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Reference to Education Code

17070.50 Condition for apportionment

The board shall not apportion funds to any school district, unless the applicant school district has certified to the board that the services of any architect, structural engineer, or other design professional for any work under the project have been obtained pursuant to a competitive process that is consistent with the requirements of Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 4525) of Division 5 of Title 1 of the Government Code and has obtained the written approval of the State Department of Education that the site selection, and the building plans and specifications, comply with the standards adopted by the department pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (c), respectively, of Section 17251. (Added by Stats 1998, c. 407 (S.B.50), § 4, eff. Aug. 27, 1998. Amended by Stats. 1999, c.992 (A.B. 387), § 1.)

17070.55 Department of Education's assistance

Upon request of any school district, the State Department of Education shall provide assistance in the evaluation and utilization of existing school facilities and the justification of the need of schoolsites, new facilities, and the rehabilitation or replacement of existing facilities, in accordance with board regulations. (Added by Stats 1998, c. 407 (S.B.50), § 4, eff. Aug. 27, 1998.)

17072.12 Assistance in site development and acquisition
  1. In addition to the amount provided in Section 17072.10, the board may provide funding for assistance in site development and acquisition if all of the following are met:
    1. The amount of the site acquisition and development assistance does not exceed 50 percent of the cost of site development to the school district, plus the lesser of the following:
      1. 50 percent of the site cost to the school district
      2. 50 percent of the appraised value of the site within six months of the time the complete application is submitted
    2. The school district certifies that there is no alternative available site, or that the district plans to sell an available site in order to use the proceeds of the sale for the purchase of the new site.
  2. Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the board may provide funding for assistance in site development and acquisition to a school district that uses land previously acquired by the school district in an amount equal to 50 percent of the cost of the site development to the school district, plus 50 percent the site's appraised value at the time the application for site acquisition and development is submitted, provided all of the following are met:
    1. The site was acquired no less than five years prior to the date the application is submitted.
    2. The site had been productively used by the school district as other than a schoolsite for the five years immediately preceding the date the application is submitted.
    3. The board determines that the nonschool function currently taking place on the site must be discontinued or relocated in order to utilize the site as a schoolsite.
  3. A school district that receives assistance pursuant to subdivision (b) shall, within one year after the completion of the project, certify in writing to the board that the nonschool function was in fact relocated as set forth in paragraph (4) of subdivision (b).
  4. Pursuant to subdivision (b), an applicant school district shall include in its application to the board a cost-benefit analysis performed by the school district demonstrating how utilizing existing nonschoolsite district property pursuant to this section would be a more effective method of solving the school district's pupil housing problems than any other method of funding under this chapter. The board shall review and approve the analysis if the board agrees with the findings and shall consider the analysis and findings in approving the project pursuant to this section. (Added by Stats 1998, c. 407 (S.B.50), § 4, eff. Aug. 27, 1998. Amended by Stats. 2001, c.647 (A.B. 401), § 1.)
17072.13 Funding of Hazardous Site Assessments and Cleanup

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In addition to the amounts provided pursuant to Sections 17072.10 and 17072.12, the board may provide site acquisition and hazardous materials evaluation and response action funding for proposed new schoolsites as follows:

  1. (1) For 50 percent of the cost of the evaluation of hazardous materials at a site to be acquired by a school district and for 50 percent of the other response action costs of the removal of hazardous waste or solid waste, the removal of hazardous substances, or other response action in connection with hazardous substances at that site. Except as provided in subdivision (b), the funding provided pursuant to this section may not exceed 50 percent of the total evaluation and response action costs, including, but not limited to, the costs of the removal of hazardous waste or solid waste, the removal of hazardous substances, or other response action, as determined by the Department of Toxic Substances Control, in connection with hazardous substances at that site, pursuant to standards adopted by the board.

    (2) For projects eligible for funding under this subdivision, the total state share of the site acquisition costs, including evaluation and response action, shall not exceed 50 percent of 11/2 times the appraised value of the uncontaminated site. However, the board may exceed this maximum for projects that demonstrate circumstances of extreme need.
  2. (1) The board may provide funding for up to 100 percent of the cost of the evaluation of hazardous materials at a site to be acquired by a school district eligible for financial hardship assistance pursuant to Article 8 (commencing with Section 17075.10) and for up to 100 percent of the other response costs for the site. The funding provided pursuant to this subdivision may not exceed 100 percent of the total evaluation and response costs, including, but not limited to, the costs of the removal of hazardous waste or solid waste, the removal of hazardous substances, or other response action, as determined by the Department of Toxic Substances Control, in connection with hazardous substances at that site, pursuant to standards adopted by the board.

    (2) The board may provide funding pursuant to this subdivision only if the State Department of Education certifies that the site is the best available site considering all of the following factors in relation to other available sites:
    1. The total costs of the project, including, but not limited to, costs of evaluation and response action.
    2. The desirability of the site, considering its proximity to pupils and suitability for meeting the educational and safety needs of the school district.
    3. The time required to fully complete the project in relation to the current and projected need for school facilities.
    (3) For projects eligible for funding under this subdivision, the total state share of the site acquisition costs, including evaluation and response action, shall not exceed 100 percent of 11/2 times the appraised value of the uncontaminated site. However, the board may exceed this maximum for projects that demonstrate circumstances of extreme need.
  3. A school district with a proposed site that meets environmental hardship criteria set forth in paragraph (1) may apply to the board for site acquisition, including, but not limited to, evaluation and response action, funding for that site prior to having construction plans for that site approved by the Division of the State Architect and State Department of Education.
    1. A project is eligible for environmental hardship site acquisition funding if both of the following apply:
      1. The preparation and implementation of a response action for the site, to be approved by the Department of Toxic Substances Control pursuant to Section 17213, is estimated by the Department of Toxic Substances Control to take six months or more to complete.
      2. The State Department of Education determines that the site is the best available alternative site.
    2. The initial site-specific reservation pursuant to this subdivision shall be for a period of one year. Extension may be approved in one-year intervals upon demonstration to the State Allocation Board of progress toward acquisition, including, but not limited to, evaluation or response, as the case may be. In the event there is not demonstrable progress, the State Allocation Board shall have the option of rescinding the reservation.
    3. Environmental hardship site acquisition funds approved by the State Allocation Board can be used only for the site identified in the response action approved by the Department of Toxic Substances Control.
    4. The date that the State Allocation Board approves the environmental hardship site acquisition funding will become the State Allocation Board approval date for the project's construction funding for that site.
    5. A school district may apply to the State Allocation Board for construction funding for the environmental hardship site when the project has received final Division of the State Architect plan approval and final State Department of Education site and plan approval.
  4. The cost incurred by the school districts when complying with any requirement identified in this section are allowable costs for purposes of an applicant under this chapter and may be reimbursed in accordance with this section.
  5. The State Allocation Board shall develop regulations that allow school districts with financial hardship site acquisition, including, but not limited to, evaluation and response action, funding prior to ownership of the site or evidence that the site is in escrow.

