The bill amends Section 16-7-40 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-7, which pertains to Foundation Level School Support, by introducing several changes to the school housing aid ratio for various types of school district projects. The bill increases the school housing aid ratio by specific percentages for projects that are related to regional school district consolidation, school safety and security, health and safety deficiencies, educational enhancement, facility replacement, and the consolidation or renovation of school buildings to improve functional utilization. The increased aid ratios range from two percent to five percent, depending on the type of project.

Significant changes include the deletion of the requirement for the construction of projects to commence by a certain date, replaced with the requirement for projects to be approved by June 30, 2024, and completed by June 30, 2029. Additionally, the bill specifies that to qualify for the increased share ratio, a portion of the project costs must be specifically directed towards the purpose outlined in each subsection. The bill also maintains the increased share ratio for projects approved prior to July 1, 2018, as long as they continue to receive state housing aid. The act would take effect upon passage, allowing municipalities to benefit from enhanced state school bonuses and extending the time limits for contracting with general contractors for the specified work.

Statutes affected:
2546: 16-7-40