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[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1511 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1511

  To provide for education infrastructure improvement, and for other 
                               purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 5, 1999

 Mr. Harkin (for himself, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Robb, Mr. Levin, 
Mrs. Murray, and Mr. Daschle) introduced the following bill; which was 
 read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
                              and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
  To provide for education infrastructure improvement, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``21st Century School Modernization 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The General Accounting Office has performed a 
        comprehensive survey of the Nation's public elementary and 
        secondary school facilities and has found severe levels of 
        disrepair in all areas of the United States.
            (2) The General Accounting Office has concluded that more 
        than 14,000,000 children attend schools in need of extensive 
        repair or replacement, 7,000,000 children attend schools with 
        life threatening safety code violations, and 12,000,000 
        children attend schools with leaky roofs.
            (3) The General Accounting Office has found the problem of 
        crumbling schools transcends demographic and geographic 
        boundaries. At 38 percent of urban schools, 30 percent of rural 
        schools, and 29 percent of suburban schools, at least one 
        building is in need of extensive repair or should be completely 
        replaced.
            (4) The condition of school facilities has a direct effect 
        on the safety of students and teachers and on the ability of 
        students to learn. Academic research has provided a direct 
        correlation between the condition of school facilities and 
        student achievement. At Georgetown University, researchers have 
        found the test scores of students assigned to schools in poor 
        condition can be expected to fall 10.9 percentage points below 
        the test scores of students in buildings in excellent 
        condition. Similar studies have demonstrated up to a 20 percent 
        improvement in test scores when students were moved from a poor 
        facility to a new facility.
            (5) The General Accounting Office has found most schools 
        are not prepared to incorporate modern technology in the 
        classroom. Forty-six percent of schools lack adequate 
        electrical wiring to support the full-scale use of technology. 
        More than a third of schools lack the requisite electrical 
        power. Fifty-six percent of schools have insufficient phone 
        lines for modems.
            (6) The Department of Education has reported that 
        elementary and secondary school enrollment, already at a record 
        high level, will continue to grow over the next 10 years, and 
        that in order to accommodate this growth, the United States 
        will need to build an additional 6,000 schools.
            (7) The General Accounting Office has determined the cost 
        of bringing schools up to good, overall condition to be 
        $112,000,000,000, not including the cost of modernizing schools 
        to accommodate technology, or the cost of building additional 
        facilities needed to meet record enrollment levels.
            (8) Schools run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) for 
        Native American children are also in dire need of repair and 
        renovation. The General Accounting Office has reported that the 
        cost of total inventory repairs needed for BIA facilities is 
        $754,000,000. The December 1997 report by the Comptroller 
        General of the United States states that, ``Compared with other 
        schools nationally, BIA schools are generally in poorer 
        physical condition, have more unsatisfactory environmental 
        factors, more often lack key facilities requirements for 
        education reform, and are less able to support computer and 
        communications technology.''.
            (9) State and local financing mechanisms have proven 
        inadequate to meet the challenges facing today's aging school 
        facilities. Large numbers of local educational agencies have 
        difficulties securing financing for school facility 
        improvement.
            (10) The Federal Government has provided resources for 
        school construction in the past. For example, between 1933 and 
        1939, the Federal Government assisted in 70 percent of all new 
        school construction.
            (11) The Federal Government can support elementary and 
        secondary school facilities without interfering in issues of 
local control, and should help communities leverage additional funds 
for the improvement of elementary and secondary school facilities.

SEC. 3. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to help the Nation meet the National 
Education Goals through the provision of Federal funds to enable local 
educational agencies to meet the costs associated with the improvement 
of schools within their jurisdiction.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    The terms used in this Act have the meanings given the terms in 
section 14101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 8801).

