Public Law 95–536

amend article VII-G to read as follows:

“(G)“(G)

State Aid Programs.—

As used in this paragraph the term ‘initial aid’ shall include New Hampshire and Vermont financial assistance with respect to a capital project, or the means of financing a capital project, which is available in connection with construction costs of a capital project or which is available at the time indebtedness is incurred to finance the project. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing definition, initial aid shall specifically include a New Hampshire state guarantee under RSA 195-B with respect to bonds or notes and Vermont construction aid under chapter 123 of 16 V.S.A. As used in this paragraph the term ‘long-term aid’ shall include New Hampshire and Vermont financial assistance which is payable periodically in relation to capital costs incurred by an interstate district. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing definition, longterm aid shall specifically include New Hampshire school building aid under RSA 198 and Vermont school building aid under chapter 123 of Title 16 V.S.A. For the purpose of applying for, receiving and expending initial aid and long-term aid an interstate district shall be deemed a native school district by each State, subject to the following provisions. When an interstate district has appropriated money for a capital project, the amount appropriated shall be divided into a New Hampshire share and a Vermont share in accordance with the capital expense apportionment formula in the articles of agreement as though the total amount appropriated for the project was a capital expense requiring apportionment in the year the appropriation is made. New Hampshire initial aid shall be available with respect to the amount of the New Hampshire share as though it were authorized indebtedness of a Now Hampshire cooperative school district. In the case of a State guarantee of interstate district bonds or notes under RSA 195-B. the interstate district shall be eligible to apply for and receive an unconditional State guarantee with respect to an amount of its bonds or notes which does not exceed fifty percent of the amount of the New Hampshire share as determined above. Vermont initial aid shall be available with respect to the amount of the Vermont share as though it were funds voted by a Vermont school district. Payments of Vermont initial aid shall be made to the interstate district, and the amount of any borrowing authorized to meet the appropriation for the capital project shall be reduced accordingly. New Hampshire and Vermont long-term aid shall be payable to the interstate district. The amounts of long-term aid in each year shall be based on the New Hampshire and Vermont shares of the amount of indebtedness of the interstate district which is payable in that year and which has been apportioned in accordance with the capital expense apportionment formula in the articles of agreement. The New Hampshire aid shall be payable at the rate of forty-five percent, if there are three or less New Hampshire members in the interstate district, and otherwise it shall be payable as though the New Hampshire members were a New Hampshire cooperative school district. New Hampshire and Vermont long-term aid shall be deducted from the total capital expenses for the fiscal year in which the long-term aid is payable, and the balance of such expenses shall be apportioned among the member districts. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, New Hampshire and Vermont may at any time change their State school aid programs that are in existence when this compact takes effect and may establish new programs, and any legislation for these purposes may specify how such programs shall be applied with respect to interstate districts. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the respective amounts of New Hampshire and Vermont initial and long-term aid, with respect to a capital project of the Dresden School District for which indebtedness is authorized by a vote of the District after July 1, 1977, shall be initially determined for each year for each member district by the manner provided in this paragraph and the aid shall be paid to the Dresden School District, however, the amount of aid for those capital projects received by the Dresden School District on account of each member district shall be used by the District to reduce the sums which would otherwise be required to be raised by taxation within that member district.”;

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insert the following at the end of article VII:

“(I)“(I)

Notwithstanding paragraph (G) of this Article, initial and long-term aid may be allocated among the members of an interstate district other than the Dresden School District in the manner which is provided in the articles of agreement of that district, or if not therein provided, in the manner specified in paragraph (G) for all interstate districts other than the Dresden School District.”; and

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amend Article IX to read as follows:

“Article IX “amendments to articles of agreement

“A. Amendments to the articles of agreement shall be adopted in the manner provided in the articles of agreement, and if no such provision is made in the articles of agreement then amendments shall be adopted by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of those present and voting at an interstate district meeting, except that:

“a. If the amendment proposes the addition of a new member district, the amendment shall be, adopted in the same manner provided for the adoption of the original articles of agreement, provided that the planning committee shall consist of all of the members of the interstate district board of directors and all of the members of the school board of the proposed new member district or districts, and provided that the amendment shall be submitted to the voters of the interstate district, the affirmative vote of two-thirds of those present and voting at an interstate district meeting being required for approval of the amendment. The articles of agreement together with the proposed amendment shall then be submitted to the voters of the proposed new member district or districts, and an affirmative vote of a simple majority of those present and voting at each district meeting shall be required for approval of the amendment.

“b. No amendment to the articles of agreement may impair the rights of bond or note holders or the power of the interstate district to procure the means for their payment.

“c. Amendments to the articles of agreement of the Dresden School District shall be adopted in the following manner: (1) an amendment shall be initially approved upon the affirmative vote of a simple majority of those voters of the Dresden School District who are present and voting at a meeting called for such purpose, (2) the amendment initially approved by the voters of the Dresden School District shall become final and effective upon the expiration of thirty days after the date of that vote, unless a petition is duly filed within that thirty-day period and the amendment is subsequently not approved by the voters of a member district in accordance with the procedure specified in clause (3), (3) if a petition, valid under applicable State law, is filed before the expiration of that thirty-day period with the clerk of any school district which is a member of the Dresden School District, which petition requires the calling of a special meeting of that member district for the purpose of considering the approval of the amendment initially adopted by the voters of the Dresden School District, then the board of school directors of that member district shall thereupon call a special meeting of that district for that purpose, (4) if the amendment as initially approved by the voters of the Dresden School District is approved by more than forty percent of the voters present and voting at the meeting of each member district in which a petition was filed under this section, then the amendment as initially adopted shall become final and effective upon the vote of that member district last to vote. If the amendment as initially approved by the voters of the Dresden School District is not so approved by more than forty percent of the voters present and voting at the meeting of any one member district, then the amendment shall be null and void and of no effect.”.

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