ARTICLE 2. Use of School Property [38130 - 38139]
( Article 2 added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 277, Sec. 5. )
This article shall be known and may be cited as the Civic Center Act.
(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 277, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 1997. Operative January 1, 1998.)
(a) There is a civic center at each and every public school facility and grounds within the state where the citizens, parent teacher associations, Camp Fire girls, Boy Scout troops, veterans’ organizations, farmers’ organizations, school-community advisory councils, senior citizens’ organizations, clubs, and associations formed for recreational, educational, political, economic, artistic, or moral activities of the public school districts may engage in supervised recreational activities, and where they may meet and discuss, from time to
time, as they may desire, any subjects and questions that in their judgment pertain to the educational, political, economic, artistic, and moral interests of the citizens of the communities in which they reside. For purposes of this section, “veterans’ organizations” are those groups included within the definition of that term as specified in subdivision (a) of Section 1800 of the Military and Veterans Code.
(b) The governing board of any school district may grant the use of school facilities or grounds as a civic center upon the terms and conditions the board deems proper, subject to the limitations, requirements, and restrictions set forth in this article, for any of the following purposes:
(1) Public, literary, scientific, recreational, educational, or public agency meetings.
(2) The discussion of matters of
general or public interest.
(3) The conduct of religious services for temporary periods, on a one-time or renewable basis, by any church or religious organization that has no suitable meeting place for the conduct of the services, provided the governing board charges the church or religious organization using the school facilities or grounds a fee as specified in subdivision (d) of Section 38134.
(4) Child care or day care programs to provide supervision and activities for children of preschool and elementary schoolage.
(5) The administration of examinations for the selection of personnel or the instruction of precinct board members by public agencies.
(6) Supervised recreational activities including, but not limited to, sports league activities for
youths that are arranged for and supervised by entities, including religious organizations or churches, and in which youths may participate regardless of religious belief or denomination.
(7) A community youth center.
(8) A ceremony, patriotic celebration, or related educational assembly conducted by a veterans’ organization.
(9) Other purposes deemed appropriate by the governing board.
(Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 205, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2007.)
The management, direction, and control of school facilities under this article are vested in the governing board of the school district which shall promulgate all rules and regulations necessary to provide, at a minimum, for the following:
(a) Aid, assistance, and encouragement to any of the activities authorized in Sections 38131 and 38132.
(b) Preservation of order in school facilities and on school grounds, and protection of
school facilities and school grounds, including, if the governing board deems necessary, appointment of a person who shall have charge of the school facilities and grounds for purposes of their preservation and protection.
(c) That the use of school facilities or grounds is not inconsistent with the use of the school facilities or grounds for school purposes or interferes with the regular conduct of schoolwork.
(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 1168, Sec. 9. Effective September 30, 2002.)
(a) (1) The governing board of a school district shall authorize the use of school facilities or grounds under its control by a nonprofit organization, or by a club or an association organized to promote youth and school activities, including, but not necessarily limited to, any of the following:
(A) The Girl Scouts; the Boy Scouts; Camp Fire USA; or the YMCA.
(B) A parent-teacher association.
(C) A school-community advisory council.
(D) A recreational youth sports league that charges participants no more than a nominal fee. As used in this
subparagraph, “nominal fee” means an average of no more than sixty dollars ($60) per month.
(2) This subdivision does not apply to a group that uses school facilities or grounds for fundraising activities that are not beneficial to youth or public school activities of the school district, as determined by the governing board of the school district.
(b) Except as otherwise provided by law, a governing board of a school district may charge an amount not to exceed its direct costs for use of its school facilities or grounds pursuant to this section. A governing board of a school district that levies these charges shall first adopt a policy specifying which activities shall be charged an amount not to exceed direct costs.
(c) The governing board of a school district may charge an amount, not to exceed its direct costs
for use of its school facilities or grounds by the entity using the school facilities or grounds, including a religious organization or church, that arranges for and supervises sports league activities for youths as described in paragraph (6) of subdivision (b) of Section 38131.
(d) The governing board of a school district that authorizes the use of school facilities or grounds for the purpose specified in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 38131 shall charge the church or religious organization an amount at least equal to the school district’s direct costs.
(e) In the case of entertainment or a meeting where an admission fee is charged or contributions are solicited, and the net receipts are not expended for the welfare of the pupils of the school district or for charitable purposes, a charge equal to fair rental value shall be levied for the use of the school facilities
or grounds.
(f) If the use of school facilities or grounds under this section results in the destruction of school property, the entity using the school facilities or grounds may be charged for an amount necessary to repay the damages, and further use of the facilities or grounds by that entity may be denied.