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17072.14 Adjustments to new construction grants for hazardous materials evaluation and removal.

Notwithstanding Section 17070.63, the board may allow adjustments to a new construction grant if, as a result of additional requirements imposed by the Department of Toxic Substances Control, the actual amount paid by a school district for allowable costs of hazardous materials evaluation and removal, including associated fees, exceeds the amount of the grant apportionment for those purposes. The combined amount of the initial apportionment for these purposes and the adjustment pursuant to this section may not exceed the amount permitted pursuant to Section 17072.13.

17072.18 Funding of Hazardous Site Assessments and Cleanup
  1. (1) The board may provide evaluation and response action funding for response action funding for response costs of the removal of hazardous waste or solid waste, the removal of hazardous substances, or other response action in connection with hazardous substances at an existing schoolsite, in the same manner as provided in Section 17072.13.

    (2) Funding as set forth in paragraph (1) may be provided to a school district that has applied for, or received, funds from the board for the acquisition of a new schoolsite, but which has incurred, or will incur, response costs necessary for the development of the existing schoolsite, if the school district is otherwise eligible for funding under this chapter.
  2. A school district may apply for funding pursuant to this section prior to having construction plans for that site approved by the Division of the State Architect or by the State Department of Education if the school district is otherwise eligible for funding under this chapter.
17210 Environmental Assessment of School Sites

As used in this article, the following terms have the following meanings:

  1. "Administering agency" means any agency designated pursuant to Section 25502 of the Health and Safety Code.
  2. "Environmental assessor" means a class II environmental assessor registered by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment pursuant to Chapter 6.98 (commencing with Section 25570) of Division 20 of the Health and Safety Code , a professional engineer registered in this state, a geologist registered in this state, a certified engineering geologist registered in this state, or a licensed hazardous substance contractor certified pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 7000) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code . A licensed hazardous substance contractor shall hold the equivalent of a degree from an accredited public or private college or university or from a private postsecondary educational institution approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education with at least 60 units in environmental, biological, chemical, physical, or soil science; engineering; geology; environmental or public health; or a directly related science field. In addition, any person who conducts Phase I environmental assessments shall have at least two years' experience in the preparation of those assessments and any person who conducts a preliminary endangerment assessment shall have at least three years' experience in conducting those assessments.
  3. "Handle" has the meaning the term is given in Article 1(commencing with Section 25500) of Chapter 6.95 of Division 20 of the Health and Safety Code.
  4. "Hazardous air emissions" means emissions into the ambient air of air contaminants that have been identified as a toxic air contaminant by the State Air Resources Board or by the air pollution control officer for the jurisdiction in which the project is located. As determined by the air pollution control officer, hazardous air emissions also means emissions into the ambient air from any substance identified in subdivisions (a) to (f), inclusive, of Section 44321 of the Health and Safety Code.
  5. "Hazardous material" has the meaning the term is given in subdivision (d) of Section 25260 of the Health and Safety Code.
  6. "Operation and maintenance," removal action work plan," "respond," "response," "response action" and "site" have the meanings those terms are given in Article 2 (commencing with Section 25310) of the state act.
  7. "Phase I environmental assessment" means a preliminary assessment of a property to determine whether there has been or may have been a release of a hazardous material, or whether a naturally occurring hazardous material is present, based on reasonably available information about the property and the area in its vicinity. A Phase I environmental assessment may include, but is not limited to, a review of public and private records of current and historical land uses, prior releases of a hazardous material, data base searches, review of relevant files of federal, state, and local agencies, visual and other surveys of the property, review of historical aerial photographs of the property and the area in its vicinity, interviews with current and previous owners and operators, and review of regulatory correspondence and environmental reports. Sampling or testing is not required as part of the Phase I environmental assessment. A Phase I environmental assessment conducted pursuant to the requirements adopted by the American Society for Testing and Materials for due diligence for commercial real estate transactions and that includes a review of all reasonably available records and data bases regarding current and prior gas or oil wells and naturally occurring hazardous materials located on the site or located where they could potentially effect the site, satisfies the requirements of this article for conducting a Phase I environmental assessment unless and until the Department of Toxic Substances Control adopts final regulations that establish guidelines for a Phase I environmental assessment for purposes of schoolsites that impose different requirements from those imposed by the American Society for Testing and Materials.
  8. "Preliminary endangerment assessment" means an activity that is performed to determine whether current or past hazardous material management practices or waste management practices have resulted in a release or threatened release of hazardous materials, or whether naturally occurring hazardous materials are present, which pose a threat to children's health, children's learning abilities, public health or the environment. A preliminary endangerment assessment requires sampling and analysis of a site, a preliminary determination of the type and extent of hazardous material contamination of the site, and a preliminary evaluation of the risks that the hazardous material contamination of a site, may pose to children's health, public health, or the environment, and shall be conducted in a manner that complies with the guidelines published by the Department of Toxic Substances Control entitled "Preliminary Endangerment Assessment: Guidance Manual," including any amendments that are determined by the Department of Toxic Substances Control to be appropriate to address issues that are unique to schoolsites.
  9. "Proposed schoolsite" means real property acquired or to be acquired or proposed for use as a schoolsite, prior to its occupancy as a school.
  10. "Regulated substance" means any material defined in subdivision (g) of Section 25532 of the Health and Safety Code.
  11. "Release" has the same meaning the term is given in Article 2 (commencing with Section 25310) of Chapter 6.8 of Division 20 of the Health and Safety Code, and includes a release described in subdivision (d) of Section 25321 of the Health and Safety Code.
  12. "Remedial action plan" means a plan approved by the Department of Toxic Substances Control pursuant to Section 25356.1 of the Health and Safety Code.
  13. "State act" means the Carpenter-Presley-Tanner Hazardous Substance Account Act (Chapter 6.8 (commencing with Section 25300) of Division 20 of the Health and Safety Code). Added by Stats. 1999, c. 1002 (S.B. 162), § 1. Amended by Stats. 2000, c. 135 (A.B. 2539), § 31; Stats 2000, c. 443 (A.B. 2644), § 2, eff. Sept. 14, 2000; Stats 2001, c. 159 (S.B. 662), § 56.)

