DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of
the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of
the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Leger HB No. 941
Abstract: Provides for the dedication of $775 per pupil attending schools owned by the school
board of certain school districts to various funds and purposes related to the preservation
and improvement of school facilities.
Proposed law provides for the dedication of $775 per pupil attending schools owned by the
school board of certain school districts to various funds and purposes related to the preservation
and improvement of school facilities. Proposed law applies to school districts where schools
have been transferred to the Recovery School District (RSD), pursuant to specified present law.
Provides that such funds shall first be used for existing debt service until current debts are
retired. Prohibits the school board from refinancing such debt.
Provides for the allocation and use of the funds derived from the $775 per pupil calculation and
remaining after such debt payments are made; such funds are referred to as "facility funds".
Requires the school board to transfer to the RSD a proportion of facility funds based on the
proportion of students in school buildings it controls.
Requires both the school board and the RSD to do all of the following:
(1)Create a facilities office. Proposed law specifies amounts of facility funds that shall be
used to fund the facilities offices. Provides that the office is responsible for managing
building leases and administering the programs established by proposed law. Authorizes
the office to offer additional facilities services to charter schools and charge fees for such
services pursuant to a written agreement.
(2)Establish an emergency repair account. Proposed law specifies amounts of facility funds
that shall be deposited into such account. Requires that money in the account be used to
pay for emergency repairs, replacements, or contingency preparations up to a prescribed
per incident maximum. Requires policies governing the expenditure of money in the
account.
(3)Establish a planned capital replacements account. Proposed law requires the deposit of
all remaining facility funds received into this account. Money in this account is to be
used for planned, large-scale, capital campus repairs or replacement to permanent
facilities including preemptive replacement of major building components. Requires approval of each expenditure of money in this accounts by a two-thirds vote of the school
board or BESE, as applicable.
(4)Establish a facility capital improvement financing process. Proposed law provides that a
charter school may be credited up to $5,000 per pupil for making improvements to its
campus. Provides conditions on receipt of such credits and provides relative to the
amount of facility funds that is to be used for this purpose. Proposed law requires the school board and the RSD to have written agreements with each
charter school occupying a campus it controls, which agreements shall specify terms such as the
right for the school board or RSD to inspect and monitor the campus; requirements for
maintenance and inspection; procedures for addressing noncompliance with facilities
requirements.
(Adds R.S. 17:100.11)