This bill amends Section 33-909 of the Idaho Code to enhance the Public School Facilities Cooperative Funding Program, which aims to provide financial support to school districts for addressing unsafe facilities. Key changes include the requirement for school districts to submit applications for funding, which can be made by districts that have either failed to approve necessary levies or have approved levies that do not cover the costs of addressing safety hazards. The bill also establishes a panel within the state department of education to review these applications and make decisions based on the most economical solutions over a projected twenty-year timeframe.

Additionally, the bill introduces new provisions regarding the financial responsibilities of school districts and the state. It specifies that the state will initially cover project costs, with the district's share being calculated based on available funds and subject to interest rates. The bill also mandates that any project savings be reported and returned to the public school facilities cooperative fund, which is created to finance the program. The act declares an emergency, making it effective immediately upon passage and retroactively applicable to June 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 33-909