             TITLE I--SCHOOL MODERNIZATION AND IMPROVEMENT

SEC. 101. MODERNIZATION OF PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION 
              FACILITIES PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

    (a) Program Authority.--
            (1) In general.--From amounts appropriated under section 
        110 for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall award grants to 
        eligible local educational agencies with applications approved 
        under section 103 to carry out the authorized activities 
        described in section 104.
            (2) Special rule.--The Secretary may reserve not more than 
        1 percent of the amount appropriated under section 110 to 
        provide assistance to Indian schools in accordance with this 
        title.
    (b) Award Categories.--From the funds appropriated to carry out 
this title for each fiscal year, the Secretary shall award grants to 
eligible local educational agencies in each of the following 
categories:
            (1) Eligible local educational agencies in which the number 
        of students enrolled is less than 2,500.
            (2) Such agencies in which such number is 2,500 or greater 
        but less than 5,000.
            (3) Such agencies in which such number is 5,000 or greater 
        but less than 10,000.
            (4) Such agencies in which such number is 10,000 or greater 
        but less than 25,000.
            (5) Such agencies in which such number is 25,000 or greater 
        but less than 50,000.
            (6) Such agencies in which such number is 50,000 or 
        greater.
    (c) Maximum Award Amounts.--The Secretary shall annually set the 
maximum award amounts for each category described in subsection (b)(1).

SEC. 102. AWARD OF GRANTS.

    (a) Criteria.--The Secretary shall award grants under this title on 
the basis of--
            (1) high numbers or percentages of the total number of 
        children aged 5 to 17, inclusive, residing in the geographic 
        area served by an eligible local educational agency who are 
        counted under subpart 2 of part A of title I of the Elementary 
        and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6331 et seq.);
            (2) the extent to which the eligible local educational 
        agency lacks the fiscal capacity, including the ability to 
        raise funds through the full use of such agency's bonding 
        capacity and otherwise, to undertake the project without 
        Federal assistance;
            (3) the threat the condition of the physical plant poses to 
        the safety and well-being of students;
            (4) the demonstrated need for the repair, renovation, 
        alteration, or construction based on the condition of the 
        facility;
            (5) the age of the facility to be repaired, renovated, 
        altered, or replaced; and
            (6) such other criteria as the Secretary may prescribe by 
        regulation.
    (b) Allocation Among Categories.--The Secretary shall allocate 
funds under this title among each of the categories described in 
paragraph (1) on such basis as the Secretary determines is appropriate, 
including--
            (1) the relative numbers or percentages of students counted 
        under subpart 2 of part A of title I of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6331 et seq.); and
            (2) the relative costs of carrying out activities under 
        this title in eligible local educational agencies in each such 
        category.
    (c) Frequency of Awards.--No local educational agency may receive 
more than one grant under this title in any five-year period.
    (d) Special Rule.--The Secretary shall only award grants under this 
title if the Secretary determines that sufficient funds will be 
provided under this title or from other sources, such as the issuance 
of bonds, or savings generated from performance contracting, to carry 
out the activities for which assistance is sought.

SEC. 103. APPLICATIONS.

    (a) Applications Required.--Each eligible local educational agency 
desiring to receive a grant under this title shall submit an 
application to the Secretary.
    (b) Application Contents.--Each application described in subsection 
(a) shall contain--
            (1) an assurance that the application was developed in 
        consultation with parents and classroom teachers;
            (2) a description of each architectural, civil, structural, 
        mechanical, or electrical deficiency to be corrected with funds 
        provided under this title, including the priority for the 
        repair of the deficiency;
            (3) a description of the criteria used by the applicant to 
        determine the type of corrective action necessary to meet the 
        purpose of this Act;
            (4) a description of the improvement to be supported with 
        funds provided under this title;
            (5) a cost estimate of the proposed improvement;
            (6) an identification of other resources, such as unused 
        bonding capacity, that are available to carry out the 
        activities for which funds are requested under this title;
            (7) a description of how activities supported with funds 
        provided under this title will promote energy conservation; and
            (8) such other information and assurances as the Secretary 
        may reasonably require.

SEC. 104. AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.

