4799.12.1.5.
(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:(1) “Eligible project” means any project or action identified in Section 4799.12 or in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 12802.10 of the Government Code that can feasibly be completed on the schoolsite of a local educational agency.
(2) “In-need education facility” means a schoolsite of a local educational agency in which either of the following apply:
(A) A schoolsite located in a disadvantaged community, as identified in Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code, or a low-income community, as defined in paragraph (2) of
subdivision (d) of Section 39713 of the Health and Safety Code.
(B) A schoolsite in which 70 percent or more of the pupils are eligible for free or reduced-price meals, as defined in Section 42238.01 of the Education Code.
(3) “Local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school that maintains a kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(4) “School greening” means any eligible project located within the property boundaries of a schoolsite of a local educational agency that reduces the ambient temperature, including by supporting the urban forest.
(b) Funds appropriated or allocated for purposes of this section shall be administered to support school greening by providing grants to eligible local
educational agencies, nonprofit organizations, cities, counties, and districts, including special districts, through a competitive grant process.
(c) Not less than 60 percent of the school greening features supported by a grant received under this section shall occur within areas on a schoolsite of a local educational agency used by pupils, including, but not limited to, for recreation, recess, lunch, or instruction outdoors.
(d) (1) On or before July 1, 2025, the department shall develop a competitive grant process, which shall include guidelines and selection criteria.
(2) The guidelines required by paragraph (1) shall include all of the following:
(A) Applications shall, within the application, specify the exact project to be
completed.
(B) Applicants shall obtain a memorandum of understanding, resolution, or certified letter from the respective local educational agency supporting the project before being awarded a grant for work to be completed on that local educational agency’s property.
(C) Awarded grants shall be subject to state auditing and reporting requirements.
(D) Grantees shall maintain and operate the project developed pursuant to the grant for a period of no less than five years.
(E) Grant funds may be used to support costs related to the project that include, but are not limited to, planning, permitting, design, and soil testing.
(F) Grant funds shall be available to support indirect costs up to
20 percent of the total grant awarded by the department.
(G) Awarded projects shall comply with the most recent state guidance from the department on water-efficient irrigation or the local agency landscape water ordinance and shall use drought- and storm-tolerant plantings, as appropriate.
(H) Priority for grant funds shall be given to projects that convert paved areas to green spaces.
(I) A charter school that has received a grant from the Charter Schools Facilities Program established pursuant to Section 17078.52 of the Education Code shall be eligible for a grant pursuant to this section.
(e) Not less than 80 percent of funds made available for grants pursuant to this section shall be designated for in-need education facilities if sufficient
applications for in-need education facilities are received and qualify for the grants.
(f) Before developing the grant process pursuant to subdivision (c), the department shall hold at least two public hearings to gather public input on the grant process development.
(g) Upon appropriation in the annual Budget Act, funding for these purposes shall be transferred to the School Greening and Resiliency Fund, which is hereby established in the State Treasury.