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17210.1 Application of state act; hazardous materials; risk assessments; compliance with other laws
  1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law:
    1. For sites addressed by this article for which school districts elect to receive state funds pursuant to Chapter 12.5 (commencing with Section 17070.10), the state act applies to schoolsites where naturally occurring hazardous materials are present, regardless of whether there has been a release or there is a threatened release of a hazardous material.
    2. For sites addressed by this article for which school districts elect to receive state funds pursuant to Chapter 12.5 (commencing with Section 17070.10) of Part 10, all references in the state act to hazardous substances shall be deemed to include hazardous materials and all references in the state act to public health shall be deemed to include children's health.
    3. All risk assessments conducted by school districts that elect to receive state funds pursuant to Chapter 12.5 (commencing with Section 17070.10) at sites addressed by this article shall include a focus on the risks to children's health posed by a hazardous materials release or threatened release, or the presence of naturally occurring hazardous materials, on the schoolsite.
    4. The response actions selected under this article shall, at a minimum, be protective of children's health, with an ample margin of safety.
  2. In implementing this article, a school district shall provide a notice to residents in the immediate area, prior to the commencement of work on a preliminary endangerment assessment utilizing a format developed by the Department of Toxic Substances Control.
  3. Nothing in this article shall be construed to limit the authority of the Department of Toxic Substances Control or the State Department of Education to take any action otherwise authorized under any other provision of law.
  4. Unless the Legislature otherwise funds its costs for overseeing actions taken pursuant to this article, the Department of Toxic Substances Control shall comply with Chapter 6.66 (commencing with Section 25269) of Division 20 of the Health and Safety Code when recovering its costs incurred in carrying out its duties pursuant to this article.
  5. Article 11 (commencing with Section 25220) of Chapter 6.5 of Division 20 of the Health and Safety Code does not apply to schoolsites at which all necessary response actions have been completed. (Added by Stats. 1999, c 1002 (S.B. 162), § 2. Amended by Stats. 2000, c. 443 (A.B. 2644), § 3, eff. Sept. 14, 2000, Stats. 2001, c. 865 (A.B. 972), § 1, eff. Oct. 14, 2001.)
17211 Public hearing for evaluation prior to acquisition in accordance with site selection standards

Prior to commencing the acquisition of real property for a new schoolsite or an addition to an existing schoolsite, the governing board of a school district shall evaluate the property at a public hearing using the site selection standards established by the State Department of Education pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 17251. The governing board may direct the district's advisory committee established pursuant to Section 17388 to evaluate the property pursuant to those site selection standards and to report its findings to the governing board at the public hearing. (Added by Stats. 1996, c. 277 (S.B. 1562), § 3, operative Jan. 1, 1998.)

17212 Investigation of prospective school site; inclusion of geological and engineering studies

The governing board of a school district, prior to acquiring any site on which it proposes to construct any school building as defined in Section 17283 shall have the site, or sites, under consideration investigated by competent personnel to ensure that the final site selection is determined by an evaluation of all factors affecting the public interest and is not limited to selection on the basis of raw land cost only. If the prospective school site is located within boundaries of any special studies zone or within an area designated as geologically hazardous in the safety element of the local general plan as provided in subdivision (g) of Section 65302 of the Government Code, the investigation shall include any geological and soil engineering studies by competent personnel needed to provide an assessment of the nature of the site and potential for earthquake or other geologic hazard damage.

The geological and soil engineering studies of the site shall be of such a nature as will preclude siting of a school in any location where the geological and site characteristics are such that the construction effort required to make the school building safe for occupancy is economically unfeasible. No studies are required to be made if the site or sites under consideration have been the subject of adequate prior studies. The evaluation shall also include location of the site with respect to population, transportation, water supply, waste disposal facilities, utilities, traffic hazards, surface drainage conditions, and other factors affecting the operating costs, as well as the initial costs, of the total project.

For the purposes of this article, a special studies zone is an area which is identified as a special studies zone on any map, or maps, compiled by the State Geologist pursuant to Chapter 7.5 (commencing with Section 2621) of Division 2 of the Public Resources Code. (Added by Stats. 1996, c. 277 (S.B. 1562), § 3, operative Jan. 1, 1998.)

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17212.1 Legislative intent; safety assessment

It is the intent of the Legislature that corporations, public utilities, local publicly owned utilities, governmental agencies, and school districts work collaboratively in assessing the safety of a proposed schoolsite or addition to an existing schoolsite.

