The bill introduces amendments to Chapter 16-7 of the General Laws, focusing on "Foundation Level School Support," particularly in the areas of school housing aid computation and incentives. It adds a definition for "Zero energy capable" to set standards for school buildings' energy consumption and renewable energy generation. The bill modifies the state aid percentage computation for school housing costs, setting a minimum housing aid share ratio and detailing conditions for additional incentive points for certain projects. It increases the aid ratio for regional school districts that consolidate grades or undertake renovation projects, with caps on the number of incentive points and limits on changes to a district's state share. The bill also increases the share ratio for projects enhancing school safety, addressing health and safety deficiencies, and for high-performance school design and energy efficiency, with specific conditions and deadlines.

Furthermore, the bill mandates community involvement in the remediation of contaminated sites for school use and requires school housing projects over $1.5 million to include an owner’s program manager and a commissioning agent. It makes temporary housing and environmental site remediation costs eligible for state aid and entitles the state to a portion of the proceeds if a new school is sold within 30 years. New requirements include compliance with prevailing wage laws, minority business enterprise participation, and apprenticeship programs. It expands the School Building Authority's roles, updates the prequalification process for contractors, and modifies the incentive points system for state aid. The bill also requires the development of regulations for school buildings to meet NE-CHPS standards by December 31, 2035, with flexibility for local education agencies to pursue funding for energy efficiency or renewable energy systems. The bill takes effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
6008: 16-105-3