This bill amends several sections of the General Laws related to school housing aid in Rhode Island. It increases the minimum housing aid share ratio for school housing projects completed after June 30, 2010, and increases the school housing aid ratio for regional school districts, renovation projects, and projects specifically for high-performance school design, safety and security, health and safety deficiencies, and educational enhancement. The bill also increases the school housing ratio for the replacement of facilities, new construction or renovation that increases or decreases functional utilization, and consolidation of school buildings. Overall, this bill aims to provide increased funding and support for various school housing projects in Rhode Island.

This bill also makes amendments to the current law regarding school construction and reimbursement. It establishes eligibility for reimbursement for school districts applying for and obtaining approval for a project under the necessity of school construction process. The bill also includes provisions regarding the approval of new projects, state funding for projects over $10 million, community involvement in the investigation and remediation of contaminated building sites, and the inclusion of a program manager and commissioning agent for certain projects. The bill outlines the responsibilities and priorities of the building authority capital fund, which is responsible for funding school construction projects, and encourages the fund to reduce borrowing for construction programs and conduct needs surveys every five years. Additionally, the bill includes provisions regarding incentive points for construction projects and sets a cap on the reimbursement or aid received under this chapter or chapter 38.2 of title 45.

Statutes affected:
6111: 16-105-3