JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP)  - Missouri lawmakers are considering a new way to help pay for construction on college campuses.

The proposal calls for creating the Higher Education Capital Fund, which could be used to provide state matching funds for local contributions to capital improvement projects at colleges and universities.

The matching state money could account for no more than half the project costs, and the funds could not be used for athletic facilities. The funding would be available to public four-year and two-year institutions.

Sen. Tim Green, a Democrat from St. Louis, is sponsoring the legislation. He says there has not been enough money for state government to cover all the construction needs, and the goal is to get some assistance.

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