    (a) In General.--Each eligible local educational agency receiving a 
grant under this title shall use the grant funds only to ensure the 
health and safety of students through the repair, renovation, 
alteration, or construction of a public elementary school or secondary 
school facility.
    (b) Particular Activities.--Subject to subsection (a), each 
eligible local educational agency receiving a grant under this title 
may use the grant funds to meet the requirements of section 504 of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794) or the Americans with 
Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.).

SEC. 105. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

    (a) Budget and Accounting.--In the performance of, and with respect 
to, the functions, powers, and duties under this title, the Secretary, 
notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, shall--
            (1) prepare annually and submit a budget program as 
        provided for wholly owned Government corporations by chapter 91 
        of title 31, United States Code; and
            (2) maintain a set of accounts which shall be audited by 
        the Comptroller General in accordance with the provisions of 
        chapter 35 of title 31, United States Code, but such financial 
        transactions of the Secretary, as the making of loans and 
        vouchers approved by the Secretary, in connection with such 
        financial transactions shall be final and conclusive upon all 
        officers of the Federal Government.
    (b) Use of Funds.--Funds made available to the Secretary pursuant 
to the provisions of this title shall be deposited in a checking 
account or accounts with the Treasurer of the United States. Receipts 
and assets obtained or held by the Secretary in connection with the 
performance of functions under this title, and all funds available for 
carrying out the functions of the Secretary under this title (including 
appropriations therefore, which are hereby authorized), shall be 
available, in such amounts as may from year to year be authorized by 
the Congress, for the administrative expenses of the Secretary in 
connection with the performance of such functions.
    (c) Legal Powers.--In the performance of, and with respect to, the 
functions, powers, and duties under this title, the Secretary, 
notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, may--
            (1) prescribe such rules and regulations as may be 
        necessary to carry out the purpose of this Act;
            (2) sue and be sued;
            (3) foreclose on any property or commence any action to 
        protect or enforce any right conferred upon the Secretary by 
        any law, contract, or other agreement, and bid for and purchase 
        at any foreclosure or any other sale any property in connection 
        with which the Secretary has made a loan pursuant to this part;
            (4) in the event of any such acquisition, notwithstanding 
        any other provision of law relating to the acquisition, 
        handling, or disposal of real property by the United States, 
        complete, administer, remodel and convert, dispose of, lease, 
        and otherwise deal with, such property, but any such 
        acquisition of real property shall not deprive any State or 
        political subdivision of such State civil or criminal 
        jurisdiction in and over such property or impair the civil 
        rights under the State or local laws of the inhabitants on such 
        property;
            (5) sell or exchange at public or private sale, or lease, 
        real or personal property, and sell or exchange any securities 
        or obligations, upon such terms as the Secretary may fix;
            (6) obtain insurance against loss in connection with 
        property and other assets held; and
            (7) include in any contract or instrument made pursuant to 
        this title such other covenants, conditions, or provisions as 
        may be necessary to assure that the purpose of this Act will be 
        achieved.
    (d) Applicability of Government Corporation Control Act.--The 
provisions of section 9107(a) of title 31, United States Code, which 
are applicable to corporations or agencies subject to chapter 91 of 
such title, shall also be applicable to the activities of the Secretary 
under this title.

SEC. 106. FAIR WAGES.

    All laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or 
subcontractors in the performance of any contract and subcontract for 
the repair, renovation, alteration, or construction, including painting 
and decorating, of any facility or work that is financed in whole or in 
part by a grant under this title, shall be paid wages not less than 
those determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with the Act 
of March 3, 1931 (commonly known as the Davis-Bacon Act); as amended 
(40 U.S.C. 276a-276a-5). The Secretary of Labor shall have the 
authority and functions set forth in reorganization plan of No. 14 of 
1950 (15 FR 3176; 64 Stat. 1267) and section 2 of the Act of June 1, 
1934 (commonly known as the Copeland Anti-Kickback Act) as amended (40 
U.S.C. 276c, 48 Stat. 948).

