The bill amends Section 16-7-41.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-7, which pertains to the eligibility for reimbursement of school construction projects. The amendment allows school districts, and in certain cases municipalities, to apply for and obtain approval for school construction projects. The approval for such projects remains valid until June 30 of the third fiscal year following the year in which approval is granted. The bill specifies that only projects at school facilities under the school committee's control and located on school property are eligible for reimbursement. It also clarifies that interest payments on approved projects are eligible for state reimbursement each fiscal year starting with the first interest payment date, regardless of project completion. The bill includes provisions for environmental site remediation, temporary housing for students during construction, and the requirement for projects to comply with prevailing wage laws and minority business enterprise participation.

Additionally, the bill outlines several conditions and new requirements that come into effect on July 1, 2019. These include the necessity for a prime contractor to receive prequalification for projects over ten million dollars, the inclusion of a single statewide process for community involvement in the remediation of contaminated sites for school use, and the requirement for an owner’s program manager and a commissioning agent for projects exceeding one million five hundred thousand dollars. The bill also states that if a newly constructed school is sold to a private entity within thirty years of construction, the state is entitled to a portion of the sale proceeds. The act would take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
6403: 16-7-41.1