Article 1General Provisions
Section § 17000
This section names the chapter as the 'Leroy F. Greene State School Building Lease-Purchase Law of 1976,' which is a specific law related to school buildings.
Section § 17001
This law emphasizes the importance of maintaining safe and educationally adequate school buildings in California. It encourages the reconstruction, remodeling, or replacement of outdated or unsafe school facilities and acquiring new sites to support local school districts. Additionally, there's a provision allowing up to 75% funding for rebuilding unsafe school buildings with special considerations for unique situations. The goal is also to ensure that new construction supports the integration of educational technology.
Section § 17002
This section explains the definitions of specific terms used within the chapter concerning school facilities. "Apportionment" is about providing funds for school projects. The "Board" is the State Allocation Board. The "Cost of project" covers expenses for property, development, construction, and necessary technology. "Good repair" means a school is clean, safe, and functional according to evaluation criteria developed by the Office of Public School Construction. The code also includes criteria such as the condition of gas and mechanical systems, doors, windows, fences, surfaces, hazardous materials, structural integrity, emergency systems, lighting, pest control, drinking fountains, restrooms, sewer systems, roofs, and overall cleanliness. The term "Lease" covers leasing with purchase options. A "Project" relates to school facilities built for rent to districts, and "Property" includes all essential real or personal property interests. The law also states an evaluation system for facilities must classify conditions on a good to poor scale.
Section § 17002.1
This law section explains that construction projects for school facilities aren't just about building new structures. They can also involve fixing up old ones, updating them, or replacing parts. It also mentions that schools can get money to catch up on maintenance work, no matter if the project funding for major updates or replacements is blocked by other rules.
Section § 17003
This section explains that the Director of General Services is responsible for overseeing this chapter of the law and must help the board with whatever it needs.
Section § 17004
This section establishes that the State Allocation Board will continue to exist for the purposes of the chapter. Board members and legislators who meet with the board do not receive additional pay for their work but will be reimbursed for necessary expenses related to their duties.
Section § 17005
This law gives the board extra powers and responsibilities related to leasing school district projects and managing them. The board can set up qualifications for school districts to lease these projects, come up with necessary procedures and policies, and adopt rules needed to run these processes effectively. It also allows the board to construct and manage projects, set and change the rates or charges for using these projects, and handle any related services, while respecting any existing contracts.
Section § 17005.1
By June 30 each year, a board must approve a plan that outlines how much money will be set aside for deferred maintenance and how it will be distributed to school districts that apply for it.
Section § 17005.3
This law allows small school districts in California, with fewer than 2,501 students, to apply for loans to fund early project phases if funds are not currently available. These loans cannot be used to buy real estate and must be repaid within five years. Repayment can come from certain fees or once construction funds are received. If a school is more than 90 days late in payments, the state can reduce their funding to cover the loan. The state board can only lend out a total of $10 million in loans annually and only if funds are available and the project has been approved but not yet funded.
Section § 17005.5
This law allows a board to lend money to school districts using funds from specific bond acts to help with their facilities. However, this can only happen when the bond money is available and two conditions are met: the loan amount cannot be more than what's specified in a specific law, and the loan must be repaid according to a set schedule in that law.
Section § 17006
This section outlines conditions that must be met for a school district to lease facilities to replace inadequate school buildings. Before entering a lease, the board, or the district itself if it's a self-certifying district, must investigate and determine that it wouldn't be cost-effective or wise to fix the existing facilities, or that the facilities are prone to repeat flooding. If flooding is the reason, the area of the school isn't counted towards the district's total adequate school area for funding purposes. Self-certifying districts, meaning those that pay at least half of their project costs without state funds, must keep records of their investigations and conclusions, which can be audited later.
Section § 17007
This law section discusses the State School Building Finance Committee in California, explaining its composition and functions. The committee includes top state officials like the Governor and others, who serve without pay. They work with selected legislators from the Senate and Assembly who advise them. These legislators also form an investigation committee with specific powers. The Director of General Services aids the committee, while the Attorney General acts as its legal adviser.
Section § 17008
This law establishes a special fund called the State School Building Lease-Purchase Fund in California's Treasury. Money in this fund can come from any source and is always available for use according to specific rules in this chapter, without needing additional approval. The State Allocation Board has the power to distribute money from the fund to school districts for school building projects.
Section § 17008.3
This law allows a board to set up a separate bank account for loans from the State School Building Lease-Purchase Fund. The board can give these loans to school districts that show they're planning to apply for a project, specifically for early planning and administrative costs. The loan can be up to 3% of the project's estimated cost. If a project doesn't qualify for funding within two years, the board will notify a state official to reduce the district's funding to repay the loan. If a project eventually does get approved, repayment is taken from future project funding.
Section § 17008.5
This section allows a board to approve and fund school building projects as long as the money in the State School Building Lease-Purchase Fund and authorized – but unsold – bonds cover the costs. The board can pay out funds even if the total in the fund isn't enough to cover all promised amounts. However, funds that must be moved by law to the General Fund can't be used for these payments.
Section § 17009
This law says that county superintendents or offices of education in California can receive funds from state bonds to build, reconstruct, modernize, or maintain facilities for special education students who are severely handicapped. However, to be eligible for these funds, they must submit a facility plan to the State Allocation Board, and this plan has to be approved by the State Department of Education.
Section § 17009.3
Section § 17009.5
This law outlines how California school districts can get funding for construction projects from November 4, 1998, onward. For first priority projects approved before this date, districts will receive funding for any remaining costs, which will be the final state contribution. Second priority projects can either switch to the new funding process or remain in the old system with updated status. Schools applying for modernization keep their original approval dates for funding purposes. West Contra Costa Unified School District became eligible for state funds starting November 4, 1998. The State Allocation Board must create regulations to ensure proper fund handling between the old and new systems.