37-221. Sale or lease of state lands for public education purposes

A. Notwithstanding any other law, school districts may enter into leases of state land for more than ten years if the land is to be used for public education purposes. These leases shall be granted according to the constitution of this state and department rules. School districts shall make all applications for leases for educational purposes on forms prepared and furnished by the department, and an authorized agent of the governing board of the school district shall sign and swear to the application. A school district shall not use lands leased to it under this section except for public educational purposes.

B. The department shall develop procedures to give priority to the procedures used for school districts to lease state lands for public education purposes. The department shall develop procedures to simplify the procedures used for school districts to lease state lands for public education purposes. The procedures shall specify that any leases entered into and any improvements made to properties leased pursuant to this section using state monies shall comply with the requirements of title 15, chapter 16.

C. The department shall develop procedures to give priority to the procedures used for school districts to purchase state lands for public education purposes. The department shall develop procedures to simplify the procedures used for school districts to purchase state lands for public education purposes. The procedures shall specify that any purchase of school lands by school districts using state monies shall comply with the requirements of title 15, chapter 16.

D. Any monies received by the department from the lease of state public school land for public education purposes pursuant to this section shall be transferred to the school facilities board for deposit in the new school facilities fund established by section 15-2041.

E. For the purposes of this section, a school district shall be considered to have abandoned a lease when leased property and any improvements are no longer being used for public education purposes.