Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 70b - School Building Assistance Program
Section 1 - School Building Assistance Program; Establishment

Section 1. Whereas the school building assistance program is the largest capital grant program operated by the commonwealth and is necessary for the establishment of public school buildings in the commonwealth; and whereas the costs of the school building assistance program are increasing at an unsustainable rate and local governments need flexibility in school building assistance to ensure that local needs for school facility space, downtown development, open space and community space are met; and to promote the thoughtful planning and construction of school facility space in order to insure safe and adequate plant facilities for the public schools, and to assist towns in meeting the cost thereof, there is hereby established a school building assistance program. It is in the best interests of the commonwealth and its citizens to create an authority to achieve the objectives of effective management and planning of the commonwealth's investments in school building assets, promoting positive educational outcomes, ensuring the health, safety, security and well-being of students, easing and preventing overcrowding, maintaining good repair, efficient and economical construction and maintenance, financial sustainability of the school building assistance program, thoughtful community development, smart growth and accessibility.

Structure Massachusetts General Laws

Massachusetts General Laws

Part I - Administration of the Government

Title XII - Education

Chapter 70b - School Building Assistance Program

Section 1 - School Building Assistance Program; Establishment

Section 1a - School Building Authority

Section 2 - Definitions

Section 3 - Purpose of Program; Board of Education; General Policy and Review Standards; Specific Powers of Board

Section 3a - School Building Advisory Board; Establishment; Members

Section 3b - Bonds

Section 3c - School Building Authority; Termination; Projects to Conform to Federal Statutory Mandates

Section 3d - Accounts; Annual Report

Section 3e - Municipality Indebted to Authority; Offset of Deficiency by State Treasurer's Disbursement of Funds Payable to Indebted Municipality

Section 4 - Reimbursement for Incidental Educational, Engineering and Architectural Services; Application and Documentation

Section 5 - School Facilities Grant Applications

Section 6 - Examination of Application by Board of Education; Notice of Approval or Rejection

Section 7 - Limit on Estimated Amount of Grants Approved by Authority

Section 8 - Order of Priorities for Approval of School Projects and Reimbursements; Deferral of Approval or Disapproval of Project Applications

Section 9 - Cost Effective Production of Efficient and Creative School Projects; Standards and Procedures; Regulations

Section 10 - Facilities Grants for Approved Projects; Formula

Section 11 - Disbursement Schedule

Section 14 - Approved Alternative Projects; Allowable Costs

Section 15 - Sale or Lease of School Buildings for Which School Facilities Project Applicant Receives Grant Payments

Section 16 - Maintenance Assessment Program for School Buildings

Section 17 - Annual Report; Anticipated Needs for School Facilities Projects

Section 19 - Notification of Actual Interest Rate for Bond Issuance

Section 20 - Submission of Plans or Blueprints Associated With Construction, Renovation or Reconstruction of School Building to Police and Fire Departments and Emergency Management Agency