AN
ACT Relating to clarifying the uses of the school district capital projects
fund to include the costs of implementing technology facilities plans; amending
RCW 28A.320.330; and creating a new section.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 1. The
legislature recognizes and acknowledges that technology has become an integral
part of the facilities and educational delivery systems in our schools. In
order to prepare our state's students to participate fully in our state's
economy, substantial capital investments must continue to be made in our schools'
comprehensive technology systems, facilities, and projects. These investments
are declared to be a major capital purpose.
Sec.
2. RCW
28A.320.330 and 1990 c 33 s 337 are each amended to read as follows:
School
districts shall establish the following funds in addition to those provided
elsewhere by law:
(1)
A general fund for maintenance and operation of the school district to account
for all financial operations of the school district except those required to be
accounted for in another fund.
(2)
A capital projects fund shall be established for major capital purposes. All
statutory references to a "building fund" shall mean the capital
projects fund so established. Money to be deposited into the capital projects
fund shall include, but not be limited to, bond proceeds, proceeds from excess
levies authorized by RCW 84.52.053, state apportionment proceeds as authorized
by RCW 28A.150.270, and earnings from capital projects fund investments as
authorized by RCW 28A.320.310 and 28A.320.320.
Money
derived from the sale of bonds, including interest earnings thereof, may only
be used for those purposes described in RCW 28A.530.010, except that accrued
interest paid for bonds shall be deposited in the debt service fund.
Money
to be deposited into the capital projects fund shall include but not be limited
to rental and lease proceeds as authorized by RCW 28A.335.060, and proceeds
from the sale of real property as authorized by RCW 28A.335.130.
Money
legally deposited into the capital projects fund from other sources may be used
for the purposes described in RCW 28A.530.010, and for the purposes of:
(a)
Major renovation, including the replacement of facilities and systems where
periodical repairs are no longer economical. Major renovation and replacement
shall include, but shall not be limited to, roofing, heating and ventilating
systems, floor covering, and electrical systems.
(b)
Renovation and rehabilitation of playfields, athletic fields, and other
district real property.
(c)
The conduct of preliminary energy audits and energy audits of school district
buildings. For the purpose of this section:
(i)
"Preliminary energy audits" means a determination of the energy
consumption characteristics of a building, including the size, type, rate of
energy consumption, and major energy using systems of the building.
(ii)
"Energy audit" means a survey of a building or complex which
identifies the type, size, energy use level, and major energy using systems;
which determines appropriate energy conservation maintenance or operating
procedures and assesses any need for the acquisition and installation of energy
conservation measures, including solar energy and renewable resource measures.
(iii)
"Energy capital improvement" means the installation, or modification
of the installation, of energy conservation measures in a building which
measures are primarily intended to reduce energy consumption or allow the use
of an alternative energy source.
(d)
Those energy capital improvements which are identified as being cost-effective
in the audits authorized by this section.
(e)
Purchase or installation of additional major items of equipment and furniture:
PROVIDED, That vehicles shall not be purchased with capital projects fund
money.
(f)
Costs associated with implementing technology systems, facilities, and
projects, including acquiring hardware, licensing software, and on-line
applications and training related to the installation of the foregoing.
However, the software or applications must be an integral part of the
district's technology systems, facilities, or projects.
(3)
A debt service fund to provide for tax proceeds, other revenues, and
disbursements as authorized in chapter 39.44 RCW.
(4)
An associated student body fund as authorized by RCW 28A.325.030.
(5)
Advance refunding bond funds and refunded bond funds to provide for the
proceeds and disbursements as authorized in chapter 39.53 RCW.
