CS/CS/HB 873 - Education Funding Summary

• Modifies charter school capital outlay funding calculations and eligibility requirements, changing from one-fortieth to one-fifteenth of cost per student station and adjusting charter school operational history requirement from 2 to 3 years.

• Allows enterprise resource software to be acquired by annual license fees, maintenance fees, or lease agreements rather than only through traditional purchase methods.

• Revises Special Facility Construction Account criteria by reducing preapplication review timeline from 90 to 60 days, requiring surveys be cooperatively prepared by district and department, and prohibiting consultants from receiving compensation from third parties that design or construct recommended projects.

• Establishes maximum cost per student station thresholds ($17,952 for elementary, $19,386 for middle, $25,181 for high schools as of January 2006, adjusted annually) and restricts district use of state capital outlay funds for new construction exceeding these limits, with non-compliant districts becoming ineligible for allocations for 3 years.

• Requires Department of Education to conduct a study of total cost per student station and report findings to Governor and Legislature by March 1, 2017; takes effect July 1, 2016.