SEC. 107. REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Special Rules.--
            (1) Maintenance of effort.--An eligible local educational 
        agency may receive a grant under this title for any fiscal year 
        only if the Secretary finds that either the combined fiscal 
        effort per student or the aggregate expenditures of that agency 
        and the State with respect to the provision of free public 
        education by such local educational agency for the preceding 
        fiscal year was not less than 90 percent of such combined 
        fiscal effort or aggregate expenditures for the fiscal year for 
        which the determination is made.
            (2) Supplement not supplant.--An eligible local educational 
        agency shall use funds received under this title only to 
        supplement the amount of funds that would, in the absence of 
        such Federal funds, be made available from non-Federal sources 
        for the repair, renovation, alteration, and construction of 
        school facilities, and not to supplant such funds.
    (b) General Limitations.--
            (1) Real property.--No part of any grant funds under this 
        title shall be used for the acquisition of any interest in real 
        property.
            (2) Maintenance.--Nothing in this title shall be construed 
        to authorize the payment of maintenance costs in connection 
        with any projects constructed in whole or in part with Federal 
        funds provided under this title.
            (3) Environmental safeguards.--All projects carried out 
        with Federal funds provided under this title shall comply with 
        all relevant Federal, State, and local environmental laws and 
        regulations.
            (4) Athletic and similar facilities.--No funds received 
        under this title shall be used for stadiums or other facilities 
        that are primarily used for athletic contests or exhibitions or 
        other events for which admission is charged to the general 
        public.

SEC. 108. FEDERAL ASSESSMENT.

    The Secretary shall reserve not more than 1 percent of funds 
appropriated for each fiscal year under section 110--
            (1) to collect such data as the Secretary determines 
        necessary at the school, local, and State levels;
            (2) to conduct studies and evaluations, including national 
        studies and evaluations, in order to--
                    (A) monitor the progress of projects supported with 
                funds provided under this title; and
                    (B) evaluate the state of United States public 
                elementary school and secondary school facilities; and
            (3) to report to Congress by July 1, 2002, regarding the 
        findings of the studies and evaluations described in paragraph 
        (2).

SEC. 109. DEFINITIONS.

    For the purpose of this title--
            (1) the term ``construction'' includes--
                    (A) the concurrent installation of equipment; and
                    (B) the complete or partial replacement of an 
                existing facility, but only if such replacement is less 
                expensive and more cost-effective than repair, 
                renovation, or alteration of the facility;
            (2) the term ``eligible local educational agency'' means a 
        local educational agency in which--
                    (A)(i) not less than 15 percent of the children 
                that reside in the geographic area served by such 
                agency are eligible to be counted under subpart 2 of 
                part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6331 et seq.); or
                    (ii) the United States owns Federal property 
                described in section 8013(5), that has an assessed 
                value (determined as of the time or times when 
                acquired) aggregating 90 percent or more of the 
                assessed value of all real property in such agency 
                (determined as of the time or times when so acquired); 
                and
                    (B) demonstrates in the application submitted under 
                section 103 that such agency has urgent repair, 
                renovation, alteration, or construction needs for its 
                public elementary schools or secondary schools 
                facilities; and
            (3) the term ``facility'' means a public structure suitable 
        for use as a classroom, laboratory, library, media center, or 
        related facility, the primary purpose of which is the academic 
        or vocational instruction of public elementary school or 
        secondary school students.

SEC. 110. AUTHORIZATION.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title 
$200,000,000 for fiscal year 2000 and such sums as may be necessary for 
each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.