17212.2 Written requests for safety information; scope of information sought; resolution of disputes
  1. The governing board of a school district may make a written request upon a person, corporation, public utility, local publicly owned utility, or governmental agency for information necessary or useful to assess and determine the safety of a proposed schoolsite or an addition to an existing schoolsite, pursuant to Section 17251 and this chapter, including pipelines, electric transmission and distribution lines, railroads, and storage tanks. The written request shall identify the physical location of the schoolsite for which information is being sought, describe the information sought, and contain a statement as to why the information is needed or useful. Information requested may include all of the following:
    1. Railroad operations involving hazardous or toxic materials, as reported to a governmental agency; frequency, speed, and schedule of railroad traffic; grade, curves, and condition of railroad tracks; and railroad accident occurrence.
    2. Whether there are existing pipelines, planned pipelines, or easements for pipelines on, or in proximity to, as specified pursuant to regulations adopted pursuant to Section 17251, the schoolsite, including the location of the pipeline, the age of the pipeline, the pipeline material, the class of pipeline, the diameter of the pipeline, the depth at which the pipeline is buried, the wall thickness of the pipeline, the product or products transported by the pipeline, the operating pressure of the pipeline, the history of spills or leaks of material being transported by the pipeline, as reported to a governmental agency, and the location of the shutoff valves for the pipeline that are capable of preventing or halting the transport of product or products to the schoolsite.
    3. Whether there are easements for planned or existing lines for the transmission of distribution of electricity, electrical transformers, or electrical substations on or in proximity to, as specified pursuant to regulations adopted pursuant to Section 17251, the schoolsite, the location of easements for, planned, or existing lines, transformers, or substations, the voltages currently handled or planned to be handled by the line, transformer, or substation, the ground clearance, if applicable, of a line, transformer, or substation, and the depth of burial, if applicable, of the line, transformer, or substation as specified by the Public Utilities Commission.
    4. The location, age, construction type, safety record, and product stored in a storage tank.
  2. A person, corporation, public utility, local publicly owned utility, or governmental agency receiving a written request for information pursuant to this section shall provide a written response within 30 calendar days of receipt of the request, that provides the requested information, identifies available public information or an available report to a governmental agency, or provides written justification why the requested information is not being provided. A claim that the requested information is proprietary or confidential is a legitimate justification for the requested information to not be provided. The governing board of a school district may grant additional time to respond to a request for information pursuant to this section.
  3. A school district may file a complaint with the appropriate regulatory agency or legislative body for a violation of the requirements of this section. The regulatory agency or legislative body may appoint a representative to work toward informally resolving the complaint. (Added by Stats 2004, c. 578 (A.B.2485), § 2. Amended by Stats.2005, c. 22 (S.B. 1108), § 27.)
17212.5 Geological and soils engineering studies

Geological and soil engineering studies as described in Section 17212 shall be made, with the boundaries of any special studies zone, for the construction of any school building as defined in Section 17283, or if the estimated cost exceeds twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), for the reconstruction or alteration of or addition to any such school building for work which alters structural elements. The Department of General Services may require similar geological and soil engineering studies for the construction or alteration of any school building on a site located outside of the boundaries of any special studies zone. No such studies need be made is the site under construction has been the subject of adequate prior studies.

No school building shall be constructed, reconstructed, or relocated on the trace of a geological fault along which surface rupture can reasonably be expected to occur within the life of the school building.

A copy of the report of each investigation conducted pursuant to this section shall be submitted to the Department of General Services pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 17280) of this chapter and to the Department of Education. The cost of geological and soil engineering studies and investigations conducted pursuant to this section may be treated as a capital expenditure. The dollar amount set forth in this section shall be increased on an annual basis, according to a construction costs inflation index recognized and selected by the department. (Added by Stats, 1996, c. 277 (S.B. 1562), § 3, operative Jan. 1, 1998. Amended by Stats, 2001, c. 422 (A.B. 1478), § 1.)

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17213 Approval of site acquisition; hazardous or solid waste disposal sites or hazardous substance release site; hazardous air emissions; findings

The governing board of a school district may not approve a project involving the acquisition of a schoolsite by a school district, unless all of the following occur:

  1. The school district, as the lead agency, as defined in Section 21067 of the Public Resource Code, determines that the property purchased or to be built upon is not any of the following:
    1. The site of a current or former hazardous waste disposal site or solid waste disposal site, unless if the site was a former solid waste disposal site, the governing board of the school district concludes that the wastes have been removed.
    2. A hazardous substance release site identified by the Department of Toxic Substances Control in a current list adopted pursuant to Section 25356 of the Health and Safety Code for removal or remedial action pursuant to Chapter 6.8 (commencing with Section 25300) of Division 20 of the Health and Safety Code.
    3. A site that contains one or more pipelines, situated underground or aboveground, that carries hazardous substances, extremely hazardous materials, or hazardous wastes, unless the pipeline is a natural gas line that is used only to supply natural gas to that school or neighborhood.
  2. The school district, as the lead agency, as defined in Section 21067 of the Public Resources Code, in preparing the environmental impact report or negative declaration has consulted with the administering agency in which the proposed schoolsite is located, pursuant to Section 2735.3 of Title 19 of the California Code of Regulations, and with any air pollution control district or air quality management district having jurisdiction in the area, to identify both permitted and nonpermitted facilities within that district's authority, including, but not limited to, freeways and other busy traffic corridors, large agricultural operations, and railyards, within one-fourth of a mile of the proposed schoolsite, that might be reasonably be anticipated to emit hazardous air emissions, or to handle hazardous or extremely hazardous materials, substances, or waste. The school district, as the lead agency, shall include a list of the locations for which information is sought.
  3. The governing board of the school district makes one of the following written findings:
    1. Consultation identified none of the facilities or significant pollution sources specified in subdivision (b).
    2. The facilities or other pollution sources specified in subdivision (b) exist, but one of the following conditions applies:
      1. The health risks from the facilities or other pollution sources do not and will not constitute an actual or potential endangerment of public health to persons who would attend or be employed at the school.
      2. The governing board finds that corrective measures required under an existing order by another governmental entity that has jurisdiction over the facilities or other pollution sources will, before the school is occupied, result in the mitigation of all chronic or accidental hazardous air emissions to levels that do not constitute an actual or potential endangerment of public health to persons who would attend or be employed at the proposed school. If the governing board makes this finding, the governing board shall also make a subsequent finding, prior to the occupancy of the school, that the emissions have been mitigated to these levels.
      3. For a schoolsite with a boundary that is within 500 feet of the edge of the closest traffic lane of a freeway or other busy traffic corridor, the governing board of the school district determines, through analysis pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 44360 of the Health and Safety Code, based on appropriate air dispersion modeling, and after considering any potential mitigation measures, that the air quality at the proposed site is such that neither short-term nor long-term exposure poses significant health risks to pupils.
      4. The governing board finds that neither of the conditions set forth in subparagraph (B) or (C) can be met, and the school district is unable to locate an alternative site that is suitable due to a severe shortage of sites that meet the requirements in subdivision (a) of Section 17213. If the governing board makes this finding, the governing board shall adopt a statement of Overriding Considerations pursuant to Section 15093 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations.
  4. As used in this section:
    1. "Hazardous air emissions" means emissions into the ambient air of air contaminants that have been identified as a toxic air contaminant by the State Air Resources Board or by the air pollution control officer for the jurisdiction in which the project is located. As determined by the air pollution control officer, hazardous air emissions also means emissions into the ambient air from any substance identified in subdivisions (a) to (f), inclusive, of Section 44321 of the Health and Safety Code.
    2. "Hazardous substance" means any substance defined in Section 25316 of the Health and Safety Code.
    3. "Extremely hazardous material" means any material defined pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (g) of Section 25532 of the Health and Safety Code.
    4. "Hazardous waste" means any waste defined in Section 25117 of the Health and Safety Code.
    5. "Hazardous waste disposal site" means any site defined in Section 25114 of the Health and Safety Code.
    6. "Administering agency": means any agency designated pursuant to Section 25502 of the Health and Safety Code.
    7. "Handle" means handle as defined in Article 1 (commencing with Section 25500) of Chapter 6.95 of Division 20 of the Health and Safety Code.
    8. "Facilities" means any source with a potential to use, generate, emit or discharge hazardous air pollutants, including, but not limited to, pollutants that meet the definition of a hazardous substance, and whose process or operation is identified as an emission source pursuant to the most recent list of source categories published by the California Air Resources Board.
    9. "Freeway or other busy traffic corridors" means those roadways that, on an average day, have traffic in excess of 50,000 vehicles in a rural area as defined in Section 50101 of the Health and Safety Code, and 100,000 vehicles in an urban area, as defined in Section 50104.7 of the Health and Safety Code

