Panel clears narrow fix to charter‑school leasing law after agency testimony

Senate File 131, a narrow statutory change aimed at clarifying charter‑school leasing rules, passed the Senate Education Committee Tuesday after brief testimony from the State Construction Department and charter‑school advocates.

Sponsor Senator Driscoll told the committee the bill removes language that has created a catch‑22 for some charter applicants: under current statute, the State Construction Department may determine a district has an adequate facility available, which can trigger state reimbursement for a charter’s lease; district decisions not to lease that facility have left charter schools unable to secure space and uncertain about reimbursement triggers. The bill removes the statutory requirement that effectively penalized charters when a district owns a building it declines to make available.

Dale McComie, director of the State Construction Department, described examples in which a district-owned building was offered but rejected by a charter, creating uncertainty about whether the department should discontinue reimbursement or how long a charter could rely on state funds for lease. The Department of Education (testimony provided on behalf of the superintendent) supported the change, and the Wyoming Public Charter Schools Association urged passage while requesting a longer-term study of charter‑facility statutes.

Committee members adopted two technical amendments to the bill’s title (a typographical fix and a rephrasing of the repeal clause) and voted to report SF 131 as amended. Recorded committee votes were unanimous in favor.