I.There shall be a school building authority, referred to in this chapter as the authority, consisting of the state treasurer, the commissioner of education, the state fire marshal or designee, and 3 other members appointed by the governor, one of whom shall have expertise in education, one of whom shall have expertise in finance, and one of whom shall have expertise in building construction or engineering, with the advice and consent of the council, for terms of 3 years and until their successors are appointed and qualify. The governor shall designate one of said members as chairman. In case of vacancy among the appointive members of the authority, the governor, with the advice and consent of the council, shall fill the same for the unexpired term. The appointive members of the authority
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I. There shall be a school building authority, referred to in this chapter as the authority, consisting of the state treasurer, the commissioner of education, the state fire marshal or designee, and 3 other members appointed by the governor, one of whom shall have expertise in education, one of whom shall have expertise in finance, and one of whom shall have expertise in building construction or engineering, with the advice and consent of the council, for terms of 3 years and until their successors are appointed and qualify. The governor shall designate one of said members as chairman. In case of vacancy among the appointive members of the authority, the governor, with the advice and consent of the council, shall fill the same for the unexpired term. The appointive members of the authority shall receive as compensation for their services, while actually engaged in the business of the authority, the sum of $8 per day plus their necessary subsistence expenses. The appointive members of the authority shall be paid mileage at the state employees rate, plus necessary travel expenses, only when performing activities at the request of the state board of education.
II. It shall be the duty of the authority to consider and investigate all applications of school districts for awards of state guarantees with respect to borrowings authorized by such districts for school projects of not less than $100,000 involving the construction, enlargement or alteration of school buildings, and to make a written report on each application to the governor and council. If the authority finds that a school project will be of public use and benefit and that the amount of the authorized borrowing appears to be within the financial means and available resources of the school district making the application, the authority may include in its report a recommendation that a state guarantee be awarded on a split issue basis with respect to a specific amount of the bonds or notes of the district or that a state guarantee be awarded on a declining balance basis with respect to a specific percentage of each of such bonds or notes. In determining what amount or percentage to recommend under the provisions of this chapter, the authority shall consider the need for the project in comparison with the need for other projects throughout the state and the capacity of the state to guarantee indebtedness within the limits contained in this chapter.
III. The authority may make reasonable procedural rules and regulations and prescribe forms to be used in its proceedings. The authority may also establish from time to time schedules of service charges to be paid by districts which issue bonds or notes guaranteed by the state pursuant to this chapter, but no charge shall exceed 1/10 of one percent of the principal amount of the bonds or notes which are issued and with respect to which the state guarantee is applicable. The charge to a district shall not be payable until after the bonds or notes on which the charge is based have been issued, and such charge may be paid from the proceeds of the bonds or notes including premiums, but exclusive of accrued interest. Service charges shall be paid to the state treasurer and shall be credited to the account of the authority. Such account shall not lapse and shall be available to the authority as a continuing fund subject to expenditure for the use of the authority pursuant to votes thereof.
IV. (a) The authority shall advise the state board of education by investigating matters concerning school facilities referred to them by the state board of education. Such matters shall include, but shall not be limited to, standards for school building construction pursuant to RSA 21-N:9, II(c), safety standards related to school buildings, financing of school construction projects, award of high performance school construction grants, and any other specific concerns about particular school buildings that have been brought to the attention of the state board of education.
(b) The authority shall seek the assistance and expertise of state and local agencies and private entities as may be necessary.