AN ACT Relating to school construction; and amending RCW 28A.47.803.

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

Sec. 1. Section 4, chapter 244, Laws of 1969 ex. sess. as last amended by section 1, chapter 98, Laws of 1975 1st ex. sess. and RCW 28A.47.803 are each amended to read as follows:

Allocations to school districts of state funds provided by RCW 28A.47.800 through 28A.47.811 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 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 full time equivalent pupil divided by the ratio of the total state adjusted valuation per full time 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 full time equivalent pupil divided by the ratio of the total state adjusted valuation per full time pupil).

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@p0!tb !ixPROVIDED, 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.47.800 through 28A.47.811, 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.

(5) In addition to the computed percent of state assistance developed in subsection (2) of this section, a school district shall be entitled to additional state assistance as provided under subsection (4) of this section if the district meets each of the following criteria:

(a) The district's full-time equivalent student enrollment is six hundred or fewer for the current and preceding two school years;

(b) At least fifty percent of the district's full-time equivalent students qualify for free and reduced price meals in the current school year;

(c) The special levy assessed valuation per full-time equivalent student, for special levies collectible in the current and preceding two years, does not exceed two hundred thousand dollars; and

(d) More than fifty percent of the total acreage comprising and within the boundaries of the district is exempt from school district special levy taxation.