Bill S.318 194th (Current)

Section 1: Amends section of the MGL governing the School Modernization and Reconstruction Trust Fund. Increases the amount of sales tax collections dedicated to the fund from 1% to 2%. Section 2: Amends chapter of MGL governing state aid for public schools (chapter 70) by adding a new section. New section allows schools districts with a disproportionate need for school building renovations or replacements (as determined by MSBA) to use up to 1% of Ch. 70 aid for renovation or replacement costs. Section 3: Amends chapter of MGL governing the School Building Assistance Program. Amends the definition of “Dedicated sales tax revenue amount” by increasing the amount from 1% to 2%. Section 4: Amends chapter of MGL governing how the School Building Assistance Program estimates cost-effectiveness of projects and regulates projects. Amends language to require that when the cost and size parameters are being set for eligible projects, the program provide maximum flexibility for projects taking place in urban environments where siting and permitting are more challenging. Section 5: Amends chapter of MGL governing how the School Building Assistance Program estimates cost-effectiveness of projects and regulates projects. Requires that when calculating reimbursement per square foot for a project, that the reimbursement be at least equal to the average square foot construction cost over the preceding 3 years. Section 6: Amends chapter of MGL governing the formula that allocates grants to municipalities for school building projects. Increases the amount of a project that can be covered by a grant from 80% to 100%. Section 7: Amends chapter of MGL governing the formula that allocates grants to municipalities for school building projects. Ties the “Incentive Percentage” to “School Integration Percentage” as a determining factor. Intends to encourage more funding to high incentive schools that are more integrated. Section 8: Amends chapter of MGL governing the formula that allocates grants to municipalities for school building projects. Revises the relationship between poverty level and the equivalent community property wealth factor percentage points. Section 9: Amends chapter of MGL governing the formula that allocates grants to municipalities for school building projects. Establishes to “School Integration Percentage points”, which are awarded to school building projects that are likely to have a positive impact on racial integration, as determined by the MSBA. Section 10: Establishes a minimum cost for MSBA Accelerated Repair Program projects of $100,000. Section 11: Requires DESE to allow school districts to count extraordinary maintenance projects towards the required “net school spending” levels in order to access Ch. 70 aid, up to a maximum of $500,000 per project per school.