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                                                       PRINTER'S NO. 441

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


SENATE BILL

No. 417 Session of 2005


        INTRODUCED BY MUSTO, KITCHEN, TARTAGLIONE, COSTA, STOUT, O'PAKE,
           RAFFERTY, D. WHITE, LEMMOND, BOSCOLA, ERICKSON, WOZNIAK,
           GREENLEAF, PIPPY, PILEGGI, STACK, C. WILLIAMS, GORDNER,
           MELLOW, FUMO, HUGHES, LOGAN AND RHOADES, MARCH 21, 2005

        REFERRED TO EDUCATION, MARCH 21, 2005

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
     2     act relating to the public school system, including certain
     3     provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
     4     schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
     5     laws relating thereto," further providing for reimbursable
     6     rental for leases and reimbursable sinking fund charges on
     7     indebtedness.

     8     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     9  hereby enacts as follows:
    10     Section 1.  Section 2574(e) of the act of March 10, 1949
    11  (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949,
    12  amended July 10, 1987 (P.L.286, No.50), is amended, subsections
    13  (b) and (c) are amended by adding paragraphs and the section is
    14  amended by adding subsections to read:
    15     Section 2574.  Approved Reimbursable Rental for Leases
    16  Hereafter Approved and Approved Reimbursable Sinking Fund
    17  Charges on Indebtedness.--* * *
    18     (b)  For new school buildings the approved building
    19  construction cost shall be the lesser of


     1     * * *
     2     (4)  For school buildings for which the general construction
     3  contract is awarded subsequent to January 1, 2005, and for
     4  approved school building projects for which the general
     5  construction contract was awarded but for which a lease or
     6  general obligation bond resolution was not approved by the
     7  Department of Education prior to January 1, 2005, the product of
     8  the rated pupil capacity as determined by the Department of
     9  Education at the time the project is approved and (i) four
    10  thousand seven hundred dollars ($4,700) in the case of
    11  elementary schools, (ii) six thousand two hundred dollars
    12  ($6,200) in the case of secondary schools, (iii) an amount in
    13  the case of combined elementary-secondary schools obtained by
    14  multiplying the rated elementary pupil capacity by four thousand
    15  seven hundred dollars ($4,700) and the rated secondary pupil
    16  capacity by six thousand two hundred dollars ($6,200) and
    17  dividing the sum by the total rated pupil capacity.
    18     (b.1)  For school buildings constructed from school facility
    19  design clearinghouse standards received from a Department of
    20  Education approved school facility design clearinghouse, for
    21  which the general construction contract is awarded subsequent to
    22  January 1, 2005, and for approved school building projects for
    23  which the general construction contract was awarded but for
    24  which a lease or general obligation bond resolution was not
    25  approved by the Department of Education prior to January 1,
    26  2005, the approved building construction cost shall additionally
    27  include the product of the rated pupil capacity as determined by
    28  the Department of Education at the time the project is approved
    29  and (i) four hundred seventy dollars ($470) in the case of
    30  elementary schools, (ii) six hundred twenty dollars ($620) in
    20050S0417B0441                  - 2 -     

     1  the case of secondary schools, (iii) an amount in the case of
     2  combined elementary-secondary schools obtained by multiplying
     3  the rated elementary pupil capacity by four hundred seventy
     4  dollars ($470) and the rated secondary pupil capacity by six
     5  hundred twenty dollars ($620) and dividing the sum by the total
     6  rated pupil capacity.
     7     (c)  For additions or alterations to existing buildings
     8  approved building construction cost shall be the lesser of
     9     * * *
    10     (4)  For school buildings for which the general construction
    11  contract is awarded subsequent to January 1, 2005, and for
    12  approved school building projects for which the general
    13  construction contract was awarded but for which a lease or
    14  general obligation bond resolution was not approved by the
    15  Department of Education prior to January 1, 2005, the difference
    16  obtained by subtracting the appraisal value of the existing
    17  building from the product of the rated pupil capacity of the
    18  altered or expanded building as determined by the Department of
    19  Education at the time the project is approved and (i) four
    20  thousand seven hundred dollars ($4,700) in the case of
    21  elementary schools, (ii) six thousand two hundred dollars
    22  ($6,200) in the case of secondary schools, (iii) an amount in
    23  the case of combined elementary-secondary schools obtained by
    24  multiplying the rated elementary pupil capacity by four thousand
    25  seven hundred dollars ($4,700) and the rated secondary pupil
    26  capacity by six thousand two hundred dollars ($6,200) and
    27  dividing the sum by the total rated pupil capacity of the
    28  altered or expanded building.
    29     * * *
    30     (c.3)  For school buildings for which the general
    20050S0417B0441                  - 3 -     