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17213.1 Environmental assessment of proposed school site; preliminary endangerment assessment; costs; liability

As a condition of receiving state funding pursuant to Chapter 12.5 (commencing with Section 17070.10), the governing board of a school district shall comply with subdivision (a), and is not required to comply with subdivision (a) of Section 17213, prior to the acquisition of a schoolsite, or if the school district owns or leases a schoolsite, prior to the construction of a project.

  1. Prior to acquiring a schoolsite, the governing board shall contract with an environmental assessor to supervise the preparation of, and sign, a Phase I environmental assessment of the proposed schoolsite unless the governing board decides to proceed directly to a preliminary endangerment assessment, in which case it shall comply with paragraph (4).
    1. The Phase I environmental assessment shall contain one of the following recommendations:
      1. A further investigation of the site is not required.
      2. A preliminary endangerment assessment is needed, including sampling or testing, to determine the following:
        1. If a release of hazardous material has occurred and, if so, the extent of the release.
        2. If there is the threat of a release of hazardous materials.
        3. If a naturally occurring hazardous material is present.
    2. If the Phase I environmental assessment concludes that further investigation of the site is not required, the signed assessment, proof that the environmental assessor meets the qualifications specified in subdivision (b) of Section 17210, and the renewal fee shall be submitted to the Department of Toxic Substances Control. The Department of Toxic Substances Control shall conduct its review and approval, within 30 calendar days of its receipt of that assessment, proof of qualifications, and the renewal fee. In those instances in which the Department of Toxic Substances Control requests additional information after receipt of the Phase I environmental assessment pursuant to paragraph (3), the Department of Toxic Substances Control shall conduct its review and approval within 30 calendar days of its receipt of the requested additional information. If the Department of Toxic Substances Control concurs with the conclusion of the Phase I environmental assessment that a further investigation of the site is not required, the Department of Toxic Substances Control shall approve the Phase I environmental assessment and shall notify, in writing, the State Department of Education and the governing of the school district of the approval.
    3. If the Department of Toxic Substances Control determines that the Phase I environmental assessment is not complete or disapproves the Phase I environmental assessment, the department shall inform the school district of the decision, the basis for the decision, and actions necessary to secure department approval of the Phase I environmental assessment. The school district shall take actions necessary to secure the approval of the Phase I environmental assessment, elect to conduct a preliminary endangerment assessment, or elect not to pursue the acquisition or the construction project. To facilitate completion of the Phase I environmental assessment, the information required by this paragraph may be provided by telephonic or electronic means.
    4. (A)If the Department of Toxic Substances Control concludes after its review of a Phase I environmental assessment pursuant to this section that a preliminary endangerment assessment is needed, the Department of Toxic Substances Control shall notify, in writing, the State Department of Education and the governing board of the school district of that decision and the basis for that decision. The school district shall submit to the State Department of Education the Phase I environmental assessment and requested additional information, if any, that was reviewed by the Department of Toxic Substances Control pursuant to that subparagraph. Submittal of the Phase I assessment and additional information, if any, to the State Department of Education shall be prior to the State Department of Education issuance of final site or plan approvals affect by that Phase I assessment.
      (B)If the Phase I environmental assessment concludes that a preliminary endangerment assessment is needed, or if the Department of Toxic Substances Control concludes after it reviews a Phase I environmental assessment pursuant to this section that a preliminary endangerment assessment is needed, the school district shall either contract with an environmental assessor to supervise the preparation of, and sign, a preliminary endangerment assessment of the proposed schoolsite and enter into an agreement with the Department of Toxic Substances Control to oversee the preparation of the preliminary endangerment assessment or elect not to pursue the acquisition or construction project. The agreement entered into with the Department of Toxic Substances Control may be entitled an "Environmental Oversight Agreement" and shall reference this paragraph. A school district may, with the concurrence of the Department of Toxic Substances Control, enter into an agreement with the Department of Toxic Substances Control to oversee the preparation of a preliminary endangerment assessment without first having prepared a Phase I environmental assessment. Upon request from the school district, the Director of the Department of Toxic Substances Control shall exercise its authority to designate a person to enter the site and inspect and obtain samples pursuant to Section 25358.1 of the Health and Safety Code, if the director determines that the exercise of that authority will assist in expeditiously completing the preliminary endangerment assessment. The preliminary endangerment assessment shall contain one of the following conclusions:
      1. A further investigation of the site is not required.
      2. A release of hazardous materials has occurred, and if so, the extent of the release, that there is the threat of a release of hazardous materials, or that a naturally occurring hazardous material is present, or any combination thereof.
    5. The school district shall submit the preliminary endangerment assessment to the Department of Toxic Substances Control for its review and approval and to the State Department of Education for its files. The school district may entitle a document that is meant to fulfill the requirements of a preliminary endangerment assessment a "preliminary environmental assessment" and that document shall be deemed to be a preliminary endangerment assessment if it specifically refers to the statutory provisions whose requirements it intends to meet and the document meets the requirements of a preliminary endangerment assessment.
    6. At the same time a school district submits a preliminary endangerment assessment to the Department of Toxic Substances Control pursuant to paragraph (5), the school district shall publish a notice that the assessment has been submitted to the department in a local newspaper of general circulation, and shall post the notice in a prominent manner at the proposed schoolsite that is the subject of that notice. The notice shall state the school district's determination to make the preliminary endangerment assessment available for public review and comment pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B):
      1. If the school district chooses to make the assessment available for public review and comment pursuant to this subparagraph, it shall offer to receive written comments for a period of at least 30 calendar days after the assessment is submitted to the Department of Toxic Substances Control, commencing on the date the notice is originally published, and shall hold a public hearing to receive further comments. The school district shall make all of the following documents available to the public upon request through the time of the public hearing:
