New Jersey Administrative Code › Title 6A - EDUCATION › Chapter 26 - EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES › Subchapter 18 - SECTION 15 GRANTS FOR REGULAR OPERATING DISTRICTS, INCLUDING COUNTY VOCATIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS › Section 6A:26-18.1 - Eligibility for section 15 grants for RODs, not including county vocational school districts

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 14, July 15, 2024
(a) Any ROD
				applying for a section 15 grant shall conform at a minimum with the
				requirements of this subchapter, as applicable.
(b) Any eligibility determination for a
				section 15 grant shall be subject to the availability of funds.
(c) If the school facilities project or a
				portion of it is eligible for State support, the ROD may request State debt
				service aid pursuant to
				18A:7G-9 in lieu of a section 15
				grant.
(d) All of the following
				conditions shall apply regarding eligibility for a section 15 grant:
1. A ROD shall have an approved LRFP,
				pursuant to
				6A:26-2.1(b).
2. The school facilities project has been
				approved pursuant to
				6A:26-3.3 and has no excess
				costs.
3. The proposed school
				facilities project shall fall within one or more of the priority project
				categories described below.
i. Level 1 are
				school facilities projects that address the most critical operational building
				needs, including health and safety issues, and program mandates. The projects
				shall consist of one or more of the following:
(1) Upgrades to essential building
				systems;
(2) Repair or replacement
				of a building skin element;
(3)
				Fire or life safety building code issues;
(4) Upgrades consistent with the Americans
				with Disabilities Act;
(5)
				Hazardous materials abatement;
(6)
				Security and communication systems;
(7) Site drainage to correct existing
				conditions;
(8) Upgrades to
				existing elementary school playgrounds as per
				6A:26-3.2(a)5;
(9) Renovated or up to a maximum of six new
				early childhood classrooms; or
(10)
				Special population needs.
ii. Level 2 are school facilities projects
				that address the rehabilitation of existing buildings, the easing of
				overcrowding, and/or improving the quality of existing instructional spaces.
				The projects shall consist of one or more of the following:
(1) Repair or replacement of existing
				building systems and components not included in Level 1;
(2) Existing site upgrades excluding upgrades
				to athletic fields or tracks; or
(3) Renovation or new construction of
				capacity-generating classrooms to address overcrowding or a substandard
				condition.
iii. Level 3
				are school facilities projects that are either new construction or
				rehabilitation that also qualifies as reconstruction. For purposes of this
				subsection, "reconstruction" means reconstruction as defined in the UCC,
				5:23-6.3. Reconstruction and/or new
				construction projects shall be evaluated based upon the following attributes:
(1) Districtwide unhoused students and
				overcrowding;
(2) Early childhood
				program accommodations;
(3)
				Compliance with facilities efficiency standards;
(4) Use of temporary or leased
				facilities;
(5) Building
				age;
(6) Project scope;
				and
(7) Prior section 15
				funding.