Section 17251.

The State Department of Education shall:

(a) Upon the request of the governing board of any school district, advise the governing board on the acquisition of new schoolsites and, after a review of available plots, give the governing board in writing a list of the recommended locations in the order of their merit, considering especially the matters of educational merit, safety, reduction of traffic hazards, and conformity to the land use element in the general plan of the city, county, or city and county having jurisdiction. The governing board may purchase a site deemed unsuitable for school purposes by the State Department of Education only after reviewing the department's report on proposed sites at a public hearing. The department shall charge the school district a reasonable fee for each schoolsite reviewed not to exceed the actual administrative costs incurred for that purpose.

(b) Develop standards for use by a school district in the selection of schoolsites, in accordance with the objectives set forth in subdivision (a). The department shall investigate complaints of noncompliance with site selection standards and shall notify the governing board of the results of the investigation. If that notification is received prior to the acquisition of the site, the governing board shall discuss the findings of the investigation in a public hearing.

(c) Establish standards for use by school districts to ensure that the design and construction of school facilities are educationally appropriate and promote school safety.

(d) Upon the request of the governing board of any school district, review plans and specifications for school buildings in the district.

The department shall charge governing boards of school districts, for the review of plans and specifications, a reasonable fee not to exceed the actual administrative costs incurred for that purpose.

(e) Upon the request of the governing board of any school district, make a survey of the building needs of the district, advise the governing board concerning the building needs, suggest plans for financing a building program to meet the needs. The department shall charge the district, for the cost of the survey, a reasonable fee not to exceed the actual administrative costs incurred for that purpose.

(f) Provide information relating to the impact or potential impact upon any schoolsite of hazardous substances, solid waste, safety, hazardous air emissions, and other information as the department may deem appropriate.

(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 277, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 1997. Operative January 1, 1998.)