Section § 15120

Explanation

This section explains the rules around school district elections related to a specific chapter. Elections must follow certain procedures unless exceptions are noted. Additionally, once an election for this purpose happens in a school district, no similar election can occur there for at least 90 days.

(a)CA Education Code § 15120(a) An election held for purposes of this chapter shall be conducted as provided in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 5300) of Part 4, except as otherwise provided in Sections 15100 to 15126, inclusive.
(b)CA Education Code § 15120(b) If an election is held for purposes of this chapter in a school district, no other election may be held for purposes of this chapter in that district for a period of 90 days after that election.

Section § 15121

Explanation

This law allows elections related to specific sections of the Education Code to be combined with other types of elections. This can be done by following the rules set out in a particular part of the Elections Code.

Any election called pursuant to Sections 15100 to 15141, inclusive, and Sections 15142 to 15261, inclusive, may be consolidated with any other election pursuant to Part 3 (commencing with Section 10400) of Division 10 of the Elections Code.

Section § 15122

Explanation

When there's a vote on whether to issue bonds, the ballot must say something like "Bonds—Yes" and "Bonds—No." The ballot should also include a short description that explains how much money the bonds involve, the highest interest rate for the bonds, and what the money from selling the bonds will be used for. If there's a mistake in this description, it won't cancel the election unless the mistake is about the amount of the bonds.

The words to appear upon the ballots shall be “Bonds—Yes” and “Bonds—No,” or words of similar import. A brief statement of the proposition, setting forth the amount of the bonds to be voted upon, the maximum rate of interest, and the purposes for which the proceeds of the sale of the bonds are to be used, shall be printed upon the ballot. No defect in the statement other than in the statement of the amount of the bonds to be authorized shall invalidate the bonds election.

Section § 15122.5

Explanation

This section explains that when a school district in California is holding an election to issue bonds for school projects that need state funds to complete, the sample ballot must inform voters that just passing the bond measure doesn't ensure the project will be completed. The state's contribution depends on approval and legislative decisions. There's also specific wording required on the ballot to convey this uncertainty. However, these rules don't apply to bonds under the Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act.

(a)CA Education Code § 15122.5(a) Whenever an election is called on the question of whether bonds of a school district shall be issued and sold for the purposes specified in Section 15100 and the project to be funded by the bonds will require state matching funds for any phase of the project, the sample ballot shall contain a statement, as provided in subdivision (b), advising the voters that the project is subject to the approval of state matching funds and, therefore, passage of the bond measure is not a guarantee that the project will be completed.
(b)CA Education Code § 15122.5(b) The words to appear in the sample ballot in satisfaction of the requirements of subdivision (a) are as follows:
“Approval of Measure ____ does not guarantee that the proposed project or projects in the ____ School District that are the subject of bonds under Measure ____ will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by Measure ____. The school district’s proposal for the project or projects may assume the receipt of matching state funds, which could be subject to appropriation by the Legislature or approval of a statewide bond measure.”
(c)CA Education Code § 15122.5(c) This section does not apply to any election to incur bonded indebtedness pursuant to the Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act of 1982 contained in Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 53311) of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code.

Section § 15123

Explanation

If there's an election about school district or community college bonds, the ballots need to follow the same rules as those used for board member elections, plus a few extra specifications mentioned in this section.

The form and details of all ballots at school district or community college bond elections shall comply with ballot provisions of this code applicable to governing board member elections with additional requirements as provided for in this chapter.

Section § 15124

Explanation

If two-thirds of voters approve issuing bonds, or if a majority approves bonds for school building repairs or replacement, the school board must record this result and certify it to the county supervisors. Then, the county's superintendent of schools sends the election result certificate to the county board of supervisors.

If it appears from the certificate of election results that two-thirds of the votes cast on the proposition of issuing bonds of the district are in favor of issuing the bonds; or, a majority of the votes cast, if the election is held to repair, reconstruct or replace school buildings in compliance with Section 17367 or 81162 or any other provision of law, the governing board of the school district or community college shall cause an entry of that fact to be made upon its minutes. The governing board shall then certify to the board of supervisors of the county whose superintendent of schools has jurisdiction over the district, all proceedings had in the premises. The county superintendent of schools shall send a copy of the certificate of election results to the board of supervisors of the county.

Section § 15125

Explanation

If a joint school district wants to issue bonds, only the board of supervisors in the county where the district's school superintendent has authority needs to handle it. They can issue and sell the bonds without needing approval from boards in other counties involved. Also, officers from these other counties don't need to sign the bonds.

The proceedings relating to the authorization of bonds of a joint school district of any type need be certified only to the board of supervisors of the county whose superintendent of schools has jurisdiction over the district. The board of supervisors may issue and sell the bonds and no action of the board of supervisors of any other county in which the district is situated shall be required in connection with the issuance and sale, and the bonds need not be signed by any officer of any the other county.

Section § 15126

Explanation

This law says that if there is a small mistake or oversight during an election about whether a district can issue bonds, it won’t ruin the election or invalidate the bonds, as long as the mistake doesn't significantly impact the voters' rights or the rights of those paying taxes in the area.

No error, irregularity, or omission which does not affect the substantial rights of the taxpayers within the district or the electors voting at any election at which bonds of any district are authorized to be issued shall invalidate the election or any bonds authorized.