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S.B. 131 Public Education Buildings Standards and Process

S.B. 131

2nd Sub.

Senator Wayne A. Harper proposes the following substitute bill:


1     
PUBLIC EDUCATION BUILDINGS STANDARDS AND

2     
PROCESS

3     
2021 GENERAL SESSION

4     
STATE OF UTAH

5     
Chief Sponsor: Wayne A. Harper

6     
House Sponsor: Susan Pulsipher

7     

8     LONG TITLE
9     General Description:
10          This bill amends provisions related to public school building construction guidelines
11     and plans.
12     Highlighted Provisions:
13          This bill:
14          ▸     requires to the State Board of Education (state board) to adopt guidelines for public
15     school construction;
16          ▸     requires the state auditor to publish information related to the cost of public school
17     construction on the Utah Public Finance Website;
18          ▸     permits the state board to create prototype school building plans that conform to the
19     guidelines for public school construction;
20          ▸     requires an LEA that has four or more school buildings and plans to renovate or
21     build school buildings in the next five years to:
22               •     adopt an educational facilities plan (facilities plan) for facilities maintenance
23     and renovation, and new school building construction, for a five or ten year
24     period;
25               •     update the facilities plan at least every five years;

26               •     submit the facilities plan to affected local governmental entities;
27               •     adopt and implement measures for involving the public in the process of
28     adopting the facilities plan;
29               •     provide an opportunity for the public to comment on the facilities plan; and
30               •     submit to the Division of Facilities Construction and Management reports
31     related to use of square footage in existing buildings, and cost of new school
32     construction;
33          ▸     requires the Department of Facilities Construction and Management to review
34     reports related to the cost of new school construction that an LEA submits;
35          ▸     requires local governmental entities to provide comment on a facilities plan that an
36     LEA submits;
37          ▸     defines terms; and
38          ▸     makes technical and conforming changes.
39     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
40          None
41     Other Special Clauses:
42          None
43     Utah Code Sections Affected:
44     AMENDS:
45          53E-3-702, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 186
46          53E-3-705, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapters 186 and 370
47          53E-3-708, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapter 1
48          63A-1-202, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 214 and renumbered and
49     amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 370
50     

51     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
52          Section 1. Section 53E-3-702 is amended to read:
53          53E-3-702. School construction guidelines -- Prototype school construction plans
54     -- Evaluation of school design and construction process.
55          (1) As used in this section[, "public]:
56          (a) "Guidelines" means the guidelines for public school construction the state board

57     adopts under Subsection (2).
58          (b) (i) "Major renovation" means public school construction that affects more than 40%
59     of an existing public school building's area.
60          (ii) "Major renovation" includes:
61          (A) remodeling an existing public school building; and
62          (B) an addition to an existing public school building.
63          (c) "New construction" means construction of a new public school building.
64          (d) (i) "Public school building" means a building any part of which an LEA uses as a
65     public kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, junior high school, or high school.
66          (ii) "Public school building" does not include:
67          (A) a portable classroom; or
68          (B) a school facility as that term is defined in Section 63A-1-202.
69          (e) (i) "Public school construction" means construction work on a [new] public school
70     building.
71          (ii) "Public school construction" includes new construction and major renovation.
72          (f) "Teacher" means an individual who is:
73          (A) employed by an LEA;
74          (B) required to hold an educator license issued by the state board; and
75          (C) assigned to teach in a classroom.
76          (2) (a) The state board shall:
77          (i) on or before August 1, 2022, adopt guidelines for public school construction; and
78          (ii) consult with the Division of Facilities Construction and Management
79     Administration on proposed guidelines before adoption.
80          (b) The state board shall ensure that guidelines adopted under Subsection (2)(a)(i)
81     maximize funds used for public school construction and reflect efficient and economic use of
82     those funds, including adopting guidelines that address a school's essential needs rather than
83     encouraging or endorsing excessive costs per square foot of construction or nonessential
84     facilities, design, or furnishings.
85          (3) Before [a school district or charter school] an LEA may begin public school
86     construction, the school district or charter school shall:
87          (a) review the guidelines adopted by the state board under this section; and

