ARTICLE 7
RELATING TO EDUCATION
SECTION 1. Effective July 1, 2026, section 16-7-41.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-
7 entitled “Foundation Level School Support" is hereby amended to read as follows:
(a) School districts, not municipalities, may apply for and obtain approval for a project
under the necessity of school construction process set forth in the regulations of the council on
elementary and secondary education, provided, however, in the case of a municipality that issues
bonds through the Rhode Island health and educational building corporation to finance or refinance
school facilities for a school district that is not part of the municipality, the municipality may apply
for and obtain approval for a project. Such approval will remain valid until June 30 of the third
fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the council on elementary and secondary education’s
approval is granted. Only those projects undertaken at school facilities under the care and control
of the school committee and located on school property may qualify for reimbursement under §§
16-7-35 — 16-7-47. Facilities with combined school and municipal uses or facilities that are
operated jointly with any other profit or nonprofit agency do not qualify for reimbursement under
§§ 16-7-35 — 16-7-47. Projects completed by June 30 of a fiscal year are eligible for
reimbursement in the following fiscal year. A project for new school housing or additional housing
shall be deemed to be completed when the work has been officially accepted by the school
committee or when the housing is occupied for its intended use by the school committee, whichever
is earlier.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the board of regents shall not grant final
approval for any project between June 30, 2011, and May 1, 2015, except for projects that are
necessitated by immediate health and safety reasons. In the event that a project is requested during
the moratorium because of immediate health and safety reasons, those proposals shall be reported
to the chairs of the house and senate finance committees.
(c) Any project approval granted prior to the adoption of the school construction
regulations in 2007, and which are currently inactive; and any project approval granted prior to the
adoption of the school construction regulations in 2007 which did not receive voter approval or
which has not been previously financed, are no longer eligible for reimbursement under this
chapter. The department of elementary and secondary education shall develop recommendations
for further cost containment strategies in the school housing aid program.
(d) Beginning July 1, 2015, the council on elementary and secondary education shall
approve new necessity of school construction applications on an annual basis. The department of
elementary and secondary education shall develop an annual application timeline for local
education agencies seeking new necessity of school construction approvals.
(e) Beginning July 1, 2019, no state funding shall be provided for projects in excess of ten
million dollars ($10,000,000) unless the prime contractor for the project has received
prequalification from the school building authority. However, for projects commencing after July
1, 2026, and for subsequent fiscal years, no state funding shall be provided for projects in excess
of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) unless the prime contractor for the project has received
prequalification from the division of purchases.
(f) Beginning July 1, 2019, the necessity of school construction process set forth in the
regulations of the council on elementary and secondary education shall include a single statewide
process, developed with the consultation of the department of environmental management, that will
ensure community involvement throughout the investigation and remediation of contaminated
building sites for possible reuse as the location of a school. That process will fulfill all provisions
of § 23-19.14-5 related to the investigation of reuse of such sites for schools.
(g) Beginning July 1, 2019, school housing projects exceeding one million five hundred
thousand dollars ($1,500,000) subject to inflation shall include an owner’s program manager and a
commissioning agent. The cost of the program manager and commissioning agent shall be
considered a project cost eligible for aid pursuant to §§ 16-7-41 and 16-105-5. However, for
projects completing after July 1, 2026, and subsequent fiscal years, school housing projects
exceeding ten million dollars ($10,000,000) subject to inflation shall include an owner’s program
manager and a commissioning agent. The cost of the program manager and commissioning agent
shall not exceed three percent (3%) of total project costs and shall be considered a project cost
eligible for aid pursuant to §§ 16-7-41 and 16-105-5.
(h) Temporary housing, or swing space, for students shall be a reimbursable expense so
long as a district can demonstrate that no other viable option to temporarily house students exists
and provided that use of the temporary space is time limited for a period not to exceed twenty-four
(24) months and tied to a specific construction project.
(i) Environmental site remediation, as defined by the school building authority, shall be a
reimbursable expense up to one million dollars ($1,000,000) per project.
(j) If, within thirty (30) years of construction, a newly constructed school is sold to a private
entity, the state shall receive a portion of the sale proceeds equal to that project’s housing aid
reimbursement rate at the time of project completion.
