§ 16-26-12. Other sources of funding. (a) The 2009 general assembly, through the FY 2010 appropriation act, established a fee for a service program, also known as a tuition program, for the Rhode Island school for the deaf effective July 1, 2009 in accordance with the fee structure developed and implemented by the department of elementary and secondary education. Under this fee for service program, and the provisions of Rhode Island general law § 16-26-7.1 notwithstanding, districts shall be assessed tuition to cover the costs of educational services that are additional to the core deaf and hard-of-hearing education program that is provided to resident students at the Rhode Island school for the deaf.

(b) Tuition assessed at the school for the deaf to cover costs of educational services that are additional to the core deaf and hard-of-hearing education program shall be based on a graduated tuition schedule correlating to the varying needs of students. Districts shall receive three (3) times each school year, invoices summarizing the basis for the tuition charged. There shall be deducted from the final aid payment to each school district at the end of the fiscal year any amounts owed to the state for these additional educational services. All tuition paid by districts and any aid deducted for non-payment shall be deposited in a restricted receipt account and shall be exempt from the indirect cost recovery provisions of § 35-4-7.

(c) The school for the deaf is hereby authorized to rent or lease space in its school building. The school shall deposit any revenues from such agreements into a restricted receipt account, to be known as the school for the deaf rental income account, to be used for the same educational purposes that its state appropriation is used. Any such rental agreements must receive prior approval from the school's board of trustees and by the state properties committee.

History of Section. (P.L. 2011, ch. 151, art. 10, § 5.)