article: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``High Performance Schools Act of 1999''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following: (1) American K-12 schools spend over $6 billion annually on energy costs which is more than is spent on books and computers combined. (2) Educators teach and students learn best in an environment that is comfortable, healthy, naturally lit where possible, and in good repair and studies have indicated that student achievement is greater and attendance higher when those conditions are met. (3) Over half of our nation's K-12 schools are more than 40 years old and in need of renovation to reach such standard of efficiency and comfort and 6,000 new schools will be required over the next 10 years to accommodate the growing number of students. (4) Inadequate ventilation in school buildings, poor lighting and acoustical quality, and uncomfortable temperatures can diminish students' capacity to concentrate and excel. (5) Inefficient use of water, either in consumption or from poorly maintained systems, is prevalent in older schools. (6) Using a whole building approach in the design of new schools and the renovation of existing schools--considering how materials, systems, and products connect and overlap and also how a school is integrated on its site and within the surrounding community--will result in high performance school buildings. (7) Adoption of whole building concepts has been shown to result in dramatic improvements in student and teacher performance. (8) Adopting a whole building approach usually results in a lower life-cycle cost for the school building than for a conventionally designed and built building. (9) Systematic use of energy conservation in school construction and renovation projects can save at least one quarter of current energy costs, leaving more money for teachers and educational materials. (10) The use of renewable energy sources such as daylighting, passive solar heating, photovoltaics, wind, geothermal, hydropower, and biomass power in a building already designed to be low-energy can help meet the building's energy needs without added emissions. (11) Using environmentally preferable products and providing for adequate supplies of fresh air will improve indoor air quality and provide healthful school buildings. (12) Most school districts do not have the knowledge of cutting-edge design and technologies to implement optimum efficiency into new school construction or into school renovations. (13) Congress is currently considering legislation that will help school districts build new schools and renovate existing schools. (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to assist school districts in the production of high performance elementary and secondary school buildings that are healthful, productive, energy efficient, and environmentally sound. SEC. 3. PROGRAM ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION. (a) Establishment.--There is established in the Department of Education the High Performance Schools Program (hereafter in this Act referred to as the ``Program''). (b) In General.--The Secretary of Education may, through the Program, make grants-- (1) to be provided to school districts to implement the purpose of this Act; (2) to administer the program of assistance to school districts pursuant to this Act; and (3) to promote participation by school districts in the program established by this Act. (c) Grants to Assist School Districts.--Grants under subsection (b)(1) shall be used to achieve energy efficiency performance not less than 30 percent beyond the levels prescribed in the 1998 International Energy Conservation Code as it is in effect for new construction and existing buildings. Grants under such subsection shall be made to school districts that-- (1) have demonstrated a need for such grants in order to respond appropriately to increasing elementary and secondary school enrollments or to make major investments in renovation of school facilities; (2) have demonstrated that the districts do not have adequate funds to respond appropriately to such enrollments or achieve such investments without assistance; and (3) have made a commitment to use the grant funds to develop high performance school buildings in accordance with the plan developed and approved pursuant to subsection (e)(1). (d) Other Grants.-- (1) Grants for administration.--Grants under subsection (b)(2) shall be used to evaluate compliance by school districts with requirements of this Act and in addition may be used for-- (A) distributing information and materials to clearly define and promote the development of high performance school buildings for both new and existing facilities; (B) organizing and conducting programs for school board members, school district personnel, architects, engineers, and others to advance the concepts of high performance school buildings; (C) obtaining technical services and assistance in planning and designing high performance school buildings; and (D) collecting and monitoring data and information pertaining to the high performance school building projects. (2) Grants to promote participation.--Grants under subsection (b)(3) may be used for promotional and marketing activities, including facilitating private and public financing, promoting the use of energy service companies, working with school administrations, students, and communities, and coordinating public benefit programs. (e) Implementation.-- (1) Plans.--Grants under subsection (b) shall be provided only to school districts that, in consultation with State offices of energy and education, have developed plans that the State agency designated by the Governor of the State determines to be feasible and appropriate in order to the achieve the purposes for which such grants were made. (2) Supplementing grant funds.