(k) All projects must comply with § 37-13-6, ensuring that prevailing wage laws are being
followed, and § 37-14.1-6, ensuring that minority business enterprises reach the required minimum
participation.
SECTION 2. Effective July 1, 2026, section 16-7.2-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-
7.2 entitled "The Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act" is hereby amended to read as
follows:
(a) Beginning in the 2012 fiscal year, the following foundation education-aid formula shall
take effect. The foundation education aid for each district shall be the sum of the core instruction
amount in subsection (a)(1) of this section and the amount to support high-need students in
subsection (a)(2) of this section, which shall be multiplied by the district state-share ratio calculated
pursuant to § 16-7.2-4 to determine the foundation aid.
(1) The core instruction amount shall be an amount equal to a statewide, per-pupil core
instruction amount as established by the department of elementary and secondary education,
derived from the average of northeast regional expenditure data for the states of Rhode Island,
Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire from the National Center for Education Statistics
(NCES) that will adequately fund the student instructional needs as described in the basic education
program and multiplied by the district average daily membership as defined in § 16-7-22.
Expenditure data in the following categories: instruction and support services for students,
instruction, general administration, school administration, and other support services from the
National Public Education Financial Survey, as published by NCES, and enrollment data from the
Common Core of Data, also published by NCES, will be used when determining the core
instruction amount. The core instruction amount will be updated annually. For the purpose of
calculating this formula, school districts’ resident average daily membership shall exclude charter
school and state-operated school students.
(2) The amount to support high-need students beyond the core instruction amount shall be
determined by:
(i) Multiplying a student success factor of forty percent (40%); provided further, for the
fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and for subsequent fiscal years, the student success factor shall
be forty-three percent (43%); by the core instruction per-pupil amount described in subsection
(a)(1) of this section and applying that amount for each resident child whose family income is at or
below one hundred eighty-five percent (185%) of federal poverty guidelines, hereinafter referred
to as “poverty status.” By October 1, 2022, as part of its budget submission pursuant to § 35-3-4
relative to state fiscal year 2024 and thereafter, the department of elementary and secondary
education shall develop and utilize a poverty measure that in the department’s assessment most
accurately serves as a proxy for the poverty status referenced in this subsection and does not rely
on the administration of school nutrition programs. The department shall utilize this measure in
calculations pursuant to this subsection related to the application of the student success factor, in
calculations pursuant to § 16-7.2-4 related to the calculation of the state share ratio, and in the
formulation of estimates pursuant to subsection (b) below. The department may also include any
recommendations which seek to mitigate any disruptions associated with the implementation of
this new poverty measure or improve the accuracy of its calculation. Beginning with the FY 2024
calculation, students whose family income is at or below one hundred eighty-five percent (185%)
of federal poverty guidelines will be determined by participation in the supplemental nutrition
assistance program (SNAP). The number of students directly certified through the department of
human services shall be multiplied by a factor of 1.6; and
(ii) Multiplying a multilingual learner (MLL) factor of twenty percent (20%) by the core
instruction per-pupil amount described in subsection (a)(1) of this section, applying that amount
for each resident child identified in the three lowest proficiency categories using widely adopted,
independent standards and assessments in accordance with subsection (f)(1) of this section and as
identified by the commissioner and defined by regulations of the council on elementary and
secondary education. Local education agencies shall report annually to the department of
elementary and secondary education by September 1, outlining the planned and prior year use of
all funding pursuant to this subsection to provide services to MLL students in accordance with
requirements set forth by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education. The
department shall review the use of funds to ensure consistency with established best practices.
(b) The department of elementary and secondary education shall provide an estimate of the
foundation education aid cost as part of its budget submission pursuant to § 35-3-4. The estimate
shall include the most recent data available as well as an adjustment for average daily membership
growth or decline based on the prior year experience.
(c) In addition, the department shall report updated figures based on the average daily
membership as of October 1 by December 1.
(d) Local education agencies may set aside a portion of funds received under subsection
(a) to expand learning opportunities such as after school and summer programs, full-day
kindergarten and/or multiple pathway programs, provided that the basic education program and all
other approved programs required in law are funded.
