Section 10554.

(a) In order for the governing board to carry out its responsibilities pursuant to this chapter, there is hereby established the Educational Telecommunication Fund. The amount of moneys to be deposited in the fund shall be the amount of any offset made to the principal apportionments made pursuant to Sections 1909, 2558, 42238, 52616, Article 1.5 (commencing with Section 52335) of Chapter 9 of Part 28, and Chapter 7.2 (commencing with Section 56836) of Part 30, based on a finding that these apportionments were not in accordance with law. The maximum amount that may be annually deposited in the fund from the offset is fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000). The Controller shall establish an account to receive and expend moneys in the fund. The placement of the moneys in the fund shall occur only upon a finding by the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Director of Finance that the principal apportionments made pursuant to Sections 1909, 2558, 42238, 52616, and Article 1.5 (commencing with Section 52335) of Chapter 9 of Part 28, and Chapter 7.2 (commencing with Section 56836) of Part 30 were not in accordance with existing law and were so identified pursuant to Sections 1624, 14506, 41020, 41020.2, 41320, 42127.2, and 42127.3, or an independent audit that was approved by the department.

(b) Moneys in the fund established pursuant to subdivision (a) shall only be available for expenditure upon appropriation by the Legislature in the Budget Act.

(c) The moneys in the fund established pursuant to subdivision (a) may be expended by the governing board to carry out the purposes of this chapter, including for the following purposes:

(1) To support the activities of the team established pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 10551.

(2) To assist the school districts and county superintendents of schools in purchasing both hardware and software to allow school districts, county superintendents of schools, and the department to be linked for school business and administrative purposes. The governing board shall establish a matching share requirement that applicant school districts and county superintendents of schools must fulfill to receive those funds. It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage the distribution of grants to school districts and county superintendents of schools to the widest extent possible.

(3) To provide technical assistance through county offices of education to school districts in implementing the standards established pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 10552.

(Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 227, Sec. 5. Effective August 11, 2003.)