88          (b) take into consideration the guidelines when planning [the public school] new
89     construction[.] and major renovation.
90          (4) After complying with the requirements of Subsection (3), an LEA may incorporate
91     the guidelines as applicable when planning new construction and major renovation.
92          [(4)] (5) In adopting the guidelines [for public school construction], the state board
93     shall consider [the following and adopt alternative guidelines as needed]:
94          (a) location factors, including:
95          (i) whether the school is in a rural, suburban, or urban setting[,]; and [climate factors;]
96          (ii) the climate in various geographic areas;
97          (b) [variations in guidelines for] significant or minimal projected student population
98     growth;
99          (c) [guidelines specific to] schools that serve various populations and grades, including
100     high schools, junior high schools, middle schools, elementary schools, alternative schools, and
101     schools for people with disabilities; and
102          (d) year-round use.
103          [(5)] (6) The guidelines shall address the following:
104          (a) recommended square footage per student[;] and per teacher, including to
105     accommodate:
106          (i) administrative or office space;
107          (ii) custodial space;
108          (iii) lockers;
109          (iv) standard classroom space;
110          (v) special use classrooms;
111          (vi) multi-purpose rooms; and
112          (vii) media centers;
113          (b) minimum and maximum required real property for a public school;
114          (c) athletic facilities and fields, playgrounds, and hard surface play areas;
115          (d) cost per square foot;
116          (e) minimum and maximum qualities and costs for building materials;
117          (f) design efficiency;
118          (g) parking;

119          (h) furnishing;
120          (i) proof of compliance with applicable building codes; and
121          (j) safety.
122          (7) The state board may adopt new guidelines as necessary to comply with this section.
123          (8) Before December 31, 2022, the state board shall work with the Division of
124     Facilities Construction Management to:
125          (a) review:
126          (i) public school construction costs;
127          (ii) the procurement processes related to public school construction; and
128          (iii) the use of facility condition assessments in prioritizing public school construction;
129          (b) examine the potential value of statewide public school construction standards; and
130          (c) evaluate:
131          (i) the benefits of different construction delivery methods to assist LEAs to efficiently
132     design, construct, and remodel public school buildings, including the following construction
133     delivery methods, as described in Title 63G, Chapter 6a, Utah Procurement Code:
134          (A) design-build, as that term is defined in Section 63G-6a-103;
135          (B) design-bid-build, as described in Section 63G-6a-1205; and
136          (C) construction manager/general manager, as that term is defined in Section
137     63G-6a-103; and
138          (ii) the merits of having standard public school building designs for each type of school
139     building in the state.
140          Section 2. Section 53E-3-705 is amended to read:
141          53E-3-705. School plant capital outlay report.
142          (1) As used in this section:
143          (a) "New construction" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53E-3-702.
144          (b) "Public school building" means the same as that term is defined in Section
145     53E-3-702.
146          (c) "Teacher" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53E-3-702.
147          [(1)] (2) The state board shall prepare an annual school plant capital outlay report of all
148     school districts, which includes information on the number and size of building projects
149     completed and under construction.

150          (3) (a) When an LEA completes new construction, the LEA shall include in the annual
151     school plant capital outlay report described in Subsection (4) the cost of the new construction:
152          (i) in total dollars;
153          (ii) per square foot;
154          (iii) per student; and
155          (iv) per teacher.
156          (b) An LEA shall include in the annual school plant capital outlay report described in
157     Subsection (4), for each public school building in the LEA, the square footage:
158          (i) per student; and
159          (ii) per teacher.
160          [(2)] (4) (a) A school district or charter school shall prepare and submit an annual
161     school plant capital outlay report [in accordance with Section 63A-1-202.] to the state auditor
162     on or before a date designated by the state auditor.
163          (b) The state auditor shall make a school plant capital outlay report described in
164     Subsection (4)(a) available to the Division of Facilities Construction and Management for
165     purposes of the review described in Subsection (5).
166          (5) The Division of Facilities Construction and Management shall:
167          (a) review a school plant capital outlay report to:
168          (i) assess historical costs for similar school buildings;
169          (ii) compare new construction costs to identify construction efficiencies or
170     inefficiencies;
171          (iii) assess an LEA's use of energy efficient design elements; and
172          (iv) identify elements that an LEA included in a public school construction project that:
173          (A) improve energy savings;
174          (B) reduce maintenance costs;
175          (C) enhance the longevity of the public school building; and
176          (D) reduce the need for future public school construction; and
177          (b) provide to the state auditor a report of the review described in Subsection (5)(a) for
178     posting on the Utah Public Finance Website.
179          Section 3. Section 53E-3-708 is amended to read:
180          53E-3-708. Local education agency to adopt educational facilities plan -- Licensed