(e) The department of elementary and secondary education shall promulgate such
regulations as are necessary to implement fully the purposes of this chapter.
(f)(1) By October 1, 2023, as part of its budget submission pursuant to § 35-3-4 relative to
state fiscal year 2025, the department of elementary and secondary education shall evaluate the
number of students by district who qualify as multilingual learner (MLL) students and MLL
students whose family income is at or below one hundred eighty-five percent (185%) of federal
poverty guidelines. The submission shall also include segmentation of these populations by levels
as dictated by the WIDA multilingual learner assessment tool used as an objective benchmark for
English proficiency. The department shall also prepare and produce expense data sourced from the
uniform chart of accounts to recommend funding levels required to support students at the various
levels of proficiency as determined by the WIDA assessment tool. Utilizing this information, the
department shall recommend a funding solution to meet the needs of multilingual learners; this may
include but not be limited to inclusion of MLL needs within the core foundation formula amount
through one or multiple weights to distinguish different students of need or through categorical
means.
(2) By October 1, 2024, as part of its budget submission pursuant to § 35-3-4 relative to
state fiscal year 2026, the department of elementary and secondary education shall develop
alternatives to identify students whose family income is at or below one hundred eighty-five percent
(185%) of federal poverty guidelines through participation in state-administered programs,
including, but not limited to, the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP), and RIteCare
and other programs that include the collection of required supporting documentation. The
department may also include any recommendations that seek to mitigate any disruptions associated
with implementation of this new poverty measure or improve the accuracy of its calculation.
(3) The department shall also report with its annual budget request information regarding
local contributions to education aid and compliance with §§ 16-7-23 and 16-7-24. The report shall
also compare these local contributions to state foundation education aid by community. The
department shall also report compliance to each city or town school committee and city or town
council.
(4) By October 1, 2025, as part of its budget submission pursuant to § 35-3-4 relative to
state fiscal year 2027, the department of elementary and secondary education shall submit a report
developed in coordination with the department of administration and the Rhode Island longitudinal
data system within the office of the postsecondary commissioner. The report shall provide an
overview of the process for matching the department of human services program participation data
to the department of elementary and secondary education student enrollment records for use in the
education funding formula and recommend methods to ensure consistency and accuracy in future
matching processes.
(5) As part of its FY 2027 budget submission, the department shall also submit an estimate
of foundation education aid that uses expanded direct certification with Medicaid matching in
consultation with the Rhode Island longitudinal data system and the executive office of health and
human services to identify students whose family income is at or below one hundred eighty-five
percent (185%) of federal poverty guidelines, in addition to an estimate under the current law
poverty determination.
(6) By December 31, 2025, the department of elementary and secondary education shall
also develop and submit a report to the governor, speaker of the house, and senate president on
current and recommended processes to ensure the consistency and validity of submitted high-cost
special education data from local education agencies.
