Section 198:15-b - Amount of GrantI.(a) For construction authorized by a school district on or before July 1, 2013, the amount of the annual grant to any school district shall be the grant amount approved by the department of education at the time of final approval of the project.(b)(1) For construction authorized by a school district after July 1, 2013, the amount of grant to the school district shall be calculated based on the criteria set forth in RSA 198:15-u through RSA 198:15-w.(2) The state board of education shall approve the disbursement of 80 percent of the eligible grant amount upon approval of the application for school building aid grants by the state board of education, and shall disburse the balance of the grant amount upon completion of the construction and verification of the final cost of construction by the department of education.(3) The amount of the grant to any chartered public school established in accordance with RSA 194-B:3-a shall be 30 percent of the eligible cost of construction. For chartered public school construction projects, the amount of the annual grant to any chartered public school shall be a sum equal to 5 percent of the eligible grant amount each year for 20 years upon approval of the application for school building aid grants by the state board of education. Not more than 10 percent of the eligible grant amount shall be disbursed until the completion of the construction and verification of the final cost of construction have been made by the department of education.(4) Funds received from federal grants or grants from other state programs shall be subtracted from total project costs when computing grants under this paragraph.II. For the purposes of this subdivision, "eligible school construction projects" shall mean a project designed to be energy efficient and include any one or more of the following for the construction of instructional facilities: (a) Construction of a new school building, including land acquisition and development of a site.(b) Construction of an addition to an existing building, including land acquisition and development of a site.(c) Substantial renovations approved by the commissioner of education.(d) Purchase and renovation of existing buildings, including land acquisition and development of a site.(e) Purchase or lease-purchase of mechanical, structural, or electrical equipment, including the cost of installation of such equipment, which is designed to improve energy efficiency or indoor air quality in school buildings. All grant amounts awarded under this subparagraph shall be returned to the state if such equipment is removed from the school building by the vendor due to the school district's failure to comply with the terms of the lease-purchase agreement. Lease-purchase agreements shall be subject to the requirements of RSA 33:7-e.III. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply to any school building aid grants made pursuant to RSA 198:15-a through RSA 198:15-w. (a) The department of education shall issue annually maximum eligible cost standards for the eligible school construction projects, qualifying for a school building aid grant. These standards shall take into account the type, size, and location of the school and shall be based on an appropriate construction cost index developed or adopted by the department which shall reflect cost differences in the several regions of the state. Maximum cost standards shall be computed and published annually and expressed as a maximum cost per square foot.(b) The state board of education shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A relative to the maximum eligible size standards for the construction of school buildings qualifying for a school building aid grant. These standards shall take into account the type and size of the school and shall be based on the minimum size appropriate for the construction of a school. Maximum size standards shall be expressed as a maximum gross square footage per pupil. Space determined by the department to be excessive or unnecessary to fulfill educational needs shall not be eligible for state building aid grants.(c) The state board of education shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A relative to the maximum usable site size for land purchases qualifying for a school building aid grant. These standards shall take into account the type and size of the school and shall be based on the minimum site size appropriate for the construction of a school. (d) For the purpose of calculating the total school building aid grants made under RSA 198:15-a through RSA 198:15-w, the final approved cost for an eligible school construction project shall not exceed the cost that would result if the project conformed to the maximum cost and size standards. The provisions of this section shall not preclude an eligible applicant from exceeding the maximum standards provided, however, the cost of the portion of the facilities which exceed the maximum standards shall not be eligible for school building aid grants.(e) The commissioner of the department of education shall have the authority to waive eligible cost and size standards for an eligible school construction project for good reason shown.IV. All school building aid grants shall be deposited into an established school district expendable trust created pursuant to RSA 198:20-c, with unused building aid grant funds remaining invested at all times. School construction project funds maintained in the expendable trust shall not be commingled with non-project funds of the district. All interest accrued shall be used for operation and maintenance cost or capital improvement projects for the related school facility.Amended by 2024, 226:3, eff. 9/17/2024.Amended by 2024, 226:2, eff. 9/17/2024.Amended by 2024, 47:2, eff. 7/1/2024.Amended by 2023, 35:1, eff. 7/1/2023.Amended by 2013 , 226: 2, eff. 9/13/2013.Amended by 2013 , 239: 1, eff. 9/13/2013.Amended by 2012 , 275: 2, eff. 8/18/2012.