This bill establishes a framework for utilizing grants for school construction projects to facilitate the consolidation of school facilities. It creates a dedicated "School Facility Consolidation Incentive Fund" to provide financial assistance to public school districts that close underutilized schools and enter into cooperative agreements to enhance educational opportunities and operational efficiency. The bill outlines the definitions of eligible applicants and consolidation projects, and it allows the Department of Education to award grants up to $1,500,000 per district for various costs associated with consolidation, including planning, facility closure, and transition costs. Additionally, it mandates that any facilities closed with these funds must remain closed for at least 20 years, with penalties for non-compliance.

The bill also amends existing laws to include provisions for school building aid grants that support consolidation projects, ensuring that such grants cover 50% of the approved project costs, capped at $1,500,000 per fiscal year. It requires each school district to maintain a long-range capital improvement program and updates the process for the Department of Education to develop a 10-year school facilities plan. Furthermore, it appropriates $10,000,000 to the Department of Education for the administration of these grants, with the funds being nonlapsing and continually appropriated. The effective date for the majority of the bill is set for 60 days after passage, while specific provisions related to school building aid grants will take effect on July 1, 2027.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 6:12, 198:15-a, 198:39
HB1818 text: 6:12, 198:15-a, 198:39