,,ii #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #ecah ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #bj1 #bjbb,mr4 ,cassidy 7for himself and ,mr4 ,bennet7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to support the creation and implementation of ,state policies1 as well as the expansion of existing ,state policies1 for improving the quality and affordability of charter school facilities4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,equitable ,access to ,school ,facilities ,act4 #b4 ,purpose ,the purpose of this ,act is to authorize support for the creation and implementation of ,state policies1 as well as the expansion of existing ,state policies1 to improve the quality and affordability of charter school facilities1 including by providing funding and financing for those facilities and expanding charter schools' free access to public buildings4 #c4 ,funding 7a7 ,allotment ,section #dcjb7;b77#a7 of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #gbba;a7b77#a77 is amended by inserting not more than before #ab4e percent4 7b7 ,facilities financing assistance ,section #dcjd7;a77#a7 of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #gbba;c7a77#a77 is amended by striking use not less than #ej percent to4 #d4 ,state facilities aid program authorized ,section #dcjd of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #gbba;c7 is amended by striking subsection 7k7 and inserting the following3 7k7 ,state facilities aid program 7#a7 ,state entity defined ,in this subsection1 the term ,state entity has the meaning given the term in section #dcjc7;a74 7#b7 ,grants to ,state entities 7,a7 ,grants authorized ,from the amounts appropriated under paragraph 7#d7 and not reserved under paragraph 7#c71 the ,secretary shall make competitive grants to ,state entities to pay for the cost of establishing or enhancing1 and administering1 charter school facilities aid programs4 7,b7 ,application ,a ,state entity desiring to receive a grant under this subsection shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7,c7 ,selection considerations ,in making grants under this subsection1 the ,secretary shall consider1 based on quantitative measures1 the extent to which the activities proposed to be carried out under a grant will-- 7i7 improve the equity of charter schools' access to facilities funding and financing with a ,state1 by reducing gaps in such funding 7for both acquisitions and operating costs7 between charter schools and other public schools2 7ii7 increase charter schools' access to public buildings2 and 7iii7 increase the access of charter schools in low-income and rural communities to adequate facilities4 7,d7 ,priorities ,in making grants under this subsection1 the ,secretary shall give a competitive preference priority to an applicant located in a ,state that-- 7i7 qualifies for a priority under subparagraph 7,a7 or 7,c7 of section #dcjc7;g77#b72 7ii7 provides charter schools with access to tax-exempt financing2 7iii7 ensures that land-use policies within the ,state1 such as policies regarding permits and fees1 provide for the same or substantially similar treatment of charter schools as of other public schools2 7iv7 prohibits localities and other instrumentalities of the ,state from imposing negative deed restrictions on properties that limit charter school access1 including prohibitions on charter schools purchasing surplus public property2 or 7v7 ensures that charter schools have the first right of refusal to purchase surplus public property4 7,e7 ,uses of funds ,a ,state entity receiving a grant under this subsection shall use such grant to carry out one or more of the following activities in the applicant's ,state3 7i7 ,increasing funding for1 or creating financing mechanisms to support1 charter schools' acquisition1 access to leasing1 and renovation of facilities1 which may include partnerships with local educational agencies that provide access to public buildings4 7ii7 ,increasing funding for1 or creating funding mechanisms to support1 charter schools' ongoing facilities costs4 7iii7 ,supporting the creation of ownership models1 such as local education property trusts through which municipalities set up independent public or nonprofit entities to plan1 develop1 and manage facilities for charter schools and other public service providers4 7iv7 ,through a reserve fund1 carrying out the activities described in subsection 7f74 7,f7 ,supplement1 not supplant ,a ,state entity receiving a grant under this subsection shall use such grant only to supplement1 and not supplant1 non-,federal funds that would otherwise be used for activities authorized under this subsection4 7#c7 ,national activities ,from the amounts appropriated under paragraph 7#d71 the ,secretary may reserve not more than #b percent to carry out1 directly or through grants or contracts1 technical assistance to grantees1 evaluation of grant activities1 and research and dissemination related to the purposes of this subsection4 7#d7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection #ajj1jjj1jjj for each of the fiscal years #bjbd through #bjbh4 4 #e4 ,conforming amendment ,section #dcaa of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #gbba;j7 is amended by inserting 7with the exception of section #dcjd7k77 after this part4