(g) As used in this section:
(1) “Direct costs” to the school district for the use of school facilities or grounds includes all of the following:
(A) The share of the costs of supplies, utilities, janitorial services, services of school district employees, and salaries paid to school district employees directly associated with the administration of this section to operate and maintain school facilities or grounds that is proportional to the
entity’s use of the school facilities or grounds under this section.
(B) The share of the costs for maintenance, repair, restoration, and refurbishment, proportional to the use of the school facilities or grounds by the entity using the school facilities or grounds under this section as follows:
(i) For purposes of this subparagraph, “school facilities” shall be limited to only nonclassroom space, and “school grounds” shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, playing fields, athletic fields, track and field venues, tennis courts, and outdoor basketball courts.
(ii) The share of the cost for maintenance, repair, restoration, and refurbishment shall not apply to:
(I) Classroom-based programs that operate after school hours, including, but not
necessarily limited to, after school programs, tutoring programs, or childcare programs.
(II) Organizations retained by the school or school district to provide instruction or instructional activities to pupils during school hours.
(iii) Funds collected under this subparagraph shall be deposited into a special fund that shall only be used for purposes of this section.
(2) “Fair rental value” means the direct costs to the school district plus the amortized costs of the school facilities or grounds used for the duration of the activity authorized.
(h) By December 31, 2013, the Superintendent shall develop, and the state board shall adopt, regulations to be used by a school district in determining the proportionate share and the specific allowable costs
that a school district may include as direct costs for the use of its school facilities or grounds.
(i) (1) A school district authorizing the use of school facilities or grounds under subdivision (a) is liable for an injury resulting from the negligence of the school district in the ownership and maintenance of the school facilities or grounds. An entity using school facilities or grounds under this section is liable for an injury resulting from the negligence of that entity during the use of the school facilities or grounds. The school district and the entity using the school facilities or grounds under this section shall each bear the cost of insuring against its respective risks, and shall each bear the costs of defending itself against claims arising from those risks.
(2) Notwithstanding any other law, this subdivision shall not be waived. This
subdivision does not limit or affect the immunity or liability of a school district under Division 3.6 (commencing with Section 810) of Title 1 of the Government Code for injuries caused by a dangerous condition of public property.
(j) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2025, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2025, deletes or extends that date.
(Amended (as amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 541, Sec. 1) by Stats. 2020, Ch. 370, Sec. 55. (SB 1371) Effective January 1, 2021. Repealed as of January 1, 2025, by its own provisions. See later operative version, as amended by Sec. 2 of Stats. 2019, Ch. 541.)
(a) (1) The governing board of a school district shall authorize the use of school facilities or grounds under its control by a nonprofit organization, or by a club or an association organized to promote youth and school activities, including, but not necessarily limited to, any of the following:
(A) The Girl Scouts; the Boy Scouts; Camp Fire USA; or the YMCA.
(B) A parent-teacher association.
(C) A school-community advisory council.
(D) A recreational youth sports league that charges participants no more than a nominal fee. As used in this
subparagraph, “nominal fee” means an average of no more than sixty dollars ($60) per month.
(2) This subdivision does not apply to a group that uses school facilities or grounds for fundraising activities that are not beneficial to youth or public school activities of the school district, as determined by the governing board of the school district.
(b) Except as otherwise provided by law, a governing board of a school district may charge an amount not to exceed its direct costs for use of its school facilities or grounds pursuant to this section. A governing board of a school district that levies these charges shall first adopt a policy specifying which activities shall be charged an amount not to exceed direct costs.
(c) The governing board of a school district may charge an amount, not to exceed its direct costs
for use of its school facilities or grounds by the entity using the school facilities or grounds, including a religious organization or church, that arranges for and supervises sports league activities for youths as described in paragraph (6) of subdivision (b) of Section 38131.
(d) The governing board of a school district that authorizes the use of school facilities or grounds for the purpose specified in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 38131 shall charge the church or religious organization an amount at least equal to the school district’s direct costs.
(e) In the case of entertainment or a meeting where an admission fee is charged or contributions are solicited, and the net receipts are not expended for the welfare of the pupils of the school district or for charitable purposes, a
charge equal to fair rental value shall be levied for the use of the school facilities or grounds.
(f) If the use of school facilities or grounds under this section results in the destruction of school property, the entity using the school facilities or grounds may be charged for an amount necessary to repay the damages, and further use of facilities or grounds by that entity may be denied.
(g) As used in this section:
(1) “Direct costs” to the school district for the use of school facilities or grounds means the costs of supplies, utilities, janitorial services, services of school district employees, and salaries paid to school district employees directly associated with the administration of this section necessitated by the entity’s use of the school facilities or grounds.
(2) “Fair rental value” means the direct costs to the school district plus the amortized costs of the school facilities or grounds used for the duration of the activity authorized.
