Section 17073.25.

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the State Department of Education is eligible for modernization grants pursuant to this article for facilities of the California School for the Deaf (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 59000) of Part 32) and the California School for the Blind (Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 59100) of Part 32).

(b) The department is eligible for per-pupil funding under this article to the same extent and in the same manner as a school district, except that the hardship provisions do not apply. However, notwithstanding the 60 percent maximum funding for modernization projects, as set forth in Section 17074.16, the project shall be funded at 100 percent of the project costs, subject to per-pupil eligibility.

(c) The board shall establish a process specifically tailored to consideration of the unique aspects of applications presented by the department pursuant to this section.

(d) This section applies only to projects for expenditure of the proceeds of state bonds approved by the voters after January 1, 2002.

(Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 62, Sec. 35. Effective January 1, 2004.)