BP BHEAD INT H

AN ACT Relating to school building rehabilitation or restoration; amending RCW 28A.525.166; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that current state law regarding school construction assistance unfortunately discourages school districts from renovating, rehabilitating, or restoring useful historic school buildings, but rather encourages districts to abandon or raze such buildings, replacing them with new structures. The legislature further finds that historic schools are often the architectural and social centers of neighborhoods and communities, serving as structural reminders of our shared heritage. The state should encourage the preservation, when feasible, of such buildings, so that they may serve future generations as ably as they did past generations.

Sec. 2. RCW 28A.525.166 and 1990 c 33 s 457 are each amended to read as follows:

Allocations to school districts of state funds provided by RCW 28A.525.160 through 28A.525.182 shall be made by the state board of education and the amount of state assistance to a school district in financing a school plant project shall be determined in the following manner:

(1) The boards of directors of the districts shall determine the total cost of the proposed project, which cost may include the cost of acquiring and preparing the site, the cost of constructing the building or of acquiring a building and preparing the same for school use, the cost of rehabilitating or restoring an existing school building listed or eligible to be listed as an historic property, the cost of necessary equipment, taxes chargeable to the project, necessary architects' fees, and a reasonable amount for contingencies and for other necessary incidental expenses: PROVIDED, That the total cost of the project shall be subject to review and approval by the state board of education.

(2) The state matching percentage for a school district shall be computed by the following formula:

The ratio of the school district's adjusted valuation per pupil divided by the ratio of the total state adjusted valuation per pupil shall be subtracted from three, and then the result of the foregoing shall be divided by three plus (the ratio of the school district's adjusted valuation per pupil divided by the ratio of the total state adjusted valuation per pupil).

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PROVIDED, That in the event the percentage of state assistance to any school district based on the above formula is less than twenty percent and such school district is otherwise eligible for state assistance under RCW 28A.525.160 through 28A.525.182, the state board of education may establish for such district a percentage of state assistance not in excess of twenty percent of the approved cost of the project, if the state board finds that such additional assistance is necessary to provide minimum facilities for housing the pupils of the district.

(3) In addition to the computed percent of state assistance developed in (2) above, a school district shall be entitled to additional percentage points determined by the average percentage of growth for the past three years. One percent shall be added to the computed percent of state assistance for each percent of growth, with a maximum of twenty percent.

(4) The approved cost of the project determined in the manner herein prescribed times the percentage of state assistance derived as provided for herein shall be the amount of state assistance to the district for the financing of the project: PROVIDED, That need therefor has been established to the satisfaction of the state board of education: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That additional state assistance may be allowed if it is found by the state board of education that such assistance is necessary in order to meet (a) a school housing emergency resulting from the destruction of a school building by fire, the condemnation of a school building by properly constituted authorities, a sudden excessive and clearly foreseeable future increase in school population, or other conditions similarly emergent in nature; or (b) a special school housing burden imposed by virtue of the admission of nonresident students into educational programs established, maintained and operated in conformity with the requirements of law; or (c) a deficiency in the capital funds of the district resulting from financing, subsequent to April 1, 1969, and without benefit of the state assistance provided by prior state assistance programs, the construction of a needed school building project or projects approved in conformity with the requirements of such programs, after having first applied for and been denied state assistance because of the inadequacy of state funds available for the purpose, or (d) a condition created by the fact that an excessive number of students live in state owned housing, or (e) a need for the construction of a school building to provide for improved school district organization or racial balance, or (f) conditions similar to those defined under (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) hereinabove, creating a like emergency.