        1. The preliminary endangerment assessment.
        2. The changes requested by the Department of Toxic Substances Control for the preliminary endangerment assessment, if any.
        3. Any correspondence between the school district and the Department of Toxic Substances Control that relates to the preliminary endangerment assessment.
        For the purposes of this subparagraph, the notice of the public hearing shall include the date and location of the public hearing, and the location where the public may review the documents described in clauses (i) to (iii), inclusive. If the preliminary endangerment assessment is revised or altered following the public hearing, the school district shall make those revisions or alterations available to the public. The school district shall transmit a copy of all public comments received by the school district on the preliminary endangerment assessment to the Department of Toxic Substances Control. The Department of Toxic Substances Control shall complete its review of the preliminary endangerment assessment and public comments received thereon and shall either approve or disapprove the assessment within 30 calendar days of the close of the public review period. If the Department of Toxic Substances Control determines that it is likely to disapprove the assessment prior to its receipt of the public comments, it shall inform the school district of that determination and of any action that the school district is required to take for the Department of Toxic Substances Control to approve the assessment.
      2. If the school district chooses to make the preliminary endangerment assessment available for public review and comment pursuant to this subparagraph, the Department of Toxic Substances Control shall complete its review of the assessment within 60 calendar days of receipt of the assessment and shall either return the assessment to the school district with comments and requested modifications or requested further assessment or concur with the adequacy of the assessment pending review of public comment. If the Department of Toxic Substances Control concurs with the adequacy of the assessment, and the school district proposes to proceed with site acquisition or a construction project, the school district shall make the assessment available to the public on the same basis and at the same time it makes available the draft environmental impact report or negative declaration pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code) for the site, unless the document developed pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code) will not be made available until more than 90 days after the assessment is approved, in which case the school district shall, within 60 days of the approval of the assessment, separately publish a notice of the availability of the assessment of public review in a local newspaper of general circulation. The school district shall hold a public hearing on the preliminary endangerment assessment and the draft environmental impact report or negative declaration at the same time, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code). All public comments pertaining to the preliminary endangerment assessment shall be forwarded to the Department of Toxic Substances Control immediately. The Department of Toxic Substances Control shall review the public comments forwarded by the school district and shall approve or disapprove the preliminary endangerment assessment within 30 days of the district's approval action of the environmental impact report or the negative declaration.
    7. The school district shall comply with the public participation requirements of Sections 25358.7 and 25358.7.1 of the Health and Safety Code and other applicable provisions of the state act with respect to those response actions only if further response actions beyond a preliminary endangerment assessment are required and the district determines that it will proceed with the acquisition or construction project.
    8. If the Department of Toxic Substances Control disapproves the preliminary endangerment assessment, it shall inform the district of the decision, the basis for the decision, and actions necessary to secure the Department of Toxic Substances Control approval of the assessment. The school district shall take actions necessary to secure the approval of the Department of Toxic Substances Control of the preliminary endangerment assessment of elect not to pursue the acquisition or construction project.
    9. If the preliminary endangerment assessment determines that a further investigation of the site is not required and the Department of Toxic Substances Control approves this determination, it shall notify the State Department of Education and the school district of its approval. The school district may then proceed with the acquisition or construction project.
    10. If the preliminary endangerment assessment determines that a release of hazardous material has occurred, that there is the threat of a release of hazardous materials, that a naturally occurring hazardous material is present, or any combination thereof, that requires further investigation, and the Department of Toxic Substances Control approves this determination, the school district may elect not to pursue the acquisition or construction project. If the school district elects to pursue the acquisition or construction project, it shall do all of the following:
      1. Prepare a financial analysis that estimates the cost response action that will be required at the proposed schoolsite.
      2. Assess the benefits that accrue from using the proposed schoolsite when compared to the use of alternative schoolsites, if any.
      3. Obtain the approval of the State Department of Education that the proposed schoolsite meets the schoolsite selection standards adopted by the State Department of Education pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 17251.
      4. Evaluate the suitability of the proposed schoolsite in light of the recommended alternative schoolsite locations in order of merit if the school district has requested the assistance of the State Department of Education, based upon the standards of the State Department of Education, pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 17251.
    11. The school district shall reimburse the Department of Toxic Substances Control for all of the department's response costs.
  2. The costs incurred by the school districts when complying with this section are allowable costs for purposes of an applicant under Chapter 12.5 (commencing with Section 17070.10) of Part 10 and may be reimbursed in accordance with Section 17072.13.
  3. A school district that releases a Phase I environmental assessment, a preliminary endangerment assessment, or information concerning either of these assessments, any of which is required by this section, may not be held liable in any action filed against the school district for making either of these assessments available for public review.
  4. The changes made to this section by the act amending this section during the 2001 portion of the 2001-02 Regular Session do not apply to a schoolsite acquisition project or a school construction project, if either of the following occurred on or before the effective date of the act amending this section during the 2001 portion of the 2001-02 Regular Session:
    1. The final preliminary endangerment assessment for the project was approved by the Department of Toxic Substances Control pursuant to this section as this section read on the date of the approval.
    2. The school district seeking state funding for the project completed a public hearing for the project pursuant to this section, as this section read on the date of the hearing.

