1832 AMH OGDE HOWS 1

HB 1832 - H AMD 0040 WITHDRAWN 3/17/99

By Representative Ogden

     On page 2, after line 6, insert the following:

ANEW SECTION. Sec. 3  A new section is added to chapter 28A.525 RCW to read as follows:

     (1) The state board of education may allocate funds appropriated to the state board for state assistance for school plant facilities to districts that have not received a voter‑authorized issuance of bonds or the levying of excess taxes if:

     (a) The school district has declared a school housing emergency;

     (b)(i) The district's enrollments and available educational space are higher than the space standards, as determined by the state board of education, and the conditions at the district, based on a projection of available space and enrollments over the next five years, are expected to become worse without the state financial assistance; or

     (ii) The district has existing school plant facilities that are deteriorating to such a degree, as determined by the state board of education, that available safe educational space is or will be insufficient to handle existing enrollments or projected enrollments over the next five years without state financial assistance;

     (c) The district's proposed project is eligible for state assistance under the priority system in RCW 28A.525.190; and

     (d) The district has matching money from any sources available to the district equal to or greater than the difference between the total approved project cost and the amount of state assistance to the district as computed in RCW 28A.525.166.  The district may use borrowed money, which may include the principal amount of any installment purchase agreement or lease purchase agreement, or any other funds legally available as matching money as long as any debt incurred is within the indebtedness limit contained in RCW 39.36.020(3).

     (2) The board of directors of any school district may use the state allocation and other funds, not restricted to capital purposes, for the purposes described in RCW 28A.530.010, for payment of any installment purchase contract, or for payments under any financing lease, the term of which is ten years or longer, that contains an option by the school district to purchase the leased property for nominal consideration.@

     Correct the title.

EFFECT: Authorizes school districts to access state matching funds for school district facilities without passing a bond levy if certain conditions are met.  Authorizes school districts to use voter-approved bonds, levies and other funds for an installment purchase contract.