Alternative Use Of Apportionments - State School Building Lease-purchase Law Of 1976 - CA Education

Section § 17059

This section explains that many schools in California are overcrowded, but often there's no empty land available to build new facilities. Instead, school districts may have to buy developed land, demolish existing buildings, and construct new classrooms. The total cost needed for school facilities in the next five years is over $14 billion, which is more than state and local budgets can cover. However, there are many vacant commercial spaces that meet current building codes, which could be converted into schools affordably. This section allows for reconstructing these commercial buildings for educational purposes, given they were originally built to meet the standards of the 1976 Uniform Building Code or newer versions.

The Legislature finds and declares as follows:

(a) In many areas of the state, overcrowding in the schools has created a need for new school facilities in neighborhoods where little or no vacant land exists. School districts are compelled, therefore, to acquire property that already has been developed with structures, then demolish these structures and construct classroom space.

(b) With an estimated statewide need for school facilities within the next five years that exceeds fourteen billion dollars ($14,000,000,000), neither state nor local funds reasonably can be anticipated to meet this need.

(c) In many of the areas having overcrowded schools, a significant supply exists of vacant space in structures meeting current building codes.

(d) Use of this vacant space by schools can be a cost-effective means of providing classroom space for the students of California.

(e) This chapter and Section 4-306 of Part 1 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations authorize the reconstruction of existing commercial buildings for school facility purposes.

(f) No existing commercial building shall be considered for reconstruction for school facility classroom purposes unless it was designed and constructed according to the standards established in the 1976 Uniform Building Code or subsequent editions of that code.

overcrowding in schools school facilities need vacant commercial space building code standards 1976 Uniform Building Code state and local funds reconstruction for education cost-effective classroom space California education infrastructure use of existing structures authorized reconstruction school district property acquisition constructed classroom space converted commercial buildings California Code of Regulations Title 24

(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 277, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1997. Operative January 1, 1998.)

Section § 17059.1

This law allows eligible school districts in California to use the state funding they receive for new construction projects to buy and convert existing commercial buildings into school facilities.

In a manner that is consistent with this chapter and the California Code of Regulations, a school district that is eligible for an apportionment for project funding for new construction under this chapter may use that apportionment for the acquisition and conversion of an existing commercial building to school facility purposes.

school district funding new construction projects commercial building conversion school facilities project funding eligible school districts acquisition of buildings California Code of Regulations school infrastructure apportionment use educational facilities existing commercial buildings construction apportionment facility conversion school project funding

(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 277, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1997. Operative January 1, 1998.)

Section § 17059.2

This section states that the State Allocation Board and the State Architect's office are responsible for informing school districts about how to convert commercial buildings into school facilities. They also help interpret and implement the necessary regulations if a school district asks for assistance.

The State Allocation Board in conjunction with the office of the State Architect shall advise all school districts in the state of the existence of the procedure for reconstructing existing commercial buildings for school facility purposes and shall upon request assist in the interpretation and successful implementation of the pertinent regulations in the California Code of Regulations.

State Allocation Board State Architect school districts commercial buildings school facility reconstruction California Code of Regulations procedure interpretation implementation regulations advice assistance office of the State Architect school facility purposes

(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 277, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1997. Operative January 1, 1998.)