Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia House Bill HB371 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	25 HB 371/AP
2		-	House Bill 371 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
3		-	By: Representatives Corbett of the 174
4		-	th
5		-	, Townsend of the 179
6		-	th
7		-	, Greene of the 154
8		-	th
9		-	, Dubnik
10		-	of the 29
11		-	th
12		-	, and Erwin of the 32
13		-	nd
14		-
	1	+	25 LC 49 2329S
	2	+	The Senate Committee on Education and Youth offered the following
	3	+	substitute to HB 371:
15	4		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
16	5		AN ACT
17		-	To amend Part 10 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
18		-	1
	6	+	To amend Part 10 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia1
19	7		Annotated, relating to capital outlay funds under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as2
20	8		to provide for an increase of the state's maximum authorization of capital outlay funding3
21	9		from $300 million to $375 million annually; to require that for each new elementary school4
22	10		constructed on or after July 1, 2027, which includes a playground, such playground shall5
23	11		meet certain standards; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to6
24	12		repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.7
25	13		BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8
26	14		SECTION 1.9
27	15		Part 10 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,10
28	16		relating to capital outlay funds under the "Quality Basic Education Act," is amended in Code11
29	17		Section 20-2-260, relating to capital outlay funds generally, by revising paragraph (1) of12
30	18		subsection (g) as follows:13
31	19		"(g)(1) In order to determine a reasonable total funding level for the purposes stated in14
32	20		subsection (e) of this Code section and to establish a fair and equitable distribution of15
33	21		funds to local school systems, the State Board of Education shall annually determine a16
34		-	H. B. 371
35		-	- 1 - 25 HB 371/AP
	22	+	- 1 - 25 LC 49 2329S
36	23		level of authorization. Starting with fiscal year 2014 2027 applications for funds and for17
37	24		each fiscal year thereafter, the new authorization level may equal zero but shall not18
38	25		exceed $300 $375 million, adjusted annually to reflect the changes in the current annual19
39	26		construction cost data maintained by the Department of Education pursuant to paragraph20
40	27		(4) of subsection (c) of this Code section. For purposes of deliberations with the21
41	28		Governor and the General Assembly regarding the amount of state funds to be22
42	29		appropriated, calculations shall be made for at least three levels below the $300 $37523
43	30		million maximum authorization, adjusted as specified in this paragraph."24
44	31		SECTION 2.25
45	32		Said part is further amended in Code Section 20-2-261, relating to common minimum facility26
46	33		requirements, by revising subsection (a) as follows:27
47	34		"(a) The State Board of Education shall establish common minimum facility requirements28
48	35		which each public school facility must shall meet in order to be certified for use in any29
49	36		component of the educational or recreational program of that such school. Such minimum30
50	37		requirements shall:31
51	38		(1) Include such include those provisions of law or state board policy on matters that32
52	39		relate to:33
53	40		(A) Fire fire and physical safety;34
54	41		(B) Sanitation sanitation and health, including temperature and ventilation;35
55	42		(C) Minimum minimum space, size, and configuration for the various components of36
56	43		the instructional program; and37
57	44		(D) Construction construction stability, quality, and suitability for intended uses;. Such38
58	45		minimum requirements shall not39
59	46		(2) Not prohibit wood construction that is otherwise in compliance with state minimum40
60	47		standard codes as they existed on January 1, 2014. As used in this subsection, the term41
61		-	H. B. 371
62		-	- 2 - 25 HB 371/AP
	48	+	- 2 - 25 LC 49 2329S
63	49		'state minimum standard codes' shall have the same meaning as in paragraph (9) of Code42
64	50		Section 8-2-20; and43
65	51		(3) Provide that for each new elementary school constructed on or after July 1, 2027,44
66	52		which includes a playground, such playground shall meet the following design standards:45
67	53		(A) Provides a sensory-diverse environment that enables children of all abilities to46
68	54		develop physically, socially, and emotionally;47
69	55		(B) Provides an engaging play space with age and ability-appropriate levels of48
70	56		challenge and offers opportunities for children of all abilities to succeed, regardless of49
71	57		physical and intellectual attributes;50
72	58		(C) Enables all students to benefit from state mandated recess time for elementary51
73	59		students;52
74	60		(D) Capable for use as an outdoor classroom that is open to all students; and53
75	61		(E) Meets the following minimum guidelines:54
76	62		(i) Playground is accessible via a sidewalk or pathway from the school;55
77	63		(ii) Playground is a minimum of 10,000 square feet in area;56
78	64		(iii) Fencing surrounds and encloses the entire playground area;57
79	65		(iv) A minimum of 20 percent of the total playground area shall be shaded; provided,58
80	66		however, that such shaded area may comprise more than one area so long as the total59
81	67		shaded area meets or exceeds 20 percent of the total playground area; and, provided,60
82	68		further, that such shading may be provided by natural means, such as existing mature61
83	69		trees, or man-made means, such as sun canopies;62
84	70		(v) Unitary surfacing shall be used throughout at least 80 percent of the playground63
85	71		area. Examples of unitary surfacing include, but are not limited to, turf, bonded64
86	72		rubber, and poured in place rubber; and65
87	73		(vi) Multiple components that are installed on a portion of the playground with the66
88	74		unitary surfacing and are accessible for all users that address the physical, sensory,67
89		-	H. B. 371
90		-	- 3 - 25 HB 371/AP
	75	+	- 3 - 25 LC 49 2329S
91	76		cognitive, social, emotional, imaginative, and communication needs of those who will68
92	77		visit the playground, such as:69
93	78		(I) Communication boards;70
94	79		(II) Learning American Sign Language (ASL) alphabet panels;71
95	80		(III) Learning Braille alphabet panels;72
96	81		(IV) Roller slides;73
97	82		(V) Pieces of equipment that make music, such as chimes, drums, and bells;74
98	83		(VI) Adaptive or accessible swings;75
99	84		(VII) Play pieces that are accessible to a child remaining in a wheelchair that allows76
100	85		such child to play with other children;77
101	86		(VIII) Sensory panels;78
102	87		(IX) Wheelchair accessible raised structures; and79
103	88		(X) Wheelchair accessible slides."80
104	89		SECTION 3.81
105	90		This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2025.82
106	91		SECTION 4.83
107	92		All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.84
108		-	H. B. 371
109	93		- 4 -