SB 511-FN – AS INTRODUCED

2008 SESSION

08-2775

04/09

SENATE BILL 511-FN

AN ACT relative to requirements for school building aid grants.

SPONSORS: Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 24; Rep. Serlin, Rock 16; Rep. Harvey, Hills 21; Rep. Powers, Rock 16; Rep. Borden, Rock 18

COMMITTEE: Education

ANALYSIS

This bill changes the criteria for school building aid grants.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

08-2775

04/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eight

AN ACT relative to requirements for school building aid grants.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 School Building Aid; Amount of Annual Grant. Amend RSA 198:15-b, I(b) to read as follows:

(b) For any municipally-owned land, buildings, or facilities for which school building aid is granted under this subdivision, the following shall apply:

(1) A school district, a city maintaining a school department within its corporate organization, a cooperative school district as defined in RSA 195:1, a receiving district operating an area school as defined in RSA 195-A:1, or a receiving district providing an education to pupils from one or more sending districts under a contract entered into pursuant to RSA 194:21-a or RSA 194:22, shall have first priority in the use of such land, buildings, or facilities for 10 years or the life of any bond or note issued to provide funds for such land, buildings, or facilities, whichever is greater.

(2) Priority under this subdivision shall be given to renovation projects. The cost of any proposed renovation project shall be [less than] reasonable in comparison with the cost of a new acquisition for the same purpose.

(3) In the absence of a bond or note or upon the expiration of any bond or note issued to provide funds for land, buildings, or facilities, the principal parties shall enter into an agreement on how such land, buildings, or facilities are to be used.

(4) All school building construction or renovation projects shall be consistent with a municipality’s master plan and shall incorporate the principles of smart growth pursuant to RSA 9-B.

(5) Grants under this subdivision shall not be made contingent on any minimum amount of additional land adjacent to a school building renovation site.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

LBAO

08-2775

12/04/07

SB 511-FN - FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT relative to requirements for school building aid grants.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Department of Education states this bill will increase state general fund expenditures, local expenditures, and local revenue by an indeterminable amount in FY 2008 and each fiscal year thereafter. There will be no fiscal impact on state and county revenue or county expenditures.

METHODOLOGY:

The Department of Education states this bill will increase state general fund expenditures for school building aid, as well as increase local revenue from school building aid and local expenditures for school building projects. The Department states the exact fiscal impact cannot be estimated because it is not possible to predict future construction projects that may be approved by local school districts and which may be impacted by this bill. This bill eliminates a limitation on the cost of construction projects and allows for renovation projects that may be more costly than new construction. The Department further states the new requirement that school construction projects be consistent with municipal master plans and RSA 9-B may also result in additional costs that cannot be identified without knowing the details of each project.