2024 -- S 2546

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LC004822

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

     RELATING TO EDUCATION -- FOUNDATION LEVEL SCHOOL SUPPORT

     

     Introduced By: Senators Valverde, Pearson, DiPalma, Gallo, and Murray

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 16-7-40 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-7 entitled "Foundation

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

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hereby amended to read as follows:

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     16-7-40. Increased school housing ratio.

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     (a)(1) In the case of regional school districts, the school housing aid ratio shall be increased

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by two percent (2%) for each grade so consolidated.

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     (2) Regional school districts undertaking renovation project(s) shall receive an increased

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share ratio of four percent (4%) for those specific project(s) only, in addition to the combined share

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ratio calculated in § 16-7-39 and this subsection.

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     (b) In the case of projects undertaken by districts specifically for the purposes of school

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safety and security, the school housing aid share ratio shall be increased by five percent (5%) for

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these specific projects only, in the calculation of school housing aid. The increased share ratio shall

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continue to be applied for as long as the project(s) receives state housing aid. In order to qualify for

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the increased share ratio, seventy-five percent (75%) of the project costs must be specifically

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directed to school safety and security measures. The council on elementary and secondary

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education shall promulgate rules and regulations for the administration and operation of this

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section.

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     (c) For purposes of addressing health and safety deficiencies as defined by the school

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building authority, including the remediation of hazardous materials, the school housing aid ratio

 

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shall be increased by five percent (5%) so long as the construction of the project commences is

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approved by June 30, 2024, is completed by June 30, 2029, and a two hundred fifty million dollar

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($250,000,000) general obligation bond is approved on the November 2018 ballot. In order to

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qualify for the increased share ratio, twenty-five percent (25%) of the project costs or a minimum

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of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) must be specifically directed to this purpose.

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     (d) For purposes of educational enhancement, including projects devoted to the

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enhancement of early childhood education and career and technical education, the school housing

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aid ratio shall be increased by five percent (5%) so long as construction of the project commences

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is approved by June 30, 2024, is completed by June 30, 2029, and a two hundred fifty million dollar

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($250,000,000) general obligation bond is approved on the November 2018 ballot. In order to

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qualify for the increased share ratio, twenty-five percent (25%) of the project costs or a minimum

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of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) must be specifically directed to these purposes.

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     (e) For replacement of a facility that has a facilities condition index of sixty-five percent

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(65%) or higher, the school housing ratio shall be increased by five percent (5%) so long as

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construction of the project commences is approved by June 30, 2024, is completed by June 30,

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2029, does not receive a bonus pursuant to subsection (f) or subsection (g), and a two hundred fifty

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million dollar ($250,000,000) general obligation bond is approved on the November 2018 ballot.

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In order to qualify for the increased share ratio, twenty-five percent (25%) of the project costs or a

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minimum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) must be specifically directed to this purpose.

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     (f) For any new construction or renovation that increases the functional utilization of any

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facility from less than sixty percent (60%) to more than eighty percent (80%), including the

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consolidation of school buildings within or across districts, the school housing aid ratio shall be

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increased by five percent (5%) so long as construction of the project commences is approved by

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June 30, 2024, is completed by June 30, 2029, and a two hundred fifty million dollar ($250,000,000)

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general obligation bond is approved on the November 2018 ballot. In order to qualify for the

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increased share ratio, twenty-five percent (25%) of the project costs or a minimum of five hundred

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thousand dollars ($500,000) must be specifically directed to this purpose.

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     (g) For any new construction or renovation that decreases the functional utilization of any

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facility from more than one hundred twenty percent (120%) to between eighty-five percent (85%)

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to one hundred five percent (105%), the school housing ratio shall be increased by five percent

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(5%) so long as construction of the project commences is approved by June 30, 2024, is completed

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by June 30, 2029, and a two hundred fifty million dollar ($250,000,000) general obligation bond is

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approved on the November 2018 ballot. In order to qualify for the increased share ratio, twenty-

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five percent (25%) of the project costs or a minimum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000)

 

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must be specifically directed to this purpose.

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     (h) For consolidation of two (2) or more school buildings, within or across districts into

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one school building, the school housing aid ratio shall be increased by five percent (5%) so long as

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construction of the project commences is approved by June 30, 2024, is completed by June 30,

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2029, a two hundred fifty million dollar ($250,000,000) general obligation bond is approved on the

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November 2018 ballot, and does not receive a bonus pursuant to subsection (f) or subsection (g).

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In order to qualify for the increased share ratio, twenty-five percent (25%) of the project costs or a

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minimum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) must be specifically directed to this purpose.

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     (i) Any regionalized and/or non-regionalized school district receiving an increased share

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ratio for a project approved prior to July 1, 2018, shall continue to receive the increased share ratio

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for as long as the project receives state housing aid.

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     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 modify the current law to allow for approval of construction projects within

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school districts, rather than needing the project to be commenced by a certain date, permitting the

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municipality to take advantage of the state’s enhanced school bonuses and extending the time limits

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for the municipality to contract with the general contractors performing such work.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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