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<section article="ged" article_name="Education" number="5-331" title_number="5" title_name="Financing" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="State Aid for School Construction">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In this section, “Program” means the Nonpublic Special Education School Renovation Program.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>There is a Nonpublic Special Education School Renovation Program.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The purpose of the Program is to provide grants to nonpublic special education schools for:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Renovations and improvements to classrooms and school facilities;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Upgrades to residential cottages on school grounds that will improve student treatment and safety;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Health, safety, and accessibility improvements;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Infrastructure modernization and technology upgrades; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>New construction necessary to comply with standards set by the Department.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The Program shall be implemented and administered by the Interagency Commission.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>An eligible nonpublic special education school may apply to the Interagency Commission to receive a grant under the Program.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A nonpublic special education school is eligible for the Program if the school:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Provides:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>High school credit towards the high school graduation requirements approved by the Department; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>A curriculum and educational program for elementary or middle school students that is approved by the Department; and</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Provides services for students placed in nonpublic educational programs under § 8–406 of this article.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>The Interagency Commission may prioritize applications for:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Projects addressing student health or safety concerns;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Projects necessary to comply with standards set by the Department; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Nonpublic special education schools with a high percentage of students who are residents of the State.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>It is the intent of the General Assembly that the Governor include in the annual capital budget bill an appropriation of at least $5,000,000 to the Program for each fiscal year.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>The Interagency Commission shall adopt regulations necessary to implement this section.</text>
  </level>
</section>
