(A) Of the funds authorized pursuant to this act, public institutions of higher learning as defined in Section 59-103-5, not including research universities, are authorized twelve percent of the total amount authorized under Section 11-51-40. The eligible institutions may only use the funds authorized under this subsection for deferred maintenance projects. The twelve percent authorized for the institutions, not including research universities, must be allocated by the Commission of Higher Education to eligible institutions as follows:

(1) sixty-five percent of the total twelve percent must be allocated based on a reported deferred maintenance needs list from each eligible institutions; and

(2) thirty-five percent of the total twelve percent must be allocated by FTE student enrollment from the prior academic year at each eligible institution.

The Research Centers of Excellence Review Board has no jurisdiction over these projects and no matching requirement is imposed for these projects. The Joint Bond Review Committee must review and the State Fiscal Accountability Authority must approve all projects.

(B)(1) After the aggregate total of bonds issued pursuant to this chapter equals two hundred and fifty million dollars, all further proceeds of bonds authorized pursuant to this chapter must be authorized as follows:

(a) eighty-eight percent for the research universities in the manner and for the purposes provided pursuant to this chapter;

(b) twelve percent to public institutions of higher learning as defined in Section 59-103-5, not including the research universities, for deferred maintenance projects allocated as follows:

(i) one-half for the state's ten comprehensive teaching universities distributed among them as provided in item (2) of this subsection; and

(ii) one-half for the state's two-year and technical colleges distributed among them as provided in item (2) of this subsection.

(2) The Commission on Higher Education shall distribute amounts allocated pursuant to item (1)(b)(i) and (ii) of this subsection among the two categories of eligible institutions as follows:

(a) thirty-five percent in equal shares to each eligible institution; and

(b) sixty-five percent based on FTE student enrollment from the prior academic year at eligible institutions.

(3) The Research Centers of Excellence Review Board has no jurisdiction over projects funded by bonds issued pursuant to item (1)(b) of this subsection and no matching requirement is imposed for these projects. All projects must be approved by the Joint Bond Review Committee and the State Budget and Control Board.

HISTORY: 2004 Act No. 187, Section 9; 2014 Act No. 121 (S.22), Pt VII, Section 20.L.2, eff July 1, 2015.

Effect of Amendment

2014 Act No. 121, Section 20.L.2, in the undesignated paragraph following subsection (A)(2), substituted "must review and the State Fiscal Accountability Authority" for "and the State Budget and Control Board".