--The State agency referred to in paragraph (1) shall encourage qualifying school districts to supplement their grant funds with funds from other sources in the implementation of their plans. SEC. 4. ALLOCATION OF FUNDS. (a) Governors.--Except as provided in subsection (c), funds appropriated for the implementation of this Act shall be provided to the Governors of the States. Each Governor shall determine the appropriate State agency to administer the program of assistance to school districts under this Act. (b) Purposes.--Except as provided in subsection (c), funds appropriated under section 5 shall be allocated as follows: (1) Seventy percent shall be used to make grants under section 3(b)(1). (2) Fifteen percent shall be used to make grants under section 3(b)(2). (3) Fifteen percent shall be used to make grants under section 3(b)(3). (c) Other Funds.--The Secretary of Education may, through the Program established under section 3(a), retain an amount, not to exceed $300,000 per year, to assist State agencies designated by the Governor in coordinating and implementing such Program. Such funds may be used to develop reference materials to further define the principles and criteria to achieve high performance school buildings. SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. For grants under section 3(b) there are authorized to be appropriated $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2001, $210,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, $220,000,000 for fiscal year 2003, $230,000,000 for fiscal year 2004, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the subsequent 6 fiscal years. SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Act: (1) Elementary and secondary school.--The term ``elementary school'' and ``secondary school'' shall have the same meaning given such terms in paragraphs (14) and (25) of section 14101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801(14),(25)). (2) High performance school building.--The term ``high performance school building'' refers to a school building which, in its design, construction, operation, and maintenance maximizes use of renewable energy and energy conservation practices, is cost-effective on a life-cycle basis, uses affordable, environmentally preferable, durable materials, enhances indoor environmental quality, protects and conserves water, and optimizes site potential. (3) Renewable energy.--The term ``renewable energy'' means energy produced by solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, and biomass power.
summary: (Sec. 3) Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make grants, through the Program, for: (1) assisting school districts to implement this Act's purpose; (2) administering the program of assistance to school districts under this Act; and (3) promoting participation by school districts in the Program. Requires grants to assist school districts to be used to achieve energy efficiency performance not less than 30 percent beyond the levels prescribed in the 1998 International Energy Conservation Code as it is in effect for new construction and existing buildings. Requires such grants to be made to school districts that: (1) need to respond appropriately to increasing elementary and secondary school enrollments or to make major investments in renovation of school facilities; (2) do not have adequate funds to do so without such assistance; and (3) are committed to using grant funds to develop high performance school buildings in accordance with an approved plan. Requires grants for administration to be used to evaluate compliance by school districts with requirements of this Act. Allows such grants also to be used to: (1) distribute information and materials to define and promote development of high performance school buildings for new and existing facilities; (2) organize and conduct programs for school board members, school district personnel, architects, engineers, and others to advance the concepts of such buildings; (3) obtain technical services and assistance in planning and designing such buildings; and (4) collect and monitor data and information pertaining to such building projects. Allows grants to promote participation to be used for promotional and marketing activities, including facilitating private and public financing, promoting the use of energy service companies, working with school administrations, students, and communities, and coordinating public benefit programs. Allows grants under this Act to be provided only to school districts that have developed plans that the State agency designated by the Governor of the State determines to be feasible and appropriate. Requires such State agency to encourage qualifying school districts to supplement their grant funds with funds from other sources in the implementation of their plans. (Sec. 4) Requires funds appropriated for the implementation of this Act, with the exception of certain reserved funds, to be provided to the Governors of the States. Directs each Governor to determine the appropriate State agency to administer the program of assistance to school districts. Allocates such funds as follows: (1) 70 percent for grants to assist school districts; (2) 15 percent for grants for administration; and (3) 15 percent for grants to promote participation. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to retain, through the Program, a limited annual amount to assist State agencies designated by the Governor in coordinating and implementing such Program. Allows funds to be used to develop reference materials to further define the principles and criteria to achieve high performance school buildings. (Sec. 5) Authorizes appropriations.