MN SF718

School boards, intermediate school district boards, and education districts must first offer buildings for sale to charter schools before offering them to other entities, effective July 1, 2009.

School boards, intermediate school district boards, and education districts must first offer unoccupied buildings for lease to charter schools before offering them to other entities for lease, effective July 1, 2009.

Charter schools may refuse offers from school districts if the charter school's offer is not competitive in the purchase or leasing market.

Charter schools unable to lease space from eligible public or nonprofit organizations may lease from other nonsectarian organizations with Department of Education approval, or from sectarian organizations if the space is constructed as a school facility and approved by the Department of Education.

Charter schools may own land and buildings obtained through nonstate sources, but state money cannot be used to purchase land or buildings, effective July 1, 2009.