BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular Session
SB 572 (Pan) - School facilities: school district advisory
committee: use or disposition of school buildings: school
closures.
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|Version: April 22, 2015 |Policy Vote: ED. 6 - 2 |
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|Urgency: No |Mandate: Yes |
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|Hearing Date: May 11, 2015 |Consultant: Jillian Kissee |
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This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.
Bill
Summary: This bill requires that before closing a school, a
governing board of a school district appoint a school district
advisory committee for advisement.
Fiscal
Impact:
Potentially significant costs may result if its requirements
in this bill result in a reimbursable state mandate, depending
on the frequency of closures. (See Staff Comments)
To the extent district advisory committee contributes to a
decision to not pursue school closure, the school district
would not achieve related cost savings.
Though this bill does not impose any additional requirements
California Department of Education (CDE), there may be
pressure for CDE to provide technical assistance to school
districts resulting in costs in the low tens of thousands in
SB 572 (Pan) Page 1 of
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General Fund.
Background: Existing law declares the intent of the Legislature that the
community be involved before decisions are made about school
closure or the use of surplus space.
(Education Code § 17387)
Existing law authorizes the governing board of any school
district to appoint a district advisory committee to advise the
governing board in the development of districtwide policies and
procedures governing the use or disposition of school buildings
or space in school buildings which is not needed for school
purposes. Existing law requires the appointment of a
districtwide advisory committee purpose prior to the sale,
lease, or rental of any excess real property, but makes an
exception to this requirement for rentals for 30 days or less.
(Education Code § 17388)
Proposed Law:
This bill requires a governing board of a school district to
appoint a school district advisory committee before closing a
school within the school district to advise the board regarding
the closure of the school. This bill requires that the district
advisory committee be representative, among other things, of a
cross section of community members, including student
representatives who may be affected by the school closure.
In addition, the school advisory committee is required to be
involved in the fact-finding necessary for an informal
recommendation regarding the school closure. These activities
may include: consideration of school district enrollment
projections, the capacity and condition of existing facilities,
uniqueness of educational programs, environmental and safety
concerns, projected cost savings, housing and transportation
options for displaced pupils, and transition strategies.
Staff
Comments: This bill requires that before closing a school, a
governing board of a school district appoint a school district
advisory committee for advisement. The school advisory
committee is required to be involved in the fact-finding
SB 572 (Pan) Page 2 of
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necessary for an informal recommendation regarding the school
closure. These activities may include: consideration of school
district enrollment projections, the capacity and condition of
existing facilities, uniqueness of educational programs,
environmental and safety concerns, projected cost savings,
housing and transportation options for displaced pupils, and
transition strategies. These requirements are consistent with
CDE's "Closing a School, Best Practices Guide."
To the extent that the Commission on State Mandates determines
that the requirement to appoint a school district advisory
committee and related activities a reimbursable state mandate,
this could drive potentially significant Proposition 98 General
Fund costs to the state. According to CDE's school closure
guide, the fact-finding stage before a school closure could take
up to 4 months. During this time, it is recommended that the
advisory committee appoint a subcommittee to serve as a research
group on such items as facilities; provide progress reports;
communicate with the community and school site; and present a
final report to the advisory committee.
Current law also requires district advisory committee meetings
to be subject to the Ralph M. Brown Act which requires, among
other things that meetings be open and public and includes
specific notice and agenda requirements which would drive
staffing costs.
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