SECTION 3. Effective July 1, 2026, section 16-105-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-
105 entitled "School Building Authority" is hereby amended to read as follows:
The school building authority roles and responsibilities shall include:
(1) Management of a system with the goal of ensuring equitable and adequate school
housing for all public school children in the state;
(2) Prevention of the cost of school housing from interfering with the effective operation
of the schools;
(3) Management of school housing aid in accordance with statute;
(4) Reviewing and making recommendations to the council on elementary and secondary
education on necessity of school construction applications for state school housing aid and the
school building authority capital fund, based on the recommendations of the school building
authority advisory board;
(5) Promulgating, managing, and maintaining school construction regulations, standards,
and guidelines applicable to the school housing program, based on the recommendations of the
school building authority advisory board, created in § 16-105-8. Said regulations shall require
conformance with the minority business enterprise requirements set forth in § 37-14.1-6;
(6) Developing a prequalification and review process for prime contractors, architects, and
engineers seeking to bid on projects in excess of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) in total costs
subject to inflation. Notwithstanding any general laws to the contrary, a prequalification shall be
valid for a maximum of two (2) years from the date of issuance. Factors to be considered by the
school building authority in granting a prequalification to prime contractors shall include, but not
be limited to, the contractor’s history of completing complex projects on time and on budget, track
record of compliance with applicable environmental and safety regulations, evidence that
completed prior projects prioritized the facility’s future maintainability, and compliance with
applicable requirements for the use of women and minority owned subcontractors;
(i) At least annually, a list of prequalified contractors, architects, and engineers shall be
publicly posted with all other program information;
(7)(6) Providing technical assistance and guidance to school districts on the necessity of
school construction application process;
(8)(7) Providing technical advice and assistance, training, and education to cities, towns,
and/or local education agencies and to general contractors, subcontractors, construction or project
managers, designers and others in planning, maintenance, and establishment of school facility
space;
(9)(8) Developing a project priority system, based on the recommendations of the school
building authority advisory board, in accordance with school construction regulations for the school
building authority capital fund, subject to review and, if necessary, to be revised on intervals not to
exceed five (5) years. Project priorities shall include, but not be limited to, the following order of
priorities:
(i) Projects to replace or renovate a building that is structurally unsound or otherwise in a
condition seriously jeopardizing the health and safety of school children where no alternative exists;
(ii) Projects needed to prevent loss of accreditation;
(iii) Projects needed for the replacement, renovation, or modernization of the HVAC
system in any schoolhouse to increase energy conservation and decrease energy-related costs in
said schoolhouse;
(iv) Projects needed to replace or add to obsolete buildings in order to provide for a full
range of programs consistent with state and approved local requirements; and
(v) Projects needed to comply with mandatory, instructional programs;
(10)(9) Maintaining a current list of requested school projects and the priority given them;
(11)(10) Collecting and maintaining readily available data on all the public school facilities
in the state;
(12)(11) Collecting, maintaining, and making publicly available quarterly progress reports
of all ongoing school construction projects that shall include, at a minimum, the costs of the project
and the time schedule of the project;
(13)(12) Recommending policies and procedures designed to reduce borrowing for school
construction programs at both state and local levels;
(14)(13) At least every five (5) years, conducting a needs survey to ascertain the capital
construction, reconstruction, maintenance, and other capital needs for schools in each district of the
state, including public charter schools;
(15)(14) Developing a formal enrollment projection model or using projection models
already available;
(16)(15) Encouraging local education agencies to investigate opportunities for the
maximum utilization of space in and around the district;
(17)(16) Collecting and maintaining a clearinghouse of prototypical school plans that may
be consulted by eligible applicants;
(18)(17) Retaining the services of consultants, as necessary, to effectuate the roles and
responsibilities listed within this section;
(19)(18) 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. Notwithstanding any provision of the general laws to
the contrary, the reimbursement or aid received under this chapter or chapter 38.2 of title 45 shall
not exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the sum of the total project costs plus interest costs. If
a two hundred and fifty million dollar ($250,000,000) general obligation bond is approved on the
19 November 2018 ballot, projects approved between May 1, 2015, and January 1, 2018, are eligible
to receive incentive points (above and beyond what the project was awarded at the time of approval)
pursuant to § 16-7-39 and § 16-7-40. Provided, however, any project approved during this time
period with a project cost in excess of one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000),
which does not include an owner’s program manager and a commissioning agent, shall only be
eligible to receive five (5) incentive points. Incentive points awarded pursuant to the provisions of
this subsection shall only be applied to reimbursements occurring on or after July 1, 2018. Any
project approved between May 1, 2015, and January 1, 2018, that is withdrawn and/or resubmitted
for approval shall not be eligible for any incentive points.
28 SECTION 4. Sections 16-113-1, 16-113-2, 16-113-3, 16-113-4, and 16-113-7 of the
General Laws in Chapter 16-113 entitled “Rhode Island Hope Scholarship Pilot Program Act” are
hereby amended to read as follows:
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Rhode Island Hope Scholarship Pilot
Program Act”.
16-113-2. Legislative findings and purpose.
