S1518

An Act concerning school facilities, supplementing P.L.2000, c.72 (C.18A:7G-1 et al.), and making an appropriation.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. The Office of School Facilities in the Department of Education shall establish a program to inspect, evaluate, and repair or replace roofs and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in school districts. Under the program, an evaluation shall be conducted of the roofs and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems of all school buildings which are: owned by a school district; 75 or more years old; and used to provide instruction.

b. A school district may submit to the Office of School Facilities an evaluation conducted by a licensed professional within the previous five years in place of the evaluation to be conducted by the office pursuant to subsection a. of this section.

c. Based on the evaluations conducted by the Office of School Facilities or submitted to the office by a school district and each school district’s long-range facilities plan submitted pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2000, c.72 (C.18A:7G-4), the Office of School Facilities shall repair or replace the roofs and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems of each school district that meets the requirements of subsection a. of this section in a priority order established by the Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer of the Schools Development Authority, subject to the availability of appropriated funds. The commissioner shall prioritize projects that enhance student safety.

d. All inspections, evaluations, and repairs or replacements conducted pursuant to this section shall be conducted by a licensed contractor or subcontractor who is:

(1) employed directly by the Department of Education; or

(2) enters into a contract with the Department of Education to provide such services, subject to any applicable State procurement laws.

e. All costs associated with inspections, evaluations, and repairs or replacements conducted pursuant to this section shall be borne by the State.

2. There is established in the Department of Education a dedicated, nonlapsing fund, designated as the “School District Roof and HVAC Project Fund.” Monies in the fund shall be used for the purpose of funding roof and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning projects conducted pursuant to section 1 of this act.

3. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the “School District Roof and HVAC Project Fund” the sum of $500,000,000.

4. This act shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month next following the date of enactment, except that the Commissioner of Education may take any anticipatory action as may be necessary for the implementation of this act.

STATEMENT

This bill requires the Office of School Facilities within the Department of Education to establish a program to inspect, evaluate, and repair or replace roofs and HVAC systems in certain school buildings.

Under the bill, the Office of School Facilities would evaluate the roofs and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems of all school buildings which are: owned by a school district; 75 or more years old; and used to provide instruction. In place of this evaluation, a school district may submit an evaluation conducted by a licensed professional within the previous five years.

Based on the evaluations conducted by the office or submitted to the office by school districts and each school district’s long-range facilities plan, the office is required to repair or replace the roofs and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems of each school district which meets the requirements of the bill in a priority order established by the Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer of the Schools Development Authority, subject to the availability of appropriated funds. The commissioner is required to prioritize capital projects that enhance student safety.

The bill requires all inspections, evaluations, and repairs or replacements conducted pursuant to the provisions of the bill to be conducted by a licensed contractor or subcontractor who is: employed directly by the Department of Education or enters into a contract with the Department of Education to provide such services, subject to any applicable State procurement laws.

The bill stipulates that all costs associated with inspections, evaluations, and repairs or replacements conducted under the bill are to be borne by the State.

Finally, the bill appropriates $500 million to a dedicated, nonlapsing fund, designated under the bill as the “School District Roof and HVAC Project Fund.” Monies in the fund would be used for the purpose of funding roof and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning projects conducted pursuant to the provisions of the bill.