Bill > SB224

This bill, titled the "Creating Support for Neglected Schools Act," aims to empower the School Building Authority (SBA) to provide state and federal funds for school facility construction and major improvements, ensuring they meet educational needs efficiently. The SBA will assess existing facilities and improvement plans based on student, community, and statewide needs. The bill outlines how a portion of available funds, not exceeding 10%, can be used for statewide educational projects or programs under the state board, and for vocational programs at various school levels, encouraging cooperation with community and technical colleges. An emergency fund, not exceeding 2% of available moneys, will be set aside for unforeseen needs. Additionally, up to 5% of funds can be reserved for multi-use vocational-technical education facilities, prioritizing post-secondary programs. The remaining funds will be allocated based on need and efficient resource use for approved projects. The bill also addresses lease-purchase options for school projects, setting a three-year limit for expending allocated funds with a possible two-year extension, and establishes requirements for county maintenance budgets as a prerequisite for receiving funds. It encourages multicounty arrangements for better resource utilization and requires county boards to submit construction designs to the SBA for approval. Finally, the bill allows public charter schools to apply for funding for building costs and introduces a provision enabling Local School Improvement Councils (LSICs) to apply directly for funding for deferred maintenance if the cost exceeds 25% of the facility's replacement cost and the local education authority has not acted sufficiently.