(h) (1) A school district authorizing the use of school facilities or grounds under subdivision (a) is liable for an injury resulting from the negligence of the school district in the ownership and maintenance of the school facilities or grounds. An entity using school facilities or grounds under this section is liable for an injury resulting from the negligence of that entity during the use of the school facilities or grounds. The school district and the entity using the school facilities or grounds under this section shall each bear the cost of insuring against its respective risks and shall each bear the costs of defending itself against claims arising from those risks.
(2) Notwithstanding any other law, this subdivision shall not be waived. This subdivision does not limit or affect the immunity or liability of a school district under Division 3.6 (commencing with Section 810) of Title 1 of the Government Code for an injury caused by a dangerous condition of public property.
(i) This section is operative on and after January 1, 2025.
(Amended (as amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 120, Sec. 2) by Stats. 2019, Ch. 541, Sec. 2. (AB 1303) Effective January 1, 2020. Section operative January 1, 2025, by its own provisions.)
Any use, by any individual, society, group, or organization for the commission of any act intended to further any program or movement the purpose of which is to accomplish the overthrow of the government of the United States or of the state by force, violence, or other unlawful means shall not be permitted or suffered.
Any individual, society, group, or organization which commits any act intended to further any program or movement the purpose of which is to accomplish the overthrow of the government by force, violence,
or other unlawful means while using school property pursuant to the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 277, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 1997. Operative January 1, 1998.)
No governing board of a school district shall grant the use of any school property to any person or organization for any use in violation of Section 38135.
For the purpose of determining whether or not any individual, society, group, or organization applying for the use of the school property intends to violate Section 38135, the governing board shall require the making and delivery to the governing board, by the applicant of a written statement of information in the following form:
STATEMENT OF INFORMATION
The undersigned states that, to the best of his or her knowledge, the school property for use of which application is hereby made will not be used for the commission of any act intended to further any program or movement the purpose of which is to accomplish the overthrow of the government of the United States by force, violence or other unlawful means;
That ____, the organization on whose behalf he or she is making application for use of school property, does not, to the best of his or her knowledge, advocate the overthrow of the government of the United States or of the State of California by force, violence, or other unlawful means, and that, to the best of his or her knowledge, it is not a Communist action organization or Communist front organization required by law to be registered with the Attorney General of the United States. This statement is
made under the penalties of perjury.
The school board may require the furnishing of additional information as it deems necessary to make the determination that the use of school property for which application is made would not violate Section 38135.
Any person applying for the use of school property on behalf of any society, group, or organization shall be a member of the applicant group and, unless he or she is an officer of
the group, must present written authorization from the applicant group to make the application.
The governing board of any school district may, in its discretion, consider any statement of information or written authorization made pursuant to the requirements of this section as being continuing in effect for the purposes of this section for the period of one year from the date of the statement of information or written authorization.
(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 277, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 1997. Operative January 1, 1998.)
Written statements of information as required by Section 38136 need not be under oath, but shall contain a written declaration that they are made under the penalty of perjury, and any person so signing the statements who willfully states therein as true any material matter which he or she knows to be false, is subject to the penalties prescribed for perjury in the Penal Code.
(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 277, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 1997. Operative January 1, 1998.)
Notwithstanding the provisions of this article or any other provisions of law, when a nonpartisan charitable organization organized under the laws of this state has constructed or will construct, subject to the provisions of Article 3 (commencing with Section 39140) of Chapter 2 of this part, a school athletic and youth center facility at no cost to a school district, upon a school-district-owned site to be owned by and for the benefit of the school occupying the site, the governing board of the school district, in accepting the donation and prescribing the
conditions and restrictions with respect thereto, may permit the general use of the facility under the provisions of this article for specified supervised recreational activities which are sponsored by or conducted by the donor organization, and may also permit the donor organization to use the facility for this purpose at times when the facility is not being used by the school district for the educational program and related school activities of the designated beneficiary school, unless the use and occupancy of the facility by the donor organization would otherwise interfere with the regular conduct of the school. Any use granted to the donor organization shall, however, immediately and forever terminate if the donor organization denies the use of the facility to any person because of their race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, or sex.
This section shall apply only to elementary school districts in San Diego County which had an average daily attendance
of 425 or less during the 1970–71 school year, and which, during the 1970–71 school year, had a modified assessed valuation per pupil in average daily attendance of between forty-five thousand dollars ($45,000) and fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).
(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 277, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 1997. Operative January 1, 1998.)
(a) Public primary schools shall post at an appropriate area restricted to adults information regarding missing children provided by the Department of Justice pursuant to Section 14210 of the Penal Code.
(b) Public secondary schools shall post at an appropriate area information regarding missing children provided by the Department of Justice pursuant to Section 14210 of the Penal Code.
(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 437, Sec. 1. (SB 1066) Effective January 1, 2015.)