HB2552 - 451R - House Bill Summary

House of Representatives

HB 2552

school facilities board; monitoring; leases

Sponsors: Representatives Knaperek, Gray, Blendu, et al

X	Committee on Education
	Committee on Appropriation
	Caucus and COW
	As Passed the House

HB 2552 allows the School Facilities Board (SFB) to withhold an appropriate amount of building renewal monies from school districts if the school district is not properly maintaining its facilities based on annual inspection conducted by the SFB.

History

The Students FIRST legislation, adopted in 1998, established the State Facilities Board (SFB) to evaluate and monitor school capital needs and to distribute building renewal, existing deficiencies, and new construction funding. Under the powers and duties of the SFB, the SFB is required to inspect school buildings at least once every five years to ensure compliance with the building adequacy standards with respect to construction of new buildings and maintenance of existing buildings. The Board is also responsible for constructing new school facilities based on school enrollment projects and building needs.

HB 2552 requires that the SFB annually inspect school buildings to ensure that the building is being properly maintained. If the SFB determines the building is not being properly maintained, the SFB is authorized to withhold an appropriate amount of building renewal monies from the school district. In addition, HB 2552 provides that the SFB may lease facilities rather than construct facilities if the board determines that based on enrollment projections it would be appropriate to lease than construct.

Provisions

· Requires the SFB to annually inspect school facilities that qualify for building renewal monies. In any year that the SFB determines that a school district has not properly maintained it facilities, the SFB may withhold an appropriate amount of building renewal monies from the school district. The SFB shall adopt the rules setting forth the standards the SFB will use to determine if a facility is being adequately maintained and to determine the amount of monies to withhold.

· Allows the SFB to distribute monies from the new construction fund to a school district to lease facilities if the SFB determines that based upon the school district’s enrollment projections it would be more appropriate to lease facilities than to construct facilities. The SFB may waive one or more of the building adequacy standards for leased facilities.

· ---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------

· 45th Legislature