HB1254

House Bill 1254 amends the Arkansas Academic Facilities Partnership Program to modify how the state calculates its financial participation in public school construction projects. Specifically, the bill establishes a maximum state financial participation limit of $289 per square foot for new school construction, additions, and major improvements. It requires the Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation to establish and annually update formulas and funding factors to determine the basic project cost per square foot for these projects. The division is tasked with considering various factors such as enrollment projections, academic programs offered, and national construction standards. Additionally, the bill mandates that the state's share of project costs must exclude the costs of local enhancements. These changes aim to standardize and cap the state's fiscal responsibility for academic facility development.