181     architect to prepare public school construction plans.
182          (1) As used in this section:
183          (a) "Affected local governmental entity" means:
184          (i) a municipality, for planned public school construction within a municipality
185     identified in an educational facilities plan; or
186          (ii) a county, for planned public school construction within an unincorporated area in
187     the county identified in an educational facilities plan.
188          (b) "Community involvement plan" means measures that a covered LEA adopts for
189     involving the public in the process of adopting a covered LEA's educational facilities plan.
190          (c) "Covered LEA" means an LEA that:
191          (i) has at least four or more school buildings; and
192          (ii) plans public school construction within the next five years.
193          (d) "Educational facilities plan" means a comprehensive planning document for an
194     LEA's facilities needs described in Subsection (3).
195          (e) "Guidelines" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53E-3-702.
196          (f) "Major renovation" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53E-3-702.
197          (g) "Municipality" means the same as that term is defined in Section 10-1-104.
198          (h) "New school construction" means the same as that term is defined in Section
199     53E-3-702.
200          (i) "School building" means the same as the term "public school building" is defined in
201     Section 53E-3-702.
202          (j) "Public school construction" means the same as that term is defined in Section
203     53E-3-702.
204          (2) (a) Beginning in 2022, and at least every five years thereafter, a covered LEA shall
205     adopt:
206          (i) an educational facilities plan; and
207          (ii) a community involvement plan.
208          (b) A covered LEA may decide whether the covered LEA's educational facilities plan
209     covers the succeeding five years or succeeding ten years.
210          (3) (a) A covered LEA shall ensure that an educational facilities plan identifies the
211     covered LEA's facilities needs over the succeeding five or ten years.

212          (b) A covered LEA's facilities plan may:
213          (i) include an inventory of existing school facilities;
214          (ii) identify major renovation the covered LEA anticipates over the period the
215     educational facilities plan covers;
216          (iii) identify new school construction the covered LEA anticipates over the period the
217     educational facilities plan covers;
218          (iv) identify public school construction not identified under Subsection (3)(b)(iii), that
219     the covered LEA anticipates over the period the educational facilities plan covers;
220          (v) identify options to reduce the need for new school construction;
221          (vi) include a concept schedule of major renovation and public school construction
222     necessary to maintain the covered LEA's facilities;
223          (vii) identify which public school construction projects included in the educational
224     facilities plan the covered LEA could fund from current revenues; and
225          (viii) identify additional sources of revenue for public school construction projects not
226     identified under Subsection (3)(b)(vii).
227          (4) Before an LEA adopts or amends an educational facilities plan, the LEA shall:
228          (a) follow the measures the covered LEA adopts in the covered LEA's community
229     involvement plan;
230          (b) coordinate with each affected local governmental entity; and
231          (c) provide an opportunity for public comment.
232          (5) An affected local governmental entity shall:
233          (a) review an educational facilities plan that a covered LEA submits under Subsection
234     (4); and
235          (b) no later than 30 days after a covered LEA submits an educational facilities plan,
236     provide comment to the LEA.
237          (6) A covered LEA may:
238          (a) amend an adopted educational facilities plan as needed during the five-year period
239     described in Subsection (2)(a); and
240          (b) complete public school construction that is not included in the facilities plan if a
241     life-threatening safety hazard, a fire safety hazard, or a seismic hazard:
242          (i) exists:

