2017 -- S 0253

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LC001182

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- FUNDING OF CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

     Introduced By: Senators Doyle, and DiPalma

     Date Introduced: February 15, 2017

     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 [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of

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

     16-77.1-5. Facilities support for charter public schools. – (a) A charter public school

district or districts may access apply on the basis of a demonstrated need for state aid for

reimbursement of school housing costs for district sponsored charter public schools pursuant to

§§ 16-7-35 through 16-7-47. Effective July 1, 2017, the state aid for charter public school housing

costs shall be calculated annually using a three (3) year weighted average of the state aid

percentages calculated pursuant to §16-7-39 for the communities sending students to the charter

public school on the basis of the reference years as defined in §16-7-36(4). However, if the three

(3) year weighted average described above exceeds the percentage of school housing costs

reimbursed with state aid for the municipality where the charter public school is located, then 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, 2017. 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. 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. 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 §§ 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.

     (b) The Rhode Island department of elementary and secondary education shall

promulgate regulations to implement subsection (a) of this section consistent with the purposes

and procedures of the existing school housing aid program pursuant to §§16-7-35 through 16-7-

47.

     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

***

     This act would amend the provisions by which charter public schools apply for state aid

for reimbursement of school housing costs and would further amend the calculation method of

housing costs under this section.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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