School districts: reorganization: study of benefits and impacts of unification.

Existing law establishes procedures for the reorganization of school districts, including, but not limited to, unifying school districts by consolidating all or part of one or more school districts, as specified. Existing law establishes the County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) to, among other things, review the fiscal and administrative condition of any county office of education, school district, or charter school. This bill would require the County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) to conduct a study on the potential benefits and impacts of school district unification. The bill would require certain topics to be included in the study, including the benefits of school district unification. The bill would require FCMAT to submit the study to certain committees of the Legislature and specified other state agencies within one year of funds being appropriated by the Legislature to implement the bill's provisions. By imposing new duties on a local educational agency, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The provisions of the bill would be repealed on January 1, 2021. 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.