2020 -- H 7166

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LC003558

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - FOUNDATION LEVEL SCHOOL SUPPORT

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Edwards, and Canario

     Date Introduced: January 16, 2020

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 16-7-39 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-7 entitled "Foundation

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Level School Support [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is

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hereby amended to read as follows:

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     16-7-39. Computation of school housing-aid ratio.

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     For each community, the percent of state aid for school housing costs shall be computed

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in the following manner:

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     (1) The adjusted equalized weighted assessed valuation for the district is divided by the

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resident average daily membership for the district (grades twelve (12) and below); (2) The

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adjusted equalized weighted assessed valuation for the state is divided by the resident average

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daily membership for the state (grades twelve (12) and below); (1) is then divided by (2) and the

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resultant ratio is multiplied by a factor currently set at sixty-two percent (62%) which represents

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the approximate average district share of school support; the resulting product is then subtracted

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from one hundred percent (100%) to yield the housing aid share ratio, provided that in no case

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shall the ratio be less than thirty percent (30%). Provided, that effective July 1, 2010, and

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annually at the start of each fiscal year thereafter, the thirty percent (30%) floor on said housing-

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aid share shall be increased by five percent (5%) increments each year until said floor on the

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housing-aid share ratio reaches a minimum of not less than forty percent (40%). This provision

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shall apply only to school housing projects completed after June 30, 2010, that received approval

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from the board of regents prior to June 30, 2012. Provided further, for the fiscal year beginning

 

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July 1, 2012, and for subsequent fiscal years, the minimum housing aid share shall be thirty-five

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percent (35%) for all projects receiving council on elementary and secondary education approval

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after June 30, 2012, except that the town of Tiverton shall prospectively be reimbursed at the

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forty percent (40%) floor of the housing aid share ratio on projects completed before June 30,

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2010. The resident average daily membership shall be determined in accordance with § 16-7-

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22(1).

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     (2) No district shall receive a combined total of more than twenty (20) incentive

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percentage points for projects that commence construction by December 30, 2023, and five (5)

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incentive points for projects that commence construction thereafter; provided further, these caps

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shall be in addition to amounts received under §§ 16-7-40(a)(1) and 16-7-40(a)(2). Furthermore, a

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district's share shall not be decreased by more than half of its regular share irrespective of the

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number of incentive points received nor shall a district's state share increase by more than half of

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its regular share, including amounts received under §§ 16-7-40(a)(1) and 16-7-40(a)(2),

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irrespective of the number of incentive points received.

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     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 - FOUNDATION LEVEL SCHOOL SUPPORT

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     This act would permit the town of Tiverton to be prospectively reimbursed at the forty

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percent (40%) floor of the housing aid share ratio on projects completed before June 30, 2010.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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