I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 58 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 6, 2009 Mr. Kirk (for himself and Mr. Carney) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To promote green schools.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Green Schools Act.

2.

Green schools grant program

(a)

Establishment

The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall establish a program for making grants of up to $10,000 per project to local educational agencies for projects for green school construction and improvements. (b)

Matching funds

A grant shall be made for a project under subsection (a) only if at least 50 percent of the costs of the project will be paid from non-Federal sources. (c)

Definitions

For purposes of this section— (1)the term green school construction and improvements means construction methods, systems, technologies, or facility improvements that create a healthy learning environment while saving natural resources and money, including— (A)sustainable site improvements; (B)water conservation strategies or systems; (C)energy conservation strategies or systems; (D)sustainable materials, including low-emitting, reused, recycled, regionally harvested, and rapidly renewable materials; and (E)strategies or systems that improve indoor environmental quality, including improvements to acoustics, ventilation, thermal comfort, daylighting, and mold prevention; and (2)the term local educational agency has the meaning given that term in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). (d)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency for carrying out this section $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2009 through 2013.

3.

Extension and greening of qualified zone academy bonds

(a)

Extension

Paragraph (1) of 54E(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to national limitation) is amended by striking 2008 and 2009 and inserting each of calendar years 2008 through 2013. (b)

Greening

Paragraph (3) of section 54E(d) of such Code (defining qualified purpose) is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: In the case of bonds issued after the date of the enactment of this sentence, any rehabilitation, repair, or provision of equipment shall be treated as a qualified purpose only if such rehabilitation, repair, or provision, as the case may be, is described in section 2(c) of the Green Schools Act, as in effect on such date.. (c)

Effective date

The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to obligations issued after December 31, 2008.