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     ARTICLE 22

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RELATING TO EDUCATION

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     SECTION 1. Section 16-7-41.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-7 entitled

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"Foundation Level School Support [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board Of

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Education Act]" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     16-7-41.1. Eligibility for reimbursement.. -- (a) School districts, not municipalities,

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may apply for and obtain approval for a project under the necessity of school construction process

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set forth in the regulations of the board of regents for elementary and secondary education,

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provided, however, in the case of municipality which issues bonds through the Rhode Island

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Health and Educational Building Corporation to finance or refinance school facilities for a school

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district which is not part of the municipality, the municipality may apply for and obtain approval

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for a project. Such approval will remain valid until June 30 of the third fiscal year following the

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fiscal year in which the board of regents for elementary and secondary education's approval is

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granted. Only those projects undertaken at school facilities under the care and control of the

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school committee and located on school property may qualify for reimbursement under sections

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16-7-35 -- 16-7-47. Facilities with combined school and municipal uses or facilities that are

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operated jointly with any other profit or non-profit agency do not qualify for reimbursement

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under sections 16-7-35 -- 16-7-47. Projects completed by June 30 of a fiscal year are eligible for

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reimbursement in the following fiscal year. A project for new school housing or additional

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housing shall be deemed to be completed when the work has been officially accepted by the

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school committee or when the housing is occupied for its intended use by the school committee,

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whichever is earlier.

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      (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the board of regents shall not grant

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final approval for any project between June 30, 2011 and June 30, 2014 May 1, 2015 except for

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projects that are necessitated by immediate health and safety reasons. In the event that a project is

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requested during the moratorium because of immediate health and safety reasons, those proposals

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shall be reported to the chairs of the house and senate finance committees.

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      (c) Any project approval granted prior to the adoption of the school construction

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regulations in 2007, and which are currently inactive; and any project approval granted prior to

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the adoption of the school construction regulations in 2007 which did not receive voter approval

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or which has not been previously financed, are no longer eligible for reimbursement under this

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chapter. The department of elementary and secondary education shall develop recommendations

 

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for further cost containment strategies in the school housing aid program.

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     SECTION 2. This article shall take effect upon passage.

 

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