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                                                       PRINTER'S NO. 760

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 654 Session of 2003


        INTRODUCED BY TIGUE, CAWLEY, DeWEESE, D. EVANS, KELLER,
           YUDICHAK, GRUCELA, HENNESSEY, WOJNAROSKI, GORDNER, RUBLEY,
           YOUNGBLOOD, HARHAI, SCAVELLO, GODSHALL, TANGRETTI, GOODMAN,
           SEMMEL, LEACH, STABACK, HORSEY, SCHRODER, HESS, WRIGHT,
           SAYLOR, McCALL, BEBKO-JONES, PALLONE, LEWIS, WALKO,
           SCRIMENTI, BUXTON, MELIO, BAKER, SATHER, CORRIGAN, ROBERTS,
           DALLY, NAILOR, BELARDI, SANTONI, CURRY, SAINATO, BELFANTI,
           EACHUS, THOMAS, GEORGE, WATSON, PISTELLA, SOLOBAY AND MUNDY,
           MARCH 4, 2003

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 4, 2003

                                     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 approved
     6     reimbursable rental for leases hereafter approved and
     7     approved reimbursable sinking fund charges on 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 and
    13  subsections (b) and (c) are amended by adding clauses to read:
    14     Section 2574.  Approved Reimbursable Rental for Leases
    15  Hereafter Approved and Approved Reimbursable Sinking Fund
    16  Charges on Indebtedness.--* * *
    17     (b)  For new school buildings the approved building

     1  construction cost shall be the lesser of
     2     * * *
     3     (4)  For school buildings for which the general construction
     4  contract is awarded on or after July 1, 2003, the product of the
     5  rated pupil capacity as determined by the Department of
     6  Education at the time the project is approved and (i) four
     7  thousand seven hundred dollars ($4,700) in the case of
     8  elementary schools, (ii) six thousand two hundred dollars
     9  ($6,200) in the case of secondary schools, (iii) an amount in
    10  the case of combined elementary-secondary schools obtained by
    11  multiplying the rated elementary pupil capacity by four thousand
    12  seven hundred dollars ($4,700) and the rated secondary pupil
    13  capacity by six thousand two hundred dollars ($6,200) and
    14  dividing the sum by the total rated pupil capacity.
    15     (c)  For additions or alterations to existing buildings
    16  approved building construction cost shall be the lesser of
    17     * * *
    18     (4)  For school buildings for which the general construction
    19  contract is awarded on or after July 1, 2003, the difference
    20  obtained by subtracting the appraisal value of the existing
    21  building from the product of the rated pupil capacity of the
    22  altered or expanded building as determined by the Department of
    23  Education at the time the project is approved and (i) four
    24  thousand seven hundred dollars ($4,700) in the case of
    25  elementary schools, (ii) six thousand two hundred dollars
    26  ($6,200) in the case of secondary schools, (iii) an amount in
    27  the case of combined elementary-secondary schools obtained by
    28  multiplying the rated elementary pupil capacity by four thousand
    29  seven hundred dollars ($4,700) and the rated secondary pupil
    30  capacity by six thousand two hundred dollars ($6,200) and
    20030H0654B0760                  - 2 -     

     1  dividing the sum by the total rated pupil capacity of the
     2  altered or expanded building.
     3     * * *
     4     (e)  For area vocational-technical school and technical
     5  institute projects leased subsequent to July 1, 1964, by or for
     6  lease to a board of school directors authorized to operate such
     7  a school, the Department of Education shall calculate an
     8  approved reimbursable rental charge.
     9     For area vocational-technical school and technical institute
    10  projects constructed or purchased subsequent to July 1, 1964, by
    11  a board of school directors authorized to operate such a school,
    12  the Department of Education may calculate an approved
    13  reimbursable sinking fund charge.
    14     Approved reimbursable rental or sinking fund charge shall
    15  consist of that part of the annual rental or sinking fund
    16  attributable to:
    17     (1)  Cost of acquiring land and preparing it for use to the
    18  extent that such costs are deemed reasonable by the Department
    19  of Education and the interest on such cost of acquisition, cost
    20  of preparation and the cost of sewage treatment and the interest
    21  on such cost.
    22     (2)  Machinery, apparatus, furniture and equipment and all
    23  other necessary expenses and interest charges, but excluding
    24  architects' fees in excess of six percent of the construction
    25  cost.
    26     The approved building construction cost and the interest on
    27  such construction cost shall not exceed the product of the rated
    28  full-time pupil capacity, as determined by the Department of
    29  Education at the time the project is approved and two thousand
    30  two hundred dollars ($2,200).
    20030H0654B0760                  - 3 -     

     1     The provisions of the foregoing paragraph shall apply to all
     2  school building projects for which the general construction
     3  contract is awarded prior to July 1, 1966, and for approved
     4  school building projects for which a lease was approved by the
     5  Department of Education prior to July 1, 1966. For school
     6  buildings for which the general construction contract is awarded
     7  subsequent to July 1, 1966, and for approved school building
     8  projects for which the general construction contract was awarded
     9  but for which a lease was not approved by the Department of
    10  Education prior to July 1, 1966, the approved building
    11  construction cost and the interest on such construction cost
    12  shall not exceed the product of the rated full-time pupil
    13  capacity, as determined by the Department of Education at the
    14  time the project is approved, and three thousand seven hundred
    15  dollars ($3700).
    16     For school buildings for which the general construction
    17  contract is awarded subsequent to July 1, 1984, and for approved
    18  school building projects for which the general construction
    19  contract was awarded but for which a lease or general obligation
    20  bond resolution was not approved by the Department of Education
    21  prior to July 1, 1984, the approved building construction cost
    22  and the interest on such construction cost shall not exceed the
    23  product of the rated full-time pupil capacity, as determined by
    24  the Department of Education at the time the project is approved,
    25  and six thousand three hundred dollars ($6,300).
    26     For school buildings for which the general construction
    27  contract is awarded on or after July 1, 2003, the approved
    28  building construction cost and the interest on such construction
    29  cost shall not exceed the product of the rated full-time pupil
    30  capacity, as determined by the Department of Education at the
    20030H0654B0760                  - 4 -     

     1  time the project is approved, and seven thousand six hundred
     2  dollars ($7,600).
     3     The Department of Education shall not approve the expenditure
     4  of any funds borrowed or obtained by the sale of bonds by any
     5  authority, nonprofit corporation, profit corporation, company or
     6  individual for construction of area vocational-technical schools
     7  or technical institutes for bleachers, athletic field, lighting
     8  equipment or apparatus used to promote and conduct
     9  interscholastic athletics.
    10     * * *
    11     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2003.













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