This bill requires the Commissioner of Education to establish criteria for designating school districts as School Development Authority (SDA) districts and mandates the commissioner to report to the Legislature by March 1, 2025, and every five years thereafter. The report will include economic and school facilities adequacy criteria, as well as a list of districts that meet these criteria. The economic criteria will encompass factors such as equalized valuation per resident pupil, district income per resident pupil, and municipal overburden. Furthermore, the bill ensures that districts that lose their SDA designation will still receive 100% state support for any school facilities projects that were already in the design or construction phase prior to the loss of designation.

Additionally, the bill introduces a new definition for "SDA district," which includes districts that received education opportunity aid or preschool expansion aid during the 2007-2008 school year. The definition will be based on a list approved by the Legislature following the commissioner's recommendations. This legislative change aims to create a systematic approach to the SDA designation process, ensuring that it is based on updated economic and facilities criteria, thereby enhancing support for school facilities in need.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:7G-3