Regional occupational centers and programs: funding.

Existing law authorizes the county superintendent of schools of each county, with the consent of the State Board of Education, to establish and maintain a regional occupational center, or regional occupational program, in the county to provide education and training in career technical courses. Existing law also authorizes the governing boards of any school district maintaining high schools in the county, with the consent of the state board and county superintendent of schools, to cooperate in the establishment and maintenance of a regional occupational center or program, except as specified, and authorizes the establishment and maintenance of a regional occupational center or program by 2 or more school districts to be undertaken pursuant to a joint powers agreement. Existing law requires that, for the 2013–14 and 2014–15 fiscal years only, of the funds a school district, county office of education, or joint powers agency receives for purposes of regional occupational centers or programs, the school district, county office of education, or joint powers agency expend no less than the amount of funds the school district, county office of education, or joint powers agency expended for purposes of regional occupational centers or programs in the 2012–13 fiscal year. This bill would extend that expenditure requirement to the 2016–17 fiscal year.