            TITLE II--STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANKS FOR SCHOOLS

SEC. 201. STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--
            (1) Cooperative agreements.--Subject to the provisions of 
        this section, the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation 
        with the Secretary of Education, may enter into cooperative 
        agreements with States for the establishment of State 
        infrastructure banks and multistate infrastructure banks for 
        making loans to local educational agencies for building or 
        repairing elementary schools or secondary schools which provide 
        free public education and to public libraries for building or 
        repairing library facilities.
            (2) Interstate compacts.--Congress consents to 2 or more of 
        the States that have entered into a cooperative agreement under 
        paragraph (1) with the Secretary of the Treasury for the 
        establishment of a multistate infrastructure bank to enter into 
        an interstate compact establishing such bank in accordance with 
        this section.
    (b) Funding.--The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with 
the Secretary of Education, shall make grants to State infrastructure 
banks and multistate infrastructure banks in a State that has entered 
into a cooperative agreement under subsection (a)(1) to provide initial 
capital for loans provided under this section to local educational 
agencies and public libraries. Each bank shall apply repayments of 
principal and interest on loans to the making of additional loans. The 
Secretary shall take final action on an application for a grant under 
this subsection within 90 days of the date of the submittal of such 
application.
    (c) Infrastructure Bank Requirements.--In order to establish an 
infrastructure bank under this section, each State establishing the 
bank shall--
            (1) contribute, at a minimum, to the accounts of the bank 
        from non-Federal sources an amount equal to 100 percent of the 
        amount of each capitalization grant made to the State and 
        contributed to the bank under subsection (b);
            (2) identify an operating entity of the State as recipient 
        of the grant if the entity has the capacity to manage loan 
        funds and issue debt instruments of the State for purposes of 
        leveraging the funds;
            (3) allow such funds to be used as reserve for debt issued 
        by the State so long as proceeds are deposited in the fund for 
        loan purposes;
            (4) ensure that investment income generated by funds 
        contributed to an account of the bank will be--
                    (A) credited to the account;
                    (B) available for use in providing loans to 
                projects eligible for assistance from the account; and
                    (C) invested in United States Treasury securities, 
                bank deposits, or such other financing instruments as 
                the Secretary may approve to earn interest to enhance 
                the leveraging of projects assisted by the bank;
            (5) ensure that any loan from the bank will bear interest 
        at or below the lowest interest rates being offered for bonds 
        the income from which is exempt from Federal taxation, as 
        determined by the State, to make the project that is the 
        subject of the loan feasible;
            (6) ensure that repayment of any loan from the bank will 
        commence not later than 1 year after the project has been 
        completed;
            (7) ensure that the term for repaying any loan will not 
        exceed 30 years after the date of the first payment on the loan 
        under paragraph (6); and
            (8) require the bank to make an annual report to the 
        Secretary on its status and make such other reports as the 
        Secretary may require by guidelines.
    (d) Forms of Assistance From Infrastructure Banks.--
            (1) In general.--An infrastructure bank established under 
        this section may make loans to a local educational agency or a 
        public library in an amount equal to all or part of the cost of 
        carrying out a project eligible for assistance under this 
        section.
            (2) Applications for loans.--An application to an 
        infrastructure bank by a local educational agency or a public 
        library for a loan shall include--
                    (A) in the case of a renovation project, a 
                description of each architectural, civil, structural, 
                mechanical, or electrical deficiency to be corrected 
                with funds under a loan and the priorities to be 
                applied;
                    (B) a description of the criteria used by the 
                applicant to determine the type of corrective action 
                necessary for the renovation of a facility;
                    (C) a description of improvements to be made and a 
                cost estimate for the improvements;
                    (D) a description of how work undertaken with the 
                loan will promote energy conservation; and
                    (E) such other information as the infrastructure 
                bank may require.
        An infrastructure bank shall take final action on a completed 
        application submitted to it within 90 days after the date of 
        its submittal.
            (3) Criteria for loans.--In considering applications for a 
        loan, an infrastructure bank shall take into account--
                    (A) the extent to which the local educational 
                agency or public library involved lacks the fiscal 
