AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 16, 2024

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 1, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

97

Introduced by Assembly Member Hoover

February 15, 2024

An act to add Section 17070.56 to the Education Code, relating to school facilities.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: yes   Local program: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law, the Leroy F. Greene School Facilities Act of 1998, provides for the adoption of rules, regulations, and procedures, under the administration of the Director of General Services, for the allocation of state funds by the State Allocation Board for the construction and modernization of public school facilities. Existing law requires, upon request of any school district, the State Department of Education to provide assistance in the evaluation and utilization of existing school facilities and the justification of the need for schoolsites, new facilities, and the rehabilitation or replacement of existing facilities, in accordance with board regulations.

This bill would require the State Department of Education to establish the Office of Small School Facilities and Construction to provide assistance and guidance to small school districts, as defined. The bill would require, upon request of a small school district, the department to provide assistance in the evaluation and utilization of existing school facilities and the justification of the need of schoolsites, new facilities, and the rehabilitation or replacement of existing facilities, in accordance with board regulations. The bill would require this assistance to include, among other things, providing assistance in the assessment of school facility conditions and providing technical assistance and supportive services. The bill would require the department, in collaboration with the Office of Public School Construction, to provide assistance and guidance to small school districts in the identification, application, and acquisition of state school facilities funding for the construction and development of school facilities. The bill would require this assistance to include, among other things, annually informing small school districts of the availability of state school facilities funding for which they may qualify and responding to requests for assistance in identifying and determining state requirements to become eligible and apply for state facilities funding. The bill would require the department to assign requisite existing staff to the office to provide direct assistance and support to small school districts. The bill would become operative only if the voters approve, at the November 5, 2024, statewide general election, a statewide bond act that provides money for school facilities.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 17070.56 is added to the Education Code, to read:

17070.56.

(a) The State Department of Education shall establish the Office of Small School Facilities and Construction to provide assistance and guidance to small school districts.

(b) Upon request of a small school district, the State Department of Education shall provide assistance in the evaluation and utilization of existing school facilities and the justification of the need of schoolsites, new facilities, and the rehabilitation or replacement of existing facilities, in accordance with board regulations. The assistance provided by the State Department of Education shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) Informing small school districts of laws and regulations that apply to small school districts.

(2) Providing assistance in the assessment of school facility conditions.

(3) Providing technical assistance and supportive services.

(c) The State Department of Education shall collaborate with the Office of Public School Construction to provide assistance and guidance to small school districts in the identification, application, and acquisition of state school facilities funding for the construction and development of school facilities. The assistance provided by the State Department of Education, in collaboration with the Office of Public School Construction, shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) Annually informing small school districts of the availability of state school facilities funding for which they may qualify.

(2) Responding to requests for assistance in identifying and determining state requirements to become eligible and apply for state school facilities funding.

(3) Informing small school districts of laws and regulations that apply to small school districts.

(d) The State Department of Education shall assign requisite existing staff to the office to provide direct assistance and support to small school districts.

(e) For purposes of this section, “small school district” means a school district or county office of education with an average daily attendance of 2,500 pupils or fewer.

SEC. 2.