sess. No. 1), § 1709, imd. effective.