Purpose

• This bill expands the use of long-term facilities maintenance (LTFM) revenue to include school safety facility enhancements. It also sets planning and reporting requirements for districts related to safety and health improvements.

Main Provisions

• Eligibility for LTFM funding:
  • To qualify for LTFM revenue, a school district or intermediate district (excluding charter schools) must have a ten-year facility plan adopted by the school board and approved by the commissioner.
• Required plan elements:
  • A health and safety program that complies with health, safety, and environmental regulations and best practices.
  • Indoor air quality management and actions to remediate lead hazards.
  • The plan may include physical safety improvements to school facilities.
  • For planning purposes, the plan must address provisions for a gender-neutral single-user restroom at each school site.
• Planning and approval process:
  • Districts must annually update the plan and submit it to the commissioner for approval by July 31.
  • The plan must indicate whether the district will issue bonds to finance the plan or levy for the costs.
• Bond financing specifics:
  • If bonds are issued, the plan must include a debt service schedule showing that annual debt service payments will not exceed the projected LTFM revenue for that year.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Broadens permissible uses of LTFM revenue to explicitly include school safety facility enhancements.
• Introduces mandatory ten-year facility planning with health/safety and indoor air quality requirements, plus lead hazard remediation.
• Requires explicit planning for gender-neutral single-user restrooms at each school site.
• Adds annual plan update and commissioner approval as a condition for LTFM funding eligibility.
• Ties bond-financed safety improvements to a debt service schedule that must stay within projected LTFM revenue, potentially limiting debt issuance if revenue falls short.
• Excludes charter schools from these LTFM eligibility provisions.

Implementation and Oversight

• Governing bodies (school boards) must adopt the ten-year facility plan, which is then approved by the state commissioner.
• Plans must be updated annually and submitted by a fixed annual deadline (July 31).
• Districts must declare whether they will finance plan costs through bonds or levies.
• For bond-financed plans, districts must demonstrate that debt service will not exceed projected LTFM revenue for each year.

Impacts and Considerations

• Districts will likely incorporate safety upgrades and health measures (e.g., indoor air quality, lead hazard remediation) into long-term facilities planning.
• Planning will require coordination between local districts and the commissioner, with a formal approval process.
• The addition of gender-neutral restrooms signals a policy alignment with inclusive facilities planning.
• Potential financial implications include careful budgeting to ensure debt service remains within projected LTFM revenue.

Relevant Terms - long-term facilities maintenance (LTFM) revenue - school safety facility enhancements - ten-year facility plan - health and safety program - indoor air quality management - remediation of lead hazards - gender-neutral single-user restroom - physical safety modifications - debt service schedule - bonds / bond issuance - levy - commissioner approval - school board - intermediate district - charter school exclusion - annual plan update - July 31 submission deadline