2014 -- S 2208

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LC003883

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - FUNDING OF CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

     Introduced By: Senators Doyle, Nesselbush, and DiPalma

     Date Introduced: January 30, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-77.1-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-77.1 entitled

"Funding of Charter Public Schools" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     16-77.1-5. Facilities support for charter public schools. -- A charter public school

district or districts may access state aid for reimbursement of school housing costs for district

sponsored charter public schools pursuant to sections 16-7-35 through 16-7-47. Effective July 1,

2014, the percentage of a charter public school's housing costs reimbursed with state aid shall be

equal to the percentage of school housing costs reimbursed with state aid for the municipality

where the charter public school is located. This provision shall apply only to school housing

projects completed after June 30, 2014. Public charter schools not sponsored by a public school

district or districts may apply for thirty percent (30%) reimbursement of school housing cost on

the basis of demonstrated need. Before a charter public school becomes eligible to access state aid

for reimbursement of school housing costs, it must first certify to the Rhode Island department of

elementary and secondary education that it has attempted to utilize vacant school property within

the municipality where the charter public school is located, and that the use of such property

would not be possible or practicable for the charter public school. The Rhode Island department

of elementary and secondary education shall promulgate regulations to implement this section

consistent with the purposes and procedures of the existing school housing aid program pursuant

to sections 16-7-35 through 16-7-47. For purposes of this section only, "facilities support, the

urban collaborative accelerated program" will be defined as a charter school.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - FUNDING OF CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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     This act would provide that the percentage of a charter public school's housing costs

reimbursed with state aid would be equal to the percentage of school housing costs reimbursed

with state aid for the municipality where the charter public school is located. The act would also

provide that before a charter public school would be eligible to access such state aid for

reimbursement, the school would need to certify that it had first attempted to utilize vacant school

property within the municipality where the charter public school is located.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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