     1  construction contract is awarded on or after January 1, 2005,
     2  and for approved school building projects for which the general
     3  construction contract was awarded but for which a lease or
     4  general obligation bond resolution was not approved by the
     5  Department of Education prior to January 1, 2005, and where the
     6  general construction contract alters or adds to an existing
     7  school building in lieu of construction of a new school
     8  building, the approved building construction cost shall
     9  additionally include the difference obtained by subtracting the
    10  appraisal value of the existing building from the product of the
    11  rated pupil capacity of the altered or expanded building as
    12  determined by the Department of Education at the time the
    13  project is approved and (i) four hundred seventy dollars ($470)
    14  in the case of elementary schools, (ii) six hundred twenty
    15  dollars ($620) in the case of secondary schools, (iii) an amount
    16  in the case of combined elementary-secondary schools obtained by
    17  multiplying the rated elementary pupil capacity by four hundred
    18  seventy dollars ($470) and the rated secondary pupil capacity by
    19  six hundred twenty dollars ($620) and dividing the sum by the
    20  total rated pupil capacity.
    21     (c.4)  For school buildings for which the general
    22  construction contract is awarded on or after January 1, 2005,
    23  and for approved school building projects for which the general
    24  construction contract was awarded but for which a lease or
    25  general obligation bond resolution was not approved by the
    26  Department of Education prior to January 1, 2005, and where the
    27  school building receives a silver, gold or platinum
    28  certification from the United States Green Building Council's
    29  Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building
    30  Rating System on or after January 1, 2005, the Department of
    20050S0417B0441                  - 4 -     

     1  Education shall adjust the approved building construction cost
     2  to additionally include the product of the rated pupil capacity
     3  as determined by the Department of Education at the time the
     4  project is approved and (i) four hundred seventy dollars ($470)
     5  in the case of elementary schools, (ii) six hundred twenty
     6  dollars ($620) in the case of secondary schools, (iii) an amount
     7  in the case of combined elementary-secondary schools obtained by
     8  multiplying the rated elementary pupil capacity by four hundred
     9  seventy dollars ($470) and the rated secondary pupil capacity by
    10  six hundred twenty dollars ($620) and dividing the sum by the
    11  total rated pupil capacity. The Department of Education in
    12  consultation with the Governor's Green Government Council shall
    13  issue guidelines to carry out this section.
    14     * * *
    15     (e)  For area vocational-technical school and technical
    16  institute projects leased subsequent to July 1, 1964, by or for
    17  lease to a board of school directors authorized to operate such
    18  a school, the Department of Education shall calculate an
    19  approved reimbursable rental charge.
    20     For area vocational-technical school and technical institute
    21  projects constructed or purchased subsequent to July 1, 1964, by
    22  a board of school directors authorized to operate such a school,
    23  the Department of Education may calculate an approved
    24  reimbursable sinking fund charge.
    25     Approved reimbursable rental or sinking fund charge shall
    26  consist of that part of the annual rental or sinking fund
    27  attributable to:
    28     (1)  Cost of acquiring land and preparing it for use to the
    29  extent that such costs are deemed reasonable by the Department
    30  of Education and the interest on such cost of acquisition, cost
    20050S0417B0441                  - 5 -     

     1  of preparation and the cost of sewage treatment and the interest
     2  on such cost.
     3     (2)  Machinery, apparatus, furniture and equipment and all
     4  other necessary expenses and interest charges, but excluding
     5  architects' fees in excess of six percent of the construction
     6  cost.
     7     The approved building construction cost and the interest on
     8  such construction cost shall not exceed the product of the rated
     9  full-time pupil capacity, as determined by the Department of
    10  Education at the time the project is approved and two thousand
    11  two hundred dollars ($2,200).
    12     The provisions of the foregoing paragraph shall apply to all
    13  school building projects for which the general construction
    14  contract is awarded prior to July 1, 1966, and for approved
    15  school building projects for which a lease was approved by the
    16  Department of Education prior to July 1, 1966. For school
    17  buildings for which the general construction contract is awarded
    18  subsequent to July 1, 1966, and for approved school building
    19  projects for which the general construction contract was awarded
    20  but for which a lease was not approved by the Department of
    21  Education prior to July 1, 1966, the approved building
    22  construction cost and the interest on such construction cost
    23  shall not exceed the product of the rated full-time pupil
    24  capacity, as determined by the Department of Education at the
    25  time the project is approved, and three thousand seven hundred
    26  dollars ($3700).
    27     For school buildings for which the general construction
    28  contract is awarded subsequent to July 1, 1984, and for approved
    29  school building projects for which the general construction
    30  contract was awarded but for which a lease or general obligation
    20050S0417B0441                  - 6 -     

     1  bond resolution was not approved by the Department of Education
     2  prior to July 1, 1984, the approved building construction cost
     3  and the interest on such construction cost shall not exceed the
     4  product of the rated full-time pupil capacity, as determined by
     5  the Department of Education at the time the project is approved,
     6  and six thousand three hundred dollars ($6,300).
     7     For school buildings for which the general construction
     8  contract is awarded subsequent to January 1, 2005, and for
     9  approved school building projects for which the general
    10  construction contract was awarded but for which a lease or
    11  general obligation bond resolution was not approved by the
    12  Department of Education prior to January 1, 2005, the approved
    13  building construction cost shall not exceed the product of the
    14  rated full-time pupil capacity, as determined by the Department
    15  of Education at the time the project is approved, and seven
    16  thousand six hundred dollars ($7,600).
    17     The Department of Education shall not approve the expenditure
    18  of any funds borrowed or obtained by the sale of bonds by any
    19  authority, nonprofit corporation, profit corporation, company or
    20  individual for construction of area vocational-technical schools
    21  or technical institutes for bleachers, athletic field, lighting
    22  equipment or apparatus used to promote and conduct
    23  interscholastic athletics.
    24     * * *
    25     Section 2.  This act shall take effect immediately.




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