2001 --

2 RELATING TO EDUCATION

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

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

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

6 16-7-41.1. Eligibility for reimbursement.. -- (a) School districts, not municipalities,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

22 whichever is earlier.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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