The bill HB 354 proposes amendments to the New Hampshire state laws to make chartered public schools eligible for state school building aid, which was previously available only to local school districts. The bill modifies RSA 198:15-a, I through III, to include chartered public schools in the consideration for school building aid, specifying that such schools must own the buildings constructed or improved with the aid and have a plan for asset disposition in case of dissolution. Additionally, the bill adjusts the grant amounts and disbursement procedures for chartered public schools, allowing them to receive 30 percent of the eligible cost of construction with an annual grant sum equal to 5 percent of the eligible grant amount for 20 years, and includes chartered public school boards of trustees in the application process for these grants.

The bill also revises the ranking and approval process for school building aid to include chartered public schools, setting criteria for the department of education to score construction proposals. It mandates that both school districts and chartered public schools be notified of the projected funding amount within 10 days of approval. The bill removes the prohibition on chartered public schools receiving school building aid and requires the engagement of a project manager for construction projects of $1,000,000 or more. The insertions in the bill expand eligibility and procedural requirements to chartered public schools, while deletions remove exclusive references to school districts, thus broadening the scope. The act is intended to take effect on July 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 198:15-a, 198:15-b, 198:15-c, 198:15-d, 194-B:11
As Amended by the House: 198:15-a, 198:15-b, 198:15-c, 198:15-d, 194-B:3, 194-B:16, 194-B:11
Version adopted by both bodies: 198:15-a, 198:15-b, 198:15-c, 198:15-d, 194-B:3, 194-B:16, 194-B:11
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: 198:15-a, 198:15-b, 198:15-c, 198:15-d, 194-B:3, 194-B:16, 194-B:11