BILL NUMBER:  S7290

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the education law, in relation to
building aid for reconstruction or modernizing projects of the
Rochester joint schools construction board

 PURPOSE :

For the purpose of making the most efficient use of resources and to
maximize the educational benefit of the reconstruction and
modernization of Rochester City School District (RCSD) buildings
pursuant to chapter 533 of the laws of 2014, this bill would authorize
two multi-year cost allowances in a five-year period for eight
projects for the computation of Building Aid. In consideration of this
authorization, additional multi-year cost allowances could not be
reset for effected buildings for a period of ten-years after
establishment of the first maximum cost allowance authorized by this
bill.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section one of the bill amends paragraph (a) of subdivision 6 of
section 3602 of the education law by adding a new subparagraph 6 to
such paragraph (a) to provide that not more than eight projects
related to the reconstruction or modernization of school buildings in
the RCSD pursuant to the provisions of chapter 533 shall be permitted
              

to utilize two multi-year cost allowances in a five-year period. The
new subparagraph 6 also provides that subsequent multi-year cost
allowances may not be established for a period of ten-years from the
date of the first multiyear cost allowance authorized by this
subparagraph.

Section 2 of the bill provides that the act shall take effect
immediately.

 JUSTIFICATION :

Chapter 533 of the laws of 2014 authorized Phase II of the RCSD
Facilities Modernization Program (FMP) at a cost of $435 million.
From their Phase I experience, the RCSD and the Rochester Joint School
Construction Board have learned how to most efficiently use limited
resources, deliver completed projects in a timely manner and minimize
disruption to the educational experience of students during
construction. They have applied this experience in developing the
Phase II Strategic Plan.

The State utilizes multi-year cost allowances when calculating
Building Aid for eligible capital projects. Once a district has
reached its maximum cost allowance (MCA) for a particular project,
additional state contribution is not available for a period of
five-years. This particular limitation has an adverse impact on the
efficient execution of the RCSD FMP, increases the costs of these
projects, restricts the use of limited resources and unnecessarily
disrupts the academic process.

The current RCSD FMP Phase II Strategic Plan includes 13 projects but
can only be achieved if eight of the projects are provided with two
multi-year cost allowances, which would be authorized pursuant to this
bill. If this variance is not provided, fewer schools will be fully
renovated in Phase II and full utilization of the $435 million would
require a larger number of projects that are significantly narrower in
scope. As such, the long-term soft costs and disruption to students
would be increased with the need to complete full renovations at
certain schools over the course of many years in additional FMP
phases.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

None.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

No additional cost to the State.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.