Board signals intent to align school-construction review threshold with new law, raising review floor to $750,000

The Alabama State Board of Education on June 9 voted to announce its intent to adopt an amendment to Alabama Administrative Code Rule 290-2-2-.01 to align with a legislative change that raises the Division of Construction Management review threshold.

Board staff said the legislature amended state law after the board previously adopted a similar rule in March; the new legislative change increases the dollar threshold that triggers full plan review by the Division of Construction Management from $500,000 to $750,000. The board will publish the proposed rule for a 45-day comment period; the new law takes effect Oct. 1, and staff said the amendment will put board rules in line with the statutory change on that date.

Under the revised threshold as described by staff, projects estimated at $750,000 or less will be reviewed by the Division of Construction Management for life, health and safety code compliance only; projects over $750,000 will receive a full plan review. Staff said the board is currently operating under an emergency rule that aligns with present law until the formal adoption process is complete.

The board recorded a unanimous vote to announce the intent to adopt the amended rule. Board members asked clarifying questions about the safety benefits that the change would allow and were told the larger threshold permits more flexibility to add safety features and upgrades on smaller projects without triggering full plan review.