Revision: Jan. 21, 2011, midnight
HB 220-FN – AS INTRODUCED
2011 SESSION
04/03
HOUSE BILL 220-FN
AN ACT relative to the approval of plans and specifications for the construction of school buildings.
SPONSORS: Rep. Berube, Straf 2
This bill requires the department of transportation and the appropriate regional planning commission to submit recommendations on all school building aid projects to the state board of education and to the school district proposing the project.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
11-0151
04/03
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eleven
AN ACT relative to the approval of plans and specifications for the construction of school buildings.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 School Building Aid; Approval of Plans, Specifications, and Costs of Construction or Purchase. Amend RSA 198:15-c to read as follows:
198:15-c Approval of Plans, Specifications, and Costs of Construction or Purchase.
I. A school district maintaining approved schools, desiring to avail itself of the grants herein provided shall have the plans, specifications, and cost estimates for school plant construction or proposals for the purchase of school buildings, or both, and the costs for them approved by the state board prior to the start of construction. For this purpose the district shall submit its plans, specifications, cost, and purchase estimates in writing to the department of education on such forms as the department prescribes and to the department of transportation, division of project development, on such forms as the department of transportation may prescribe. The division shall, within 90 days of receiving such plans, specifications, and cost estimates, submit a written report to the state board of education and to the school district proposing the project. The report shall include the division’s recommendations on whether the school building project should proceed as is, and findings or suggestions for improving the project, if necessary.
II. A school district shall also submit a copy of any application for energy efficiency reimbursement under RSA 374-F. The department of education shall coordinate with the public utilities commission to ensure that eligible school districts have submitted applications for funding reimbursement and technical assistance as available from energy utility companies to promote indoor air quality and energy efficiency in public schools. The school district proposing the project shall submit a copy of the plans, specifications, and cost estimates to the regional planning commission with jurisdiction over the region which includes the school district proposing the project. The regional planning commission shall, within 90 days of receiving such plans, specifications, and cost estimates, submit a written report to the state board of education and to the school district proposing the project. The report shall include the commission’s recommendations on whether the school building project should proceed as is, and any findings or suggestions for improving the project, if necessary.
III. Application for school building aid shall be submitted before January 1 of each year in order to be eligible for school building aid in the fiscal year following the year of submittal. The department of education shall not approve the plans, specifications, cost, or purchase estimates, if in the department’s judgment the facilities planned will not adequately meet the educational requirements, or if its cost estimates are excessive or unreasonable. The department of education shall not approve the plans, specifications, cost, or purchase estimates if in the department’s judgment the proposed construction or purchase is in conflict with effective statewide planning pursuant to RSA 9-A or the principles of smart growth pursuant to RSA 9-B. The department of education shall not approve the plans, specifications, cost, or purchase estimates if the division of project development of the department of education and the regional planning commission make a recommendation against the project. Necessary costs of the purchase of school buildings may be determined by any recognized method of real estate appraisal with appropriate adjustments for remodeling or other expenditures. Upon approval of the construction or purchase, or both, by the department of education, the school district shall be entitled to receive an annual grant as provided herein.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
LBAO
11-0151
12/28/10
HB 220-FN - FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT relative to the approval of plans and specifications for the construction of school buildings.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Education states the bill will increase local expenditures by an indeterminable amount in FY 2011 and each fiscal year thereafter. There will be no fiscal impact on state, county and local revenue or state and county expenditures.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department of Education states this bill would increase local expenditures in FY 2011 and each fiscal year thereafter due to the costs associated with producing additional copies of plans and specifications for DOT and regional planning commission reviews. The Department cannot estimate the number of additional copies required, so the increase in expenditures is indeterminable.
The Department of Transportation states the costs associated with its staff reviewing the impact of the proposed building project on surrounding state and local roads could be absorbed in their current budget. The Department assumes five schools will submit plans annually and each submission will require a total of 200 hours of review. The Department states it will not need to hire additional staff but the requirements of this bill may impact the timeliness of completing other departmental tasks and duties.