03/23/2020 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

HOUSE BILL NO. 106                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to school bond debt reimbursement."                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
10:02:23 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair von  Imhof discussed the bills   hearing history in                                                                    
committee. She said that the  debt reimbursement program had                                                                    
been  successful  and  had allowed  municipal  districts  to                                                                    
prioritize,  maintain  and  build needed  schools  with  the                                                                    
approval and  participation of local taxpayers  and included                                                                    
a certain amount  of reimbursement from the  state. She said                                                                    
that  due to  economic  pressure, a  moratorium  was put  in                                                                    
place  5 years  ago. Since  then the  legislature had  fully                                                                    
funding payment on  existing debt prior to 2015  and has not                                                                    
allowed new projects  into the program since  then. She said                                                                    
that this year, payments for  existing debt were cut in half                                                                    
by  a  veto.  The legislatures   proposed  operating  budget                                                                    
fully  funded  the  program  but  with  the  uncertainty  of                                                                    
potential   executive  action,   as  well   as  the   fiscal                                                                    
uncertainty of the state, a  pause would be necessary on any                                                                    
new  constructions for  schools. The  bill would  extend the                                                                    
moratorium another 5  years. She stressed that  the goal was                                                                    
to  revise the  program  for consideration  during the  next                                                                    
legislative session.  She asked  that the committee  pass HB
 in its  current form. She noted that  there were invited                                                                    
testifiers online to answer questions.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  MOVED to  report HB  106 out  of Committee                                                                    
with individual recommendations  and the accompanying fiscal                                                                    
note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
HB  106 was  REPORTED out  of committee  with two  "do pass"                                                                    
recommendations,  two "do  not pass"  recommendations, three                                                                    
"no recommendation"  recommendations and  with one  new zero                                                                    
fiscal  note  from the  Department  of  Education and  Early                                                                    
Development/Debt Service.