Section 302D-29.5 - Facilities funding(a) Beginning with the 2016-2017 fiscal year, and each fiscal year thereafter, the legislature shall consider making an appropriation and bond authorization to the commission for the design, planning, construction, repair, and maintenance of public charter school improvements to address issues of health, safety, and legal compliance; expand or improve instructional space; provide for food services; or provide restroom facilities. The appropriation and bond authorization for charter schools shall be separate from, and in addition to, any appropriation made to charter schools pursuant to this section and section 302D-28. These amounts shall be prioritized for allocation by the charter school facilities funding working group.(b) The governor, pursuant to chapter 37, may impose restrictions or reductions on appropriations for charter schools similar to those imposed on department schools.(c) This section shall not limit the ability of the director of finance to modify or amend any allotment pursuant to chapter 37.(d) There is established a charter school facilities funding working group within the department of education, which shall consist of the following members, or their designees: (1) The chairperson of the commission;(2) The executive director of the commission;(3) The director of finance;(5) The superintendent of education;(6) An individual with expertise in real estate, to be appointed by the chairperson of the commission; and(7) An individual with expertise in finance, to be appointed by the chairperson of the commission. The commission shall develop criteria to determine the distribution of funds appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) to the charter schools. The criteria shall include distribution based on the need and performance of the charter schools, overall benefit to the surrounding community, amount of risk and availability of recourse to the State, and whether a particular charter school received facilities funding through other state funding, including grants-in-aid or a separate appropriation.
The charter school facilities funding working group shall be exempt from chapter 92 and shall act in an advisory capacity to prioritize the allocation of general fund appropriations and bond proceeds for public charter schools to expend based on the criteria established by the commission.
(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed as restricting the authority of the commission to support the facilities needs of the charter schools through other means.Amended by L 2015, c 234,§ 4, eff. 7/13/2015.Amended by L 2014, c 99,§ 19, eff. 7/1/2014.Added by L 2013, c 159,§ 1, eff. 6/21/2013.