This bill proposes a comprehensive overhaul of Idaho's education funding structure by repealing existing provisions related to school safety and health funding and establishing a new Public Education Facilities Fund. Specifically, it repeals Section 33-1017, which pertains to the School Safety and Health Revolving Loan and Grant Fund, and Section 33-909, which relates to the Public School Facilities Cooperative Funding Program. In their place, the bill introduces a new Section 33-1017 that creates the Public Education Facilities Fund, aimed at providing need-based grants to school districts for the construction, remodeling, and maintenance of school facilities that support core educational missions, explicitly excluding facilities with a primary athletic purpose. Additionally, a new Section 33-909A is established to facilitate the transfer of funds from the now-repealed Public School Facilities Cooperative Fund to the new Public Education Facilities Fund.

The bill also includes amendments to various sections of the Idaho Code to remove outdated references and make technical corrections, such as clarifying the use of funds for public school health insurance participation in Section 67-5771A. It ensures that unexpended moneys after a specified date are allocated to the new Public Education Facilities Fund and the public charter school facilities program fund. Furthermore, it revises Section 33-1613 to update definitions and requirements related to the safety and health of public school facilities, mandating annual inspections by school districts. The bill also addresses financial emergencies in school districts, allowing boards of trustees to declare such emergencies and implement necessary measures while ensuring that foundation program payments remain unaffected. It modifies the supervision process of local school districts and establishes penalties for violations of safety provisions, with an emergency clause for immediate effect on certain sections.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 33-1017, 33-909, 33-909A, 67-5771A, 33-1613, 6-2212, 39-8011