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AB-480 School districts: reorganization: study of benefits and impacts of unification.(2015-2016)

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Amended  IN  Assembly  May 20, 2015
Amended  IN  Assembly  March 26, 2015

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2015–2016 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 480

Introduced by Assembly Member Harper

February 23, 2015

An act to add and repeal Section 35713 to the Education Code, relating to school districts.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 480, as amended, Harper. School districts: reorganization: study of benefits and impacts of unification.
Existing law establishes procedures for the reorganization of school districts, including, but not limited to, unifying school districts by consolidating all or part of one or more school districts, as specified. Existing law establishes the County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) to, among other things, review the fiscal and administrative condition of any county office of education, school district, or charter school.
This bill would require the Legislative Analyst’s Office County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) to conduct a study of on the potential benefits and impacts of school district unification. The bill would specify require certain topics to be included in the study. study, including the benefits of school district unification. The bill would require FCMAT to submit the study to certain committees of the Legislature and specified other state agencies within one year of funds being appropriated by the Legislature to implement the bill’s provisions. By imposing new duties on a local educational agency, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The provisions of the bill would be repealed on January 1, 2021.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NOYES   Local Program: NOYES  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 35713 is added to the Education Code, to read:

35713.
 (a) The County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) shall conduct a study on the potential benefits and impacts of school district unification. The study shall include, but is not limited to, discussions of management and fiscal topics.
(b) Management topics shall include all of the following:
(1) The benefits of school district unification for purposes of matriculation and the implementation of local control and accountability plans.
(2) The benefits of having a uniform school calendar for all grade levels.
(3) To the extent data on this topic is readily available, the benefits of combined maintenance and operation of schools within a unified school district.
(4) The benefits of school district unification for purposes of facilities management.
(c) Fiscal topics shall include all of the following:
(1) The impact of school district unification on overall costs, including, but not limited to, the impact on certificated salary schedules, classified salaries and positions, certificated administrative positions, classified administrative positions, and governing boards.
(2) The impact on the application of the local control funding formula.
(d) Within one year of funds being appropriated by the Legislature to implement the provisions of this section, FCMAT shall complete the study and shall submit the study to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the State Department of Education, and the Department of Finance.
(e) This section is subject to appropriation by the Legislature of funds to FCMAT for purposes of administering this section.
(f) This section is repealed on January 1, 2021.

SEC. 2.

 If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
SECTION 1.

The Legislative Analyst’s Office shall conduct a study of the potential benefits and impacts of school district unification. The study shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, discussions of all of the following topics:

(a)The benefits of school district unification for purposes of matriculation.

(b)The benefits of having a uniform school calendar for all grade levels.

(c)The benefits of combined maintenance and operation of schools within a unified school district.

(d)The benefits of school district unification for purposes of facilities management.

(e)The impact of school district unification on overall costs, including, but not necessarily limited to, the impacts on certificated salary schedules, classified salaries and positions, and certificated administrative positions.

(f)The impact on the application of the local control funding formula.

(g)The short-term and long-term benefits of school district unification over periods of 5, 10, and 15 years.