Added by Stats. 1999, c. 1002 (S.B. 162), § 3. Amended by Stats. 2000, c. 443 (A.B. 2644), § 4, eff. Sept. 14, 2000, Stats. 2001, c. 865 (A.B. 972), § 2, eff. Oct. 14, 2001.)

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17213.2 Conditions of State Funding

As a condition of receiving state funds pursuant to Chapter 12.5 (commencing with Section 17070.10), all of the following apply:

  1. If a preliminary endangerment assessment prepared pursuant to Section 17213.1 discloses the presence of a hazardous materials release, or threatened release, or the presence of naturally occurring hazardous materials, at a proposed schoolsite at concentrations that could pose a significant risk to children or adults, and the school district owns the proposed schoolsite, the school district shall enter into an agreement with the Department of Toxic Substances Control to oversee response action at the site and shall take response action pursuant to the requirements of the state act as may be required by the Department of Toxic Substances Control.
  2. Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a school district need not take action in response to a release of hazardous material to groundwater underlying the schoolsite if the release occurred at a site other than the schoolsite and if the following conditions apply:
    1. The school district did not cause or contribute to the release of a hazardous material to the groundwater.
    2. Upon the request of the Department of Toxic Substances Control or its authorized representative the school district provides the Department of Toxic Substances Control or its authorized representative with access to the schoolsite.
    3. The school district does not interfere with the response action activities.
  3. If at anytime during the response action the school district determines that there has been a significant increase in the estimated cost of the response action, the school district shall notify the State Department of Education.
  4. A school district that is required by the Department of Toxic Substances Control to take response action at a proposed schoolsite is subject to both of the following prohibitions:
    1. The school district may not begin construction of a school building until the Department of Toxic Substances Control determines all of the following:
      1. That the construction will not interfere with the response action.
      2. That site conditions will not pose a significant threat to the health and safety of workers involved in the construction of the school building.
      3. That the nature and extent of any release or threatened release of hazardous materials or the presence of any naturally occurring hazardous materials have been fully characterized.
    2. The school district may not occupy a school building following construction until it obtains from the Department of Toxic Substances Control a certification that all response actions, except for operation and maintenance activities, necessary to ensure that hazardous materials at the schoolsite no longer pose a significant risk to children and adults at the schoolsite have been completed and that the response action standards and objectives established in the final removal action work plan or remedial action plan have been met and are being maintained. After a school building is constructed and occupied, a school district may continue with ongoing operation and maintenance activities if the Department of Toxic Substances Control certifies before occupancy that neither site conditions nor the ongoing operation and maintenance activities pose a significant risk to children or adults at the schoolsite.
  5. If, at any time during construction at a schoolsite, a previously unidentified release or threatened release of a hazardous material or the presence of a naturally occurring hazardous material is discovered, the school district shall cease all construction activities at the sites notify the Department of Toxic Substances Control, and take actions required by subdivision (a) that are necessary to address the release or threatened release or the presence of any naturally occurring hazardous materials. Construction may be resumed if the Department of Toxic Substances Control determines that the construction will not interfere with any response action necessary to address the hazardous material release or threatened release or the presence of a naturally occurring hazardous material, determines that the site conditions will not pose a significant threat to the health and safety of workers involved in the construction of the schoolsite, and certifies that the nature and extent of the release, threatened release, or presence of a naturally occurring hazardous material have been fully characterized.
  6. Construction may proceed at any portions of the site that the Department of Toxic Substances Control determines are not affected by the release or threatened release of hazardous materials, or presence of any naturally occurring hazardous materials, provided that all of the following apply:
    1. Those portions of the site have been fully characterized.
    2. The Department of Toxic Substances Control determines that the construction will not interfere with any response action necessary to address the release or threatened release of hazardous materials, or presence of any naturally occurring hazardous materials.
    3. The site conditions will not pose a significant threat to the health and safety of workers involved with construction.
  7. The Department of Toxic Substances Control shall notify the State Department of Education, the Division of the State Architect, and the Office of Public School Construction when the Department of Toxic Substances Control certifies that all necessary response actions have been completed at a schoolsite. The Department of Toxic Substances Control shall also notify the Division of the State Architect whenever a response action has an impact on the design of a school facility and shall specify the conditions that must be met in the design of the school facility in order to protect the integrity of the response action.
  8. The school district shall reimburse the Department of Toxic Substances Control for all response costs incurred by the department.
  9. The costs incurred by the school districts when complying with this section are allowable costs for purposes of an applicant under Chapter 12.5 (commencing with Section 17070.10) of Part 10 and may be reimbursed in accordance with Section 17072.13. (Added by Stats. 1999, C. (A.B. 387), § 3. Amended by Stats. 2000, c. 443 (A.B. 2644), § 5, eff. Sept. 14, 2000.)

