SF 3722

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 11/03/2020 03:43pm

A bill for an act
relating to education finance; authorizing Independent School District No. 709,
Duluth, to transfer levy authority from the long-term facilities maintenance revenue
program to the debt redemption fund; requiring a report; authorizing the sale of
bonds.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin SCHOOL BUILDING EFFICIENCIES; DULUTH SCHOOL DISTRICT.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Plan. new text end

new text begin (a) Independent School District No. 709, Duluth, must develop a
plan to sell Historic Old Central High School to another party. The plan must document the
current operating costs of the facility, the expected maintenance costs for the facility over
the next 20 years, and describe the alternatives for the programs and staff currently located
at Historic Old Central High School.
new text end

new text begin (b) The plan must also document potential building projects, which may include:
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new text begin (1) constructing or acquiring new administrative space;
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new text begin (2) adding transportation maintenance and bus storage facilities;
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new text begin (3) improving roads and infrastructure; and
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new text begin (4) preparing sites for building or demolishing the Duluth Central High School facility
constructed in 1971.
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new text begin (c) The plan must be submitted by the school board to the commissioner of education
after the hearing required in subdivision 2.
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new text begin new text end

new text begin (d) The commissioner must examine the plan, and if the commissioner concludes that
the plan will yield financial, student, and staff efficiencies for the district, approve the plan.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Public hearing. new text end

new text begin At least 30 days prior to submitting the projects listed in the
plan developed under subdivision 1 for review and comment, the school board must hold
a public hearing on the plan and the building projects. The school board must allow public
testimony on the proposal.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Review and comment. new text end

new text begin The district must submit the projects included in the
plan to the commissioner of education for review and comment under Minnesota Statutes,
section 123B.71.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Bond authorization. new text end

new text begin (a) Independent School District No. 709, Duluth, may
issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $31,500,000 under this section
to finance the school facility plan approved by the district and the commissioner of education
under subdivision 1. The district must comply with Minnesota Statutes, chapter 475, except
Minnesota Statutes, sections 475.58 and 475.59. The authority to issue bonds under this
section is in addition to any other bonding authority granted to the district.
new text end

new text begin (b) At least 20 days before the issuance of bonds or the final certification of levies under
this section, the district must publish notice of the intended projects, the amount of the bonds
to be issued, and the total amount of the district's debt.
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new text begin (c) The debt service required by the bonds issued is debt service revenue under Minnesota
Statutes, section 123B.53.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Long-term facilities maintenance revenue. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of education
must ensure that the district's long-term facilities maintenance plan under Minnesota Statutes,
section 123B.595 reflects the savings outlined in the plan developed in subdivision 1.
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new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin On February 15 of each even-numbered year, Independent School
District No. 709, Duluth, must submit a report on the outcomes and efficiencies achieved
under this section to the commissioner of education and to the chairs and ranking minority
members of the legislative committees having jurisdiction over education finance.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end