Maryland § 5-313

§ 5-313.

    (a)    (1)    In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

        (2)    “Program” means the Capital Grant Program for Local School Systems With Significant Enrollment Growth or Relocatable Classrooms.

        (3)    “Significant enrollment growth” means full–time equivalent enrollment growth in a local school system that has exceeded 150% of the statewide average over the past 5 years.

        (4)    “Significant number of relocatable classrooms” means an average of more than 250 relocatable classrooms in a local school system over the past 5 years.

    (b)    (1)    There is a Capital Grant Program for Local School Systems With Significant Enrollment Growth or Relocatable Classrooms.

        (2)    The purpose of the Program is to provide grants for public school construction in local school systems that are experiencing significant enrollment growth or a significant number of relocatable classrooms.

    (c)    (1)    The Program shall be implemented and administered by the Interagency Commission on School Construction in accordance with this section.

        (2)    Grants awarded by the Interagency Commission under the Program shall be matched by local funds equal to the required local cost–share established in accordance with § 5–303(d)(3) of this subtitle.

    (d)    The Interagency Commission shall:

        (1)    Provide grants from State funds dedicated for the Program to county boards for public school construction in local school systems that are experiencing significant enrollment growth or a significant number of relocatable classrooms;

        (2)    Develop a procedure for a county board to apply for a grant under the Program;

        (3)    Develop eligibility requirements for a county board to receive a grant under the Program, including a requirement for a county board to provide funds to match a grant award;

        (4)    For the first $40,000,000 of grants, develop a process to allocate grant awards under the Program that allocate funds based on each eligible county board’s proportionate share of the total full–time equivalent enrollment of the county boards that are eligible to participate in the Program; and

        (5)    After the allocation of grants under item (4) of this subsection, for the remaining grants, develop a process to allocate grant awards under the Program that allocates funds based on each eligible county board’s proportionate share of percentage of enrollment growth above the statewide average percentage.

    (e)    In addition to the annual amount otherwise provided in the capital improvement program of the Public School Construction Program, the Governor annually shall provide an additional amount as follows in the operating budget or capital improvement program of the Public School Construction Program that may be used only to award grants under the Program:

        (1)    In fiscal year 2016, $20,000,000;

        (2)    In each of fiscal years 2017 through 2026, $40,000,000; and

        (3)    In fiscal year 2027 and each fiscal year thereafter, $80,000,000.

    (f)    The State funding provided under the Program is supplemental to and is not intended to take the place of funding that would otherwise be appropriated for public school construction purposes to a county board from any other source.

    (g)    The Interagency Commission shall adopt procedures necessary to implement this section.