243          (A) in a school building; or
244          (B) on the school premises; and
245          (ii) necessitates the public school construction.
246          (7) A licensed architect shall prepare the plans and specifications for [the construction
247     or alteration of school buildings] public school construction.
248          Section 4. Section 63A-1-202 is amended to read:
249          63A-1-202. Utah Public Finance Website -- Establishment and administration --
250     Records disclosure -- Exceptions.
251          (1) There is created the Utah Public Finance Website to be administered by the state
252     auditor.
253          (2) The Utah Public Finance Website shall:
254          (a) permit Utah taxpayers to:
255          (i) view, understand, and track the use of taxpayer dollars by making public financial
256     information available on the Internet for participating state entities, independent entities, and
257     participating local entities, using the Utah Public Finance Website; and
258          (ii) link to websites administered by participating local entities or independent entities
259     that do not use the Utah Public Finance Website for the purpose of providing participating
260     local entities' or independent entities' public financial information as required by this part and
261     by rule under Section 63A-1-204;
262          (b) allow a person who has Internet access to use the website without paying a fee;
263          (c) allow the public to search public financial information on the Utah Public Finance
264     Website using criteria established by the board;
265          (d) provide access to financial reports, financial audits, budgets, or other financial
266     documents that are used to allocate, appropriate, spend, and account for government funds, as
267     may be established by rule under Section 63A-1-204;
268          (e) have a unique and simplified website address;
269          (f) be directly accessible via a link from the main page of the official state website;
270          (g) include other links, features, or functionality that will assist the public in obtaining
271     and reviewing public financial information, as may be established by rule under Section
272     63A-1-204; and
273          (h) include a link to school report cards published on the State Board of Education's

274     website under Section 53E-5-211.
275          (3) (a) The state auditor shall:
276          (i) establish and maintain the website, including the provision of equipment, resources,
277     and personnel as necessary;
278          (ii) maintain an archive of all information posted to the website;
279          (iii) coordinate and process the receipt and posting of public financial information from
280     participating state entities; and
281          (iv) coordinate and regulate the posting of public financial information by participating
282     local entities and independent entities.
283          (b) The department shall provide staff support for the advisory committee.
284          (4) (a) A participating state entity and each independent entity shall permit the public
285     to view the entity's public financial information via the website, beginning with information
286     that is generated not later than the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2008, except that public
287     financial information for an:
288          (i) institution of higher education shall be provided beginning with information
289     generated for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2009; and
290          (ii) independent entity shall be provided beginning with information generated for the
291     entity's fiscal year beginning in 2014.
292          (b) No later than May 15, 2009, the website shall:
293          (i) be operational; and
294          (ii) permit public access to participating state entities' public financial information,
295     except as provided in Subsections (4)(c) and (d).
296          (c) An institution of higher education that is a participating state entity shall submit the
297     entity's public financial information at a time allowing for inclusion on the website no later
298     than May 15, 2010.
299          (d) No later than the first full quarter after July 1, 2014, an independent entity shall
300     submit the entity's public financial information for inclusion on the Utah Public Finance
301     Website or via a link to its own website on the Utah Public Finance Website.
302          (5) (a) The Utah Educational Savings Plan, created in Section 53B-8a-103, shall
303     provide the following financial information to the state auditor for posting on the Utah Public
304     Finance Website:

