2008 Legislative Session
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Cowen Institute's Agenda for the 2008 Regular Legislative Session
Public schools around our country and most specifically in Louisiana are in dire need of repairs, maintenance, renovation or new construction. Studies have shown that student achievement increases when students have access high quality school buildings. Many of our students in Louisiana go to school in buildings that have mold, extreme temperatures, asbestos, few restrooms and overcrowded classrooms. We must take the first step in providing the appropriate facilities to our children, so they have the tools to succeed. Forty-one other states provide some form state funding for their school facilities. Louisiana is not one of them. Louisiana ranks the forth lowest among all states in terms of funding for public school facilities. We must do better. The following bills will provide funding for school buildings statewide:
- SB 632 establishes a facilities authority, which would place all of the school buildings in Louisiana under one authority under the Department of Education and would be composed of individuals with expertise in the school building process, elected officials, and education administrators. The authority would help ensure an equitable distribution of state level funding for school facilities, provide technical expertise to increase efficient use of funds, and help leverage local funds for facilities. [more info...]
- HB 962 establishes a fund in the state treasure that will be used to provide funding for the facilities authority created under SB 632. Funding would equal $60 million annually from corporate taxes, sales and use taxes and fees from riverboat gaming activities. All school districts struggle with facilities issues in some fashion—whether they have older facilities in need of major repairs, outdated classrooms that need modern technology, or facilities that are too small to serve the current population. The Facilities Fund will provide a predictable source of facilities funding to school districts throughout the state to help address these issues. [more info...]
- HB 1054 allows local school boards to establish public benefit corporations for the improvement of school facilities. The primary advantage to school districts from this legislation is to take advantage of New Market Tax Credits. The New Market Tax Credit program is designed to increase investment in economically distressed or low-income communities by leveraging funding that organizations receive from other sources. This bill would remove barriers that currently prohibit local school districts from leveraging their funds with New Market Tax Credits. [more info...]
These three bills are a solution to addressing the crumbling school facilities around Louisiana. They all provide additional funding and put a structure in place, so that we can invest in the facilities where our children and teachers spend the majority of our days. It is imperative that SB 632, HB 962 and HB 1054 get passed during this session. Our children have waited long enough.
If you would like more information on specific bills, please contact Nash Molpus at nmolpus@tulane.edu and she can direct you to the appropriate place.
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