The bill, HB 515, amends existing laws to exclude chartered public schools from eligibility for state school building aid grants. It removes references to chartered public schools in several sections of RSA 198, specifically eliminating provisions that allowed these schools to receive grants for school building costs. The bill also deletes the requirement that any building improved or constructed with school building aid must be owned by the chartered public school and subject to asset disposition plans upon dissolution. Consequently, only school districts will be eligible for these grants, effectively barring chartered public schools from state funding related to school construction and improvements.

Additionally, the bill modifies the application process for school building aid grants by removing the requirement for chartered public school boards of trustees to approve construction projects. Starting January 1, 2025, applications must be submitted by school districts by April 1 of the preceding fiscal year, with established criteria for evaluation. The bill also allows school districts with critical needs to prioritize their applications and permits resubmission of previously rejected projects. Overall, HB 515 aims to streamline the school building aid process while imposing stricter conditions on chartered public schools, with the new regulations set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 198:15-a, 198:15-b, 198:15-c, 198:15-d, 194-B:3, 194-B:11, 194-B:16