305          (i) administrative fund expense transactions from its general ledger accounting system;
306     and
307          (ii) employee compensation information.
308          (b) The plan is not required to submit other financial information to the state auditor,
309     including:
310          (i) revenue transactions;
311          (ii) account owner transactions; and
312          (iii) fiduciary or commercial information, as defined in Section 53B-12-102.
313          (6) (a) The following independent entities shall each provide administrative expense
314     transactions from its general ledger accounting system and employee compensation
315     information to the state auditor for posting on the Utah Public Finance Website or via a link to
316     a website administered by the independent entity:
317          (i) the Utah Housing Corporation, created in Section 63H-8-201; and
318          (ii) the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration, created in Section
319     53C-1-201.
320          (b) The Utah Capital Investment Corporation, an independent entity created in Section
321     63N-6-301, shall provide the following information to the division for posting on the Utah
322     Public Finance Website or via a link to a website administered by the independent entity for
323     each fiscal year ending on or after June 30, 2015:
324          (i) aggregate compensation information for full-time and part-time employees,
325     including benefit information;
326          (ii) aggregate business travel expenses;
327          (iii) aggregate expenses related to the Utah Capital Investment Corporation's allocation
328     manager; and
329          (iv) aggregate administrative, operating, and finance costs.
330          (c) For purposes of this part, an independent entity described in Subsection (6)(a) or (b)
331     is not required to submit to the state auditor, or provide a link to, other financial information,
332     including:
333          (i) revenue transactions of a fund or account created in its enabling statute;
334          (ii) fiduciary or commercial information related to any subject if the disclosure of the
335     information:

336          (A) would conflict with fiduciary obligations; or
337          (B) is prohibited by insider trading provisions;
338          (iii) information of a commercial nature, including information related to:
339          (A) account owners, borrowers, and dependents;
340          (B) demographic data;
341          (C) contracts and related payments;
342          (D) negotiations;
343          (E) proposals or bids;
344          (F) investments;
345          (G) the investment and management of funds;
346          (H) fees and charges;
347          (I) plan and program design;
348          (J) investment options and underlying investments offered to account owners;
349          (K) marketing and outreach efforts;
350          (L) lending criteria;
351          (M) the structure and terms of bonding; and
352          (N) financial plans or strategies; and
353          (iv) information protected from public disclosure by federal law.
354          (7) (a) As used in this Subsection (7):
355          (i) "Local education agency" means a school district or a charter school.
356          (ii) "New school building project" means:
357          (A) the construction of a school or school facility that did not previously exist in a local
358     education agency; or
359          (B) the lease or purchase of an existing building, by a local education agency, to be
360     used as a school or school facility.
361          (iii) "School facility" means a facility, including a pool, theater, stadium, or
362     maintenance building, that is built, leased, acquired, or remodeled by a local education agency
363     regardless of whether the facility is open to the public.
364          (iv) "Significant school remodel" means a construction project undertaken by a local
365     education agency with a project cost equal to or greater than $2,000,000, including:
366          (A) the upgrading, changing, alteration, refurbishment, modification, or complete

367     substitution of an existing school or school facility in a local education agency; or
368          (B) the addition of a school facility.
369          (b) For each new school building project or significant school remodel, the local
370     education agency shall:
371          (i) prepare an annual school plant capital outlay report; and
372          (ii) submit the report:
373          (A) to the state auditor for publication on the Utah Public Finance Website; and
374          (B) in a format, including any raw data or electronic formatting, prescribed by
375     applicable policy established by the state auditor.
376          (c) The local education agency shall include in the capital outlay report described in
377     Subsection (7)(b)(i) the following information as applicable to each new school building
378     project or significant school remodel:
379          (i) the name and location of the new school building project or significant school
380     remodel;
381          (ii) construction and design costs, including:
382          (A) the purchase price or lease terms of any real property acquired or leased for the
383     project or remodel;
384          (B) facility construction;
385          (C) facility and landscape design;
386          (D) applicable impact fees; and
387          (E) furnishings and equipment;
388          (iii) the gross square footage of the project or remodel;
389          (iv) the year construction was completed; and
390          (v) the final student capacity of the new school building project or, for a significant
391     school remodel, the increase or decrease in student capacity created by the remodel.
392          (d) (i) For a cost, fee, or other expense required to be reported under Subsection (7)(c),
393     the local education agency shall report the actual cost, fee, or other expense.
394          (ii) The state auditor may require that a local education agency provide further itemized
395     data on information listed in Subsection (7)(c).
396          (e) (i) No later than May 15, 2015, a local education agency shall provide the state
397     auditor a school plant capital outlay report for each new school building project and significant