                capacity, including the ability to raise funds through 
                the full use of such agency's bonding capacity or 
                otherwise, to undertake the project for which the loan 
                would be used without the loan;
                    (B) in the case of a local educational agency, the 
                threat that the condition of the physical plant in the 
                project poses to the safety and well-being of students;
                    (C) the demonstrated need for the construction, 
                reconstruction, or renovation based on the condition of 
                the facility in the project; and
                    (D) the age of such facility.
    (e) Qualifying Projects.--
            (1) In general.--A project is eligible for a loan from an 
        infrastructure bank if it is a project that consists of--
                    (A) the construction of new elementary schools or 
                secondary schools to meet the needs imposed by 
                enrollment growth;
                    (B) the repair or upgrading of classrooms or 
                structures related to academic learning, including the 
                repair of leaking roofs, crumbling walls, inadequate 
                plumbing, poor ventilation equipment, and inadequate 
                heating or light equipment;
                    (C) an activity to increase physical safety at the 
                educational facility involved;
                    (D) an activity to enhance the educational facility 
                involved to provide access for students, teachers, and 
                other individuals with disabilities;
                    (E) an activity to address environmental hazards at 
                the educational facility involved, such as poor 
                ventilation, indoor air quality, or lighting;
                    (F) the provision of basic infrastructure that 
                facilitates educational technology, such as 
                communications outlets, electrical systems, power 
                outlets, or a communication closet;
                    (G) work that will bring an educational facility 
                into conformity with the requirements of--
                            (i) environmental protection or health and 
                        safety programs mandated by Federal, State, or 
                        local law if such requirements were not in 
                        effect when the facility was initially 
                        constructed; and
                            (ii) hazardous waste disposal, treatment, 
                        and storage requirements mandated by the Solid 
                        Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.) or 
                        similar State laws;
                    (H) work that will enable efficient use of 
                available energy resources, especially coal, solar 
                power, and other renewable energy resources;
                    (I) work to detect, remove, or otherwise contain 
                asbestos hazards in educational facilities; or
                    (J) work to construct new public library facilities 
                or repair or upgrade existing public library 
                facilities.
            (2) Davis-bacon.--The wage requirements of the Act of March 
        3, 1931 (commonly known as the Davis-Bacon Act); as amended (40 
        U.S.C. 276a-276a-5) shall apply with respect to individuals 
        employed on the projects described in paragraph (1).
    (f) Supplementation.--Any loan made by an infrastructure bank shall 
be used to supplement and not supplant other Federal, State, and local 
funds available for building or repairing elementary schools or 
secondary schools.
    (g) Limitation on Repayments.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
of law, the repayment of a loan from an infrastructure bank under this 
section may not be credited toward the non-Federal share of the cost of 
any project.
    (h) Secretarial Requirements.--In administering this section, the 
Secretary of the Treasury shall specify procedures and guidelines for 
establishing, operating, and providing assistance from an 
infrastructure bank.
    (i) United States Not Obligated.--The contribution of Federal funds 
into an infrastructure bank established under this section shall not be 
construed as a commitment, guarantee, or obligation on the part of the 
United States to any third party, nor shall any third party have any 
right against the United States for payment solely by virtue of the 
contribution. Any security or debt financing instrument issued by the 
infrastructure bank shall expressly state that the security or 
instrument does not constitute a commitment, guarantee, or obligation 
of the United States.
    (j) Management of Federal Funds.--Sections 3335 and 6503 of title 
31, United States Code, shall not apply to funds contributed under this 
section.
    (k) Program Administration.--For each of fiscal years 2000 through 
2004, a State may expend not to exceed 2 percent of the Federal funds 
contributed to an infrastructure bank established by the State under 
this section to pay the reasonable costs of administering the bank.
    (l) Secretarial Review.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall review 
the financial condition of each infrastructure bank established under 
this section and transmit to Congress a report on the results of such 
review not later than 90 days after the completion of the review.
    (m) Authorization of Appropriations.--For grants to States for the 
initial capitalization of infrastructure banks there are authorized to 
be appropriated $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2000 and each of the 4 
succeeding fiscal years.

