2019 -- H 5109

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LC000270

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - FOUNDATION LEVEL SCHOOL SUPPORT

     Introduced By: Representatives Edwards, and Canario

     Date Introduced: January 11, 2019

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-7-39 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-7 entitled "Foundation

Level School Support [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is

hereby amended to read as follows:

     16-7-39. Computation of school housing-aid ratio.

     For each community, the percent of state aid for school housing costs shall be computed

in the following manner:

     (1) The adjusted equalized weighted assessed valuation for the district is divided by the

resident average daily membership for the district (grades twelve (12) and below); (2) The

adjusted equalized weighted assessed valuation for the state is divided by the resident average

daily membership for the state (grades twelve (12) and below); (1) is then divided by (2) and the

resultant ratio is multiplied by a factor currently set at sixty-two percent (62%) which represents

the approximate average district share of school support; the resulting product is then subtracted

from one hundred percent (100%) to yield the housing aid share ratio, provided that in no case

shall the ratio be less than thirty percent (30%). Provided, that effective July 1, 2010, and

annually at the start of each fiscal year thereafter, the thirty percent (30%) floor on said housing-

aid share shall be increased by five percent (5%) increments each year until said floor on the

housing-aid share ratio reaches a minimum of not less than forty percent (40%). This provision

shall apply only to school housing projects completed after June 30, 2010, that received approval

from the board of regents prior to June 30, 2012. Provided further, for the fiscal year beginning

July 1, 2012, and for subsequent fiscal years, the minimum housing aid share shall be thirty-five

percent (35%) for all projects receiving council on elementary and secondary education approval

after June 30, 2012, except that the town of Tiverton shall prospectively be reimbursed at the

forty percent (40%) floor of the housing aid share ration on projects completed before June 30,

2010. The resident average daily membership shall be determined in accordance with § 16-7-

22(1).

     (2) No district shall receive a combined total of more than twenty (20) incentive

percentage points for projects that commence construction by December 30, 2023, and five (5)

incentive points for projects that commence construction thereafter; provided further, these caps

shall be in addition to amounts received under §§ 16-7-40(a)(1) and 16-7-40(a)(2). Furthermore, a

district's share shall not be decreased by more than half of its regular share irrespective of the

number of incentive points received nor shall a district's state share increase by more than half of

its regular share, including amounts received under §§ 16-7-40(a)(1) and 16-7-40(a)(2),

irrespective of the number of incentive points received.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - FOUNDATION LEVEL SCHOOL SUPPORT

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     This act would permit the town of Tiverton to be prospectively reimbursed at the forty

percent (40%) floor of the housing aid share ratio on projects completed before June 30, 2010.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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