SB269 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arthur OrrSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to education; to establish the K-12 Capital Grant Program within the Office of the Lieutenant Governor to provide grants to local schools to assist with capital project, deferred maintenance, or technology needs; to provide the purposes for which grant funds can be used; to establish the process for grant applications and approvals; to establish the K-12 Capital Grant Program Fund in the State Treasury; and to provide an effective date.

Summary

Creates the K-12 Capital Grant Program to provide state-funded grants to eligible K-12 entities for capital projects, deferred maintenance, safety, and technology, with a dedicated fund and application process.

What This Bill Does

The bill establishes the K-12 Capital Grant Program in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor to award grants to eligible K-12 entities. It creates the K-12 Capital Grant Program Fund in the State Treasury to hold appropriated money, with up to 0.25% of available funds used for admin costs, and unspent balances carried forward. Grants may cover capital construction/renovation, debt service related to capital projects, deferred maintenance, safety improvements, and technology/equipment to expand educational opportunities; proposals are evaluated using criteria such as total funds available (max $5 million per grant), purposes, local matching (up to 35%), and geographic impact, with endorsements required from a state legislative delegation and ongoing reporting and audits to ensure compliance.

Who It Affects

• Eligible K-12 entities: public schools in operation (including specialized state schools listed in the bill) and may include the Department of Youth Services School District; these entities could apply for and receive grants for eligible uses.
• State and oversight entities: the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, the Department of Education, the Senate/House delegation that must endorse applications, and the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts which will audit and monitor grant compliance.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the K-12 Capital Grant Program within the Office of the Lieutenant Governor and creates the K-12 Capital Grant Program Fund in the State Treasury to receive appropriations.
• Defines eligible uses for grants: capital projects (construction/renovation of facilities), debt service related to capital projects, deferred maintenance, school security/safety, and technology/equipment for expanded educational opportunities.
• Admin costs limited to up to 0.25% of available funds; funds only disbursed as appropriated by the Legislature; unencumbered balances carry forward until expended.
• Grant awards have a maximum of $5 million per proposal; local matching is required on a sliding scale up to a maximum of 35% of total project cost; priority given to areas with higher at-risk student populations.
• Applications must be endorsed by at least one member of the Senate and House from the affected legislative delegation; recipients must file a one-year expenditure report and are subject to suspension if funds are not used properly.
• Audits and record-keeping: the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts will examine compliance; the Office of the Lieutenant Governor will maintain grant records and may issue rules to implement the act.
• Effective date: becomes law immediately upon the Governor's approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.