             TITLE III--SCHOOLS AS CENTERS OF THE COMMUNITY

SEC. 301. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Communities across the Nation need to build and 
        modernize thousands of public elementary schools and secondary 
        schools in the coming decade in ways that reflect new 
        approaches to teaching and learning, and in ways that reflect 
        the fact that learning is a lifelong process for persons of all 
        ages. These schools can make an enduring difference for these 
        communities by affecting not just students but entire 
        neighborhoods for generations.
            (2) The National Symposium on School Design has recommended 
        that local educational agencies hold community dialogues that 
        discuss the planning and design of their new school buildings. 
        Community partnerships of parents, educators, architects, urban 
        planners, students, and other interested parties can assist 
        local educational agencies to design new schools that better 
        meet the needs of their communities now and in the future.
            (3) Establishing such community partnerships for the 
        purpose of broadening public participation in the planning and 
        design of schools encourages broader community involvement in 
        the schools, generates creativity in the planning process, and 
        promotes savings, cost-sharing, and the most effective use of 
        the school building by the entire community. Such partnerships 
        can help create schools that are centers of teaching and 
        learning for the entire community.

SEC. 302. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this title is to assist local educational agencies 
and their communities to increase the involvement of parents, teachers, 
students, and community groups in the planning and design of new and 
renovated public elementary school and secondary school buildings 
that--
            (1) enhance teaching and learning, and accommodate the 
        needs of all learners;
            (2) serve as a center of the community;
            (3) promote health, safety, and security;
            (4) effectively use all available resources; and
            (5) are flexible and can accommodate changing community 
        needs.

SEC. 303. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

    (a) Grants Authorized.--
            (1) In general.--From funds appropriated under section 306, 
        the Secretary shall award grants to local educational agencies 
        participating in eligible consortia to enable the eligible 
        consortia to support the planning and design of--
                    (A) new elementary school or secondary school 
                buildings; or
                    (B) the renovation of existing elementary school or 
                secondary school buildings.
            (2) Definition of eligible consortium.--In this title the 
        term ``eligible consortium'' means a consortium that--
                    (A) shall include at least 1 local educational 
                agency; and
                    (B) may include such organizations and individuals 
                as a State educational agency, a community-based 
                organization, a local government, a business or 
                industry, an architect, a parent, teacher, or senior 
                citizen group, a library, or a museum.
    (b) Requirements.--
            (1) Duration.--Grants under this title shall be awarded for 
        not more than 1 year.
            (2) Limitation.--Not more than 1 grant provided under this 
        title may be used to plan or design the same school.
            (3) Matching.--A grant under this title shall not be used 
        to pay for more than 50 percent of the cost of a planning or 
        design project. A recipient of a grant under this title shall 
        provide at least 50 percent of the cost of the planning or 
        design project from non-Federal sources, which may include in-
        kind contributions, fairly evaluated.
    (c) Geographic Distribution.--In awarding grants under this title, 
the Secretary is authorized to take such steps as are necessary to 
ensure an equitable geographic distribution of the grants, including 
distributing the grants among rural, urban, and suburban local 
educational agencies.

SEC. 304. USE OF FUNDS.

    Grants under this title shall be used by a local educational agency 
to support the planning or design of a new school building, or of the 
renovation of an existing school building, and may be used for 
activities such as--
            (1) community outreach activities (including the 
        development and circulation of explanatory materials and the 
        cost of meetings) designed to encourage greater participation 
        by the community;
            (2) the development, with the involvement of all 
        stakeholders, of a master plan for a school district; and
            (3) necessary administrative support for the eligible 
        consortium.

SEC. 305. APPLICATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Each local educational agency desiring a grant 
under this title shall submit to the Secretary an application at such 
time, and containing such information, as the Secretary may require.
    (b) Contents.--Each application submitted under this title shall 
describe--
            (1) the community to be served by the new or renovated 
        school, including the needs of that community with respect to 
        such school;
            (2) the individuals and groups that compose the eligible 
        consortium and their respective functions;
            (3) the project activities to be supported by the grant and 
        how the activities will help meet the needs of that community 
        and the purpose of this title; and
            (4) the availability of resources for the project, and how 
        the resources will be obtained.

SEC. 306. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title 
$10,000,000 for fiscal year 2000 and such sums as may be necessary for 
each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.
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