Section 16-16-15 Incentive fund and council.
Section 16-16-15
Incentive fund and council.
(a) There is hereby created the Alabama Public School and College Education Incentive Fund (Incentive Fund). Fifty-five million dollars ($55,000,000) from the first series of bonds issued pursuant to Act 2007-415 shall be deposited into the Incentive Fund.
(b) There is hereby created the Alabama Public School and College Education Incentive Fund Council. The council shall be made up of the State Superintendent of Education; the Director of Finance; one member, who shall not be an elected official, appointed by the Governor; the Lieutenant Governor; the Chair of the Senate Finance and Taxation-Education Committee; and the Chair of the House Education Appropriations Committee. The Lieutenant Governor and legislative members of the council shall be entitled to their regular per diem when attending council meetings. The council created by this section shall allocate capital expenditures from the Incentive Fund. Authorized expenditures from the Incentive Fund shall include, but not be limited to, matching local funds for the consolidation of schools; the advancement of technology; capital losses as the result of natural disasters; infrastructure for fast growing school systems or institutions; career technical facilities; public libraries; and capital needs to assist schools that are not accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Entities applying for grants from the Incentive Fund shall make application to members of the council. The council may require local match for certain capital projects. Upon the deposit of the monies into the Incentive Fund, the council shall meet at least quarterly to consider grant applications. Four members of the council shall constitute a quorum and four members must be present and vote affirmatively for the approval of any grant application. The council shall hold its first meeting within the first quarter following the deposit of the first monies into the Incentive Fund. The council shall elect a chair at the first meeting. The chair shall call subsequent meetings of the council. If the chair fails to call a meeting at least quarterly, a meeting shall be held upon a written request by at least four members of the council.
(c) Not later than three years following allocation of bond proceeds as provided in Act 2007-415, the authority shall review the status of any unexpended allocations, and, at its sole discretion, determine if unexpended allocations or any portion thereof shall revert to the authority for reallocation by the Alabama Public School and College Education Incentive Fund Council.
(Act 2007-415, p. 846, §§10, 11.)