Bill > H557

This bill aims to modernize school construction in Massachusetts. The key provisions include: 1. Increasing the maximum amount of state school aid that a school district with aging or inadequate school buildings can use for renovation or replacement projects from 1% to 2% until the debt is paid off. 2. Providing more flexibility in the Massachusetts School Building Authority's reimbursement formula, including setting a minimum reimbursement rate based on the average construction cost per square foot of approved projects from the past 3 fiscal years. 3. Increasing the maximum reimbursement rate from 80% to 100% and allowing an additional 10 percentage points for projects that significantly improve racial integration of students. 4. Allowing the Accelerated Repair Program to fund projects with estimated budgets as low as $100,000, and allowing extraordinary maintenance projects up to $500,000 per school to qualify as net school spending. The goal of these changes is to make it easier for school districts to undertake much-needed renovations or replacements of aging school buildings and ensure adequate funding and flexibility for these critical infrastructure projects.

Education

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H557