Raised Bill No. 6922 seeks to reform the application process for grants related to school building projects, as recommended by the Department of Administrative Services. The bill allows towns and regional school districts to apply for and accept grants, with the superintendent of schools managing the application process. Notably, it removes the requirement for superintendents to consider factors such as natural light, wireless connectivity, and school safety infrastructure in their applications. Instead, the Commissioner of Administrative Services will review grant applications for compliance with educational specifications and consult with the Commissioner of Education regarding alignment with state obligations under the Sheff v. O'Neill decision. The bill also modifies reporting requirements, replacing specific factors with broader categories and stipulating that projects cannot appear on the authorized projects schedule if costs have changed more than once, barring exigent circumstances.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws regarding state grants for school building projects, establishing that reimbursement percentages will be based on the original authorization date for projects not previously authorized as interdistrict magnet schools after July 1, 2006. It expands the types of projects eligible for grants, including upgrades to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, and introduces a requirement for towns or regional school districts to refund unamortized balances of state grants if they redirect the use of a school building, unless for public use. The bill also authorizes the State Treasurer to issue bonds for funding grants, with a total bond amount not exceeding $13.86 billion. Overall, Raised Bill No. 6922 aims to streamline processes and enhance the management of school construction initiatives by updating legal language and repealing outdated provisions, with immediate effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 10-287d