School districts: budgets: public hearings: notice.

Existing law requires the governing board of each school district to hold a public hearing on the proposed budget of the school district in a school district facility, or some other place conveniently accessible to the residents of the school district, as specified. Existing law requires notification of the dates and location or locations at which the proposed budget may be inspected by the public, and the date, time, and location of the public hearing on the proposed budget, to be published by the county superintendent of schools in a newspaper of general circulation in the school district or, if there is no newspaper of general circulation in the school district, in any newspaper of general circulation in the county, at least 3 days before the availability of the proposed budget for public inspection. This bill, on January 1, 2027, would repeal the requirement to publish that information in a newspaper of general circulation and instead require the information to be posted prominently on the homepage of the internet website of the school district at least 3 days before the availability of the proposed budget for public inspection. The bill would require each county superintendent of schools to verify the posting or publishing requirement, as applicable, is met for all school districts in their jurisdiction. By imposing additional duties on local educational agency officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the State Department of Education to select 3 school districts that agree to provide information to the department regarding how the school district communicates with the school community within the school district, as provided. The bill would require the participating school districts to provide specified information to the department on or before December 31, 2024, on or before December 31, 2025, and on or before December 31, 2026. 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 the statutory provisions noted above.