Revision: Feb. 1, 2024, 9:52 a.m.
Rep. Ladd, Graf. 5
January 29, 2024
2024-0322h
05/02
Amendment to HB 1165
Amend the bill by replacing sections 3-6 with the following:
3 New Paragraph; School Building Aid; Use of Grant. Amend RSA 198:15-b by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraph:
IV. All school building aid grants shall be deposited into an established school district expendable trust created pursuant to RSA 198:20-c, with unused building aid grant funds remaining invested at all times. School construction project funds maintained in the expendable trust shall not be commingled with non-project funds of the district. All interest accrued shall be used for operation and maintenance cost or capital improvement projects for the related school facility.
4 School Building Aid; Approval of Plans. Amend RSA 198:15-c, III to read as follows:
III. A school district that accepts school building aid for construction shall engage the services of [a] an owner's project manager for construction or reconstruction projects of $1,000,000 or more, unless the commissioner waives such requirement as unnecessary. The school district's owner's project manager shall have his or her own comprehensive liability and auto insurance, worker's compensation coverage, and professional liability coverage. The state board of education shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A relative to the required services, responsibilities, and qualifications for the school district's owner's project manager.
5 Public School Infrastructure Fund; Authorization. Amend RSA 198:15-y, I through the introductory paragraph of RSA 198:15-y, III to read as follows:
I. The general court recognizes that there is a need to provide funding for infrastructure projects for public preschools, elementary, and secondary schools. Therefore, it is the intent of this chapter to designate certain surplus funds in the 2016-2017 biennial budget to provide grants to fund select school infrastructure projects in accordance with this chapter.
II. There is hereby established in the office of the state treasurer the public school infrastructure fund which shall be kept distinct and separate from all other funds and which shall be administered by the department of education. After transferring sufficient funds to the revenue stabilization reserve account to bring the balance of that account to $100,000,000, the state treasurer shall transfer the remainder of the general fund surplus for fiscal year 2017, as determined by the official audit performed pursuant to RSA 21-I:8, II(a), to the fund. Any earnings on fund moneys shall be added to the fund. All moneys in the fund shall be nonlapsing and continually appropriated. The department of education may retain up to 3 percent of the total annual appropriation of the public school infrastructure fund on or after July 1, 2019, to be used to administer the public school infrastructure program.
III. The [governor, in consultation with the] public school infrastructure commission[,] may authorize the department of education to fund expenditures [with approval of the fiscal committee of the general court and the executive council. Funds may be expended] for the following purposes:
6 Public School Infrastructure Commission. Amend RSA 198:15-z, IV to read as follows:
IV. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. [ The commission shall meet at least monthly.] The commission shall provide a report on or before [June 30, 2021] November 30 of each year to the general court with information on fund expenditures for the year, projects begun or completed during the previous year, the balance in the public school infrastructure fund, and any other information the commission deems appropriate.
Amend RSA 200:11-a, II as inserted by section 7 of the bill by replacing it with the following:
II. The department of education shall [ensure that] notify every public school in New Hampshire [possesses a copy of] how to access the United States Environmental Protection Agency Tools for Schools program and shall encourage public schools to implement the program to help provide and maintain good indoor air quality in public school buildings.