398     school remodel completed on or after July 1, 2004, and before May 13, 2014.
399          (ii) For a new school building project or significant school remodel completed after
400     May 13, 2014, the local education agency shall provide the school plant capital outlay report
401     described in this Subsection (7) to the state auditor annually by a date designated by the state
402     auditor.
403          (f) The Division of Facilities Construction and Management shall provide to the state
404     auditor, for publication on the Utah Public Finance Website, the report described in Subsection
405     53E-3-705(5)(b).
406          (8) A person who negligently discloses a record that is classified as private, protected,
407     or controlled by Title 63G, Chapter 2, Government Records Access and Management Act, is
408     not criminally or civilly liable for an improper disclosure of the record if the record is disclosed
409     solely as a result of the preparation or publication of the Utah Public Finance Website.
Bill Status / Votes
• Senate Actions • House Actions • Fiscal Actions • Other Actions
DateActionLocationVote
1/25/2021 Bill Numbered but not DistributedLegislative Research and General Counsel
1/25/2021 Numbered Bill Publicly DistributedLegislative Research and General Counsel
1/26/2021 Senate/ received bill from Legislative ResearchWaiting for Introduction in the Senate
1/26/2021 Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Senate Rules Committee
1/28/2021 Senate/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystSenate Rules Committee
1/28/2021 Senate/ to standing committeeSenate Education Committee
2/5/2021 Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation from # 0 to # 1Senate Education Committee4 0 3
2/5/2021 Senate Comm - Favorable RecommendationSenate Education Committee3 1 3
2/8/2021 (11:14:34 AM)Senate/ comm rpt/ substitutedSenate Education Committee
2/8/2021 (11:14:35 AM)Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading CalendarSenate 2nd Reading Calendar
2/11/2021 (2:45:41 PM)Senate/ 2nd readingSenate 2nd Reading Calendar
2/11/2021 (2:46:07 PM)Senate/ circledSenate 2nd Reading CalendarVoice vote
2/16/2021 (2:58:33 PM)Senate/ uncircledSenate 2nd Reading CalendarVoice vote
2/16/2021 (2:59:55 PM)Senate/ substituted from # 1 to # 2Senate 2nd Reading CalendarVoice vote
2/16/2021 (3:11:52 PM)Senate/ passed 2nd readingSenate 3rd Reading Calendar23 4 2
2/17/2021 (11:40:47 AM)Senate/ 3rd readingSenate 3rd Reading Calendar
2/17/2021 (11:41:05 AM)Senate/ circledSenate 3rd Reading CalendarVoice vote
2/17/2021 (11:49:33 AM)Senate/ uncircledSenate 3rd Reading CalendarVoice vote
2/17/2021 (11:53:19 AM)Senate/ passed 3rd readingClerk of the House24 5 0
2/17/2021 (11:53:20 AM)Senate/ to HouseClerk of the House
2/17/2021 LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsorClerk of the House
2/17/2021 House/ received from SenateClerk of the House
2/17/2021 LFA/ fiscal note publicly availableClerk of the House
2/17/2021 House/ 1st reading (Introduced)House Rules Committee
2/18/2021 House/ to standing committeeHouse Education Committee
3/2/2021 House Comm - Returned to RulesHouse Education Committee
3/2/2021 House/ comm rpt/ sent to RulesHouse Rules Committee
3/3/2021 House/ Rules to 3rd Reading CalendarHouse 3rd Reading Calendar for Senate bills
3/3/2021 (10:23:47 AM)House/ 2nd readingHouse 3rd Reading Calendar for Senate bills
3/3/2021 (11:25:11 AM)House/ 3rd readingHouse 3rd Reading Calendar for Senate bills
3/3/2021 (11:25:40 AM)House/ circledHouse 3rd Reading Calendar for Senate billsVoice vote
3/5/2021 House/ strike enacting clauseClerk of the House
3/5/2021 House/ to SenateSenate Secretary
3/5/2021 Senate/ received from HouseSenate Secretary
3/5/2021 Senate/ filedSenate file for bills not passed