(a) The general assembly finds and declares that:
(1) Education is critical for the state’s young people to achieve their aspirations and
develop their talents;
(2) The state’s economic success depends on a highly educated and skilled workforce;
(3) The state’s future prosperity depends upon its ability to make educational opportunities
beyond high school available for all students;
(4) The coronavirus has inflicted undue hardships on students and their families, creating
barriers to a four-year (4) college degree;
(5) A merit-based tuition reduction program will help make a four-year (4) college degree
available to all students;
(6) Rhode Island college offers students a feasible opportunity to obtain a four-year (4)
degree, but remains an underutilized resource in the state; and
(7) The state of Rhode Island’s motto is “Hope”.
(b) In order to address the findings set forth in subsection (a) of this section, the purpose
of this chapter is to increase the number of students enrolling in and completing four-year (4)
degrees and certificates on time from Rhode Island college, and to promote more graduates in high-
need fields such as nursing, pre-K through grade twelve (12) education, and the trades, which are
fields for which Rhode Island college provides a strong and affordable education.
(c) The purpose of the pilot program is also to determine whether a scholarship program
for Rhode Island college that is modeled on the promise scholarship program established in chapter
107 of this title would be successful in attaining the goals set forth in this section.
There is hereby established the Rhode Island hope scholarship pilot program. The general
assembly shall annually appropriate the funds necessary to implement the purposes of this chapter
for the periods of the pilot program. Additional funds beyond the scholarships may be appropriated
to support and advance the Rhode Island hope scholarship pilot program. In addition to
appropriation by the general assembly, charitable donations may be accepted into the scholarship
program.
When used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(1) “ADA” means the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq., as may
be amended from time to time.
(2) “Certificate” means any certificate program with labor market value as defined by the
postsecondary commissioner.
(3) “College-level credit” means credit awarded by a college or university for completion
of its own courses or other academic work.
(4) “FAFSA” means the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form.
(5) “General education coursework” means the educational foundation of knowledge,
skills, and attitudes that prepares students for success in their majors and their personal and
professional lives after graduation. It includes, but is not limited to, the required coursework of all
degrees developed by each eligible postsecondary institution that is approved by the council on
postsecondary education that is intended to ensure that all graduates of a state institution have a
balanced core of competencies and knowledge. This does not necessarily include coursework
specifically required for one’s major.
(6) “Mandatory fees and tuition” means the costs that every student is required to pay in
order to enroll in classes, and does not include room and board, textbooks, program fees that may
exist in some majors, course fees that may exist for some specific courses, meal plans, or travel.
(7) “On track to graduate on time” means the standards determined by Rhode Island college
in establishing the expectation of a student to graduate with a bachelor’s degree within four (4)
years of enrollment, or the prescribed completion time for a student completing a certificate
(recognizing that some students, including students who require developmental education, are
double majors, or are enrolled in certain professional programs may require an extended time period
for degree completion).
(8) “Pilot pProgram” and or “scholarship program” means the Rhode Island hope
scholarship pilot program that is established pursuant to § 16-113-3.
(9) “Reasonable accommodations” means any necessary modifications or adjustment to a
facility, equipment, program, or manner of operation as required by the Americans with Disabilities
Act (“ADA”) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 791, as may be
amended from time to time.
(10) “Recipient student” means a student attending Rhode Island college who qualifies to
receive the Rhode Island hope scholarship pursuant to § 16-113-6.
(11) “State” means the state of Rhode Island.
(12) “Student with a disability” means any student otherwise eligible pursuant to this
chapter who has a physical, developmental, or hidden disability or disabilities, as defined in § 42-
87-1, that would create a hardship or other functional obstacles preventing participation in this
program.
(a) On or before November 10, 2023, and on or before November 10 and May 10 thereafter
for every year through and including calendar year 2030 of each fiscal year following fiscal year
2024, Rhode Island college shall submit a report to the director of the office of management and
budget, the state budget officer, the house fiscal advisor, the senate fiscal advisor, the commissioner
of postsecondary education, and the chair of the council on postsecondary education, detailing the
following:
(1) The number of students eligible to participate in the scholarship program;
(2) The amount of federal and institutional financial aid anticipated to be received by
recipient students;
(3) The aggregate tuition and mandatory fee costs attributable to recipient students;
(4) The resulting total cost of the scholarship program to the state; and
(5) The report shall contain such data for both the current fiscal year and the most up-to-
date forecast for the following fiscal year. Data reported shall be subdivided by student-year cohort
and shall be accompanied by a written explanation detailing the estimating methodology utilized
and any impact(s) the forecasted data may present to institutional capacity, operational costs, and
the tuition/fee revenue base of the institution.
