Wyoming would set aside money for approved public school safety projects

Wyoming would set aside $54,101,144 and redirect unused money from earlier laws to the school facilities commission. The funding covers safety projects in Wyoming public school buildings serving kindergarten through 12th grade. The money would pay for approved, ranked safety fixes. Unspent, uncommitted money would return to the public school foundation program account after all authorized fixes are complete. The funding would begin July 1, 2027, and remain available until the identified safety needs are fixed.

The school facilities commission would rank safety fixes and check each one before spending this money. These checks apply to school safety fixes paid for with the money described in this proposal. The commission would use safety risk, district needs, and national and regional practices to rank fixes. It would report its ranking methods to a legislative committee, confirm each fix fits those methods and a district plan, choose the most cost-effective option, and set a maximum budget. The checks and the report on ranking methods would be required before the money is spent.

The school facilities commission and state construction department would report on the safety projects each year. The reports would go to the governor and legislative committees that oversee school facilities and spending. Reports would cover spending, approved fixes, how the fixes were ranked, changes to the ranking method, and requests for more money. The reports would not have to disclose information protected from public release. The first report would be due by September 1, 2027, with another due each September 1 until the money is spent or returned.