Charter schools.

(1) Existing law provides that a charter school, including a charter school operated as or by a nonprofit public benefit corporation, may be considered a public agency, as defined, for the purpose of being eligible for membership in a joint powers agreement for risk-pooling. This bill, in addition, would prohibit a joint powers authority for risk-pooling from refusing to admit to membership or provide coverage to a charter school, including a charter school operated as or by a nonprofit public benefit corporation, or a school district that operates a charter school, solely on the basis that the school under consideration is a charter school or the district under consideration operates a charter school. The bill would authorize a joint powers authority for risk-pooling to set the price for coverage for a charter school or a school district that operates a charter school at a level that is commensurate with the increased risk involved. By limiting the discretion of joint powers authorities, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.