(b) On or before July 1, 2030, Rhode Island college and the commissioner of postsecondary
education shall submit a report evaluating the program based on all cohorts to the governor, speaker
of the house, and the president of the senate. This evaluation shall include the following:
(1) The number of students who started in each cohort;
(2) The number of students in each cohort who have attained a degree or certification in an
on-time manner;
(3) The number of students in each cohort who have not attained a degree or certification
in an on-time manner and an analysis of why that has happened;
(4) The number of students in each cohort who began the program but have been unable to
continue or complete the program and an analysis of why that has happened;
(5) The costs of the program and the costs of continuing the program;
(6) Suggestions for ways to increase the success of the program;
(7) Recommendations as to modifying, continuing, expanding, curtailing, or discontinuing
the program; and
(8) Any such other recommendations or information as Rhode Island college and the
commissioner of postsecondary education deem appropriate to include in the evaluation.
(c) The office of management and budget, in consultation with the office of the
postsecondary commissioner, shall oversee the apportionment and disbursement of all funds
appropriated for the purpose of the scholarship program.
SECTION 5. Section 16-113-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-113 entitled “Rhode
Island Hope Scholarship Pilot Program Act” is hereby repealed.
16-113-10. Funding of and sunset of pilot program.
The Rhode Island hope scholarship pilot program shall be funded from July 1, 2023,
through and including June 30, 2030. There shall be no further funding of the pilot program without
further action of the general assembly. Any final reports due pursuant to this chapter shall be filed
pursuant to the dates set forth herein.
SECTION 6. Effective July 1, 2026, section 45-38.2-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-
38.2 entitled "School Building Authority Capital Fund" is hereby amended to read as follows:
(a) There is hereby established a school building authority capital fund. The corporation
shall establish and set up on its books the fund, to be held in trust and to be administered by the
corporation as provided in this chapter. This fund shall be in addition to the annual appropriation
for committed expenses related to the repayment of housing aid commitments. The corporation
shall deposit the following monies into the fund:
(1) The difference between the annual housing aid appropriation and housing aid
commitment amounts appropriated or designated to the corporation by the state for the purposes of
the foundation program for school housing; provided that for FY 2019 and FY 2020 that amount
shall be used for technical assistance to districts pursuant to § 16-105-3(7);
(2)(1) Loan repayments, bond refinance interest savings, and other payments received by
the corporation pursuant to loan or financing agreements with cities, towns, or local education
agencies executed in accordance with this chapter;
(3)(2) Investment earnings on amounts credited to the fund;
(4)(3) Proceeds of bonds of the corporation issued in connection with this chapter to the
extent required by any trust agreement for such bonds;
(5)(4) Administrative fees levied by the corporation, with respect to financial assistance
rendered under this chapter and specified in § 45-38.2-3(a)(4), less operating expenses;
(6)(5) Other amounts required by provisions of this chapter or agreement, or any other law
or any trust agreement pertaining to bonds to be credited to the fund; and
(7)(6) Any other funds permitted by law which the corporation in its discretion shall
determine to credit thereto.
(b) The corporation shall establish and maintain fiscal controls and accounting procedures
conforming to generally accepted government accounting standards sufficient to ensure proper
accounting for receipts in and disbursements from the school building authority capital fund.
(c) The school building authority shall establish and maintain internal controls to ensure
that local education agencies are providing adequate asset protection plans, all local education
agencies have equal access and opportunity to address facility improvements on a priority basis,
and to ensure that funding from the school building authority capital fund has the greatest impact
on facility gaps in state priority areas. The school building authority will also manage necessity of
school construction approvals in accordance with the funding levels set forth by the general
assembly.
SECTION 7. This article shall take effect upon passage, except for sections 1, 2, 3 and 6
which shall be effective July 1, 2026.
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