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17215 Site near airport; requirements
  1. In order to promote the safety of pupils, comprehensive community planning, and greater educational usefulness of schoolsites, before acquiring title to or leasing property for a new schoolsite, the governing board of each school district, including any district governed by a city board of education, or a charter school, shall give the State Department of Education written notice of the proposed acquisition or lease and shall submit any information required by the State Department of Education if the site is within two miles, measured by air line, of that point on an airport runway or a potential runway included in an airport master plan that is nearest to the site.
  2. Upon receipt of the notice required pursuant to subdivision (a), the State Department of Education shall notify the Department of Transportation in writing of the proposed acquisition or lease. If the Department of Transportation is no longer in operation, the State Department of Education shall, in lieu of notifying the Department of Transportation, notify the United States Department of Transportation or any other appropriate agency, in writing, of the proposed acquisition or lease for the purpose of obtaining from the department or other agency any information or assistance that it may desire to give.
  3. The Department of Transportation shall investigate the site and, within 30 working days after receipt of the notice, shall submit to the State Department of Education a written report of its findings including recommendations concerning acquisition or lease of the site. As part of the investigation, the Department of Transportation shall give notice thereof to the owner and operator of the airport who shall be granted the opportunity to comment upon the site. The Department of Transportation shall adopt regulations setting forth the criteria by which a site will be evaluated pursuant to this section.
  4. The State Department of Education shall, within 10 days of receiving the Department of Transportation's report, forward the report to the governing board of the school district or charter school. The governing board or charter school may not acquire title to or lease the property until the report of the Department of Transportation has been received. If the report does not favor the acquisition or lease of the property for a schoolsite or an addition to a present schoolsite, the governing board or charter school may not acquire title to or lease the property. If the report does favor the acquisition or lease of the property for a schoolsite or an addition to a present schoolsite, the governing board or charter school shall hold a public hearing on the matter prior to acquiring or leasing the site.
  5. If the Department of Transportation's recommendation does not favor acquisition or lease of the proposed site, state funds or local funds may not be apportioned or expended for the acquisition or lease of that site, construction of any school building on that site, or for the expansion of any existing site to include that site.
  6. This section does not apply to sites acquired prior to January 1, 1966, nor to any additions or extensions to those sites. (Added by Stats. 1997, c. 893 (S.B. 161), § 96. Amended by Stats. 1999, c. 837 (A.B. 747), § 1; Stats. 2005, c. 229 (A.B. 1358), § 1.)
17215.5 Acquisition of agricultural land; findings required; application of subdivision
  1. Prior to commencing the acquisition of real property for a new schoolsite in an area designated in a city, county, or city and county general plan for agricultural use and zoned for agricultural production, the governing board of a school district shall make all of the following findings:
    1. The school district has notified and consulted with the city, county, or city and county within which the prospective schoolsite is to be located.
    2. The final site selection has been evaluated by the governing board of the school district based on all factors affecting the public interest and not limited to selection on the basis of the cost of the land.
    3. The school district will attempt to minimize any public health and safety issues resulting from the neighboring agricultural uses that may affect the pupils and employees at the schoolsite.
  2. Subdivision (a) shall not apply to any schoolsite approved by the State Department of Education prior to January 1, 1997. (Formerly § 39006, added by Stats. 1996, c. 509 (A.B. 1724), § 1. Renumbered § 17215.5 and amended by Stats. 2000, c. 135 (A.B. 2539), § 39.)

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17251 Powers and duties concerning buildings and sites

The State Department of Education shall:

  1. Upon the request of the governing board of any school district, advise the governing board on the acquisition of new school sites 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 or 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 school site reviewed not to exceed the actual administrative costs incurred for that purpose.
  2. Develop standards for use by a school district in the selection of school sites, 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.
  3. Establish standards for use by school district to ensure that the design and construction of school facilities are educationally appropriate and promote school safety.
  4. 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 district, for the review of plans and specifications, a reasonable fee not to exceed the actual administrative costs incurred for that purpose.
  5. 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 costs of the survey, a reasonable fee not to exceed the actual administrative costs incurred for that purpose.
  6. Provide information relating to the impact or potential impact upon any school site of hazardous substances, solid waste, safety, hazardous air emissions, and other information as the department may deem appropriate. (Added by Stats. 1996, c. 277 (S.B. 1562), § 3, operative Jan. 1, 1998.)
17251.5 Acquisition of potential schoolsite; use of local funds and need for approval of site by State Board of Education

Notwithstanding any law, when using exclusively local funds for acquisition of a potential schoolsite a school district is not required to receive final approval of a site by the State Department of Education prior to adopting a resolution of necessity in an eminent domain proceeding or prior to closing escrow on a site purchase through voluntary sale. (Added by Stats 2002, c. 33 (A.B.16), § 26, eff. April 29, 2002.)

17268 Construction of new school building; requirements for approval
  1. The governing board of a school district that elects not to receive state funds pursuant to Chapter 12.5 (commencing with Section 17070.10) may not approve a project for the construction of a new school building, as defined in Section 17283, unless the project and its lead agency comply with the same requirements specified in subdivision (a) of Section 17213 for schoolsite acquisition.
  2. As a condition to receiving state funds pursuant to Chapter 12.5 (commencing with Section 17070.10) the governing board of a school district may not approve a project for the construction of a new school building or schoolsite on leased or acquired land unless the project and the school district comply with the requirements specified in Sections 17213.1 and 17213.2.
  3. The project shall not be subject to subdivision (b) for a minor addition to a school if the project is eligible for a categorical or statutory exemption under guidelines issued pursuant to Section 21083 of the Public Resources Code, as set forth in the California Environmental Quality Act.
  4. "School building," as used in this section, means any building designed and constructed to be used for elementary or secondary school purposes by a school district.
  5. The requirements of Sections 17213, 17213.1 and 17213.2 shall not apply to a schoolsite if the acquisition occurred prior to January 1, 2000, to the extent a school district is subject to the requirements set forth in those sections pursuant to a judicial order or an order issued by, or an agreement with the Department of Toxic Substances Control regarding that site, and the school district is in full compliance with that order or agreement.
  6. For purposes of this section, the acceptance of construction bids shall constitute approval of the project.
35275 New school planning and design

The governing board of any school district shall meet with appropriate local government recreation and park authorities to review all possible methods of coordinating planning, design, and construction of new school facilities and school sites or major additions to existing school facilities and recreation and park facilities in the community. Amended by Stats. 1994, c.940 (AB 3562)

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Questions:   School Facilities & Transportation Services Division | sftsd@cde.ca.gov | 916-322-2470
Last Reviewed: Thursday, July 13, 2023