2009 California Education Code - Section 15278-15282 :: Article 2. Citizens' Oversight Committee

EDUCATION CODE
SECTION 15278-15282

15278.  (a) If a bond measure authorized pursuant to paragraph (3)
of subdivision (b) of Section 1 of Article XIII A of the California
Constitution and subdivision (b) of Section 18 of Article XVI of the
California Constitution is approved, the governing board of the
school district or community college shall establish and appoint
members to an independent citizens' oversight committee, pursuant to
Section 15282, within 60 days of the date that the governing board
enters the election results on its minutes pursuant to Section 15274.
   (b) The purpose of the citizens' oversight committee shall be to
inform the public concerning the expenditure of bond revenues. The
citizens' oversight committee shall actively review and report on the
proper expenditure of taxpayers' money for school construction. The
citizens' oversight committee shall advise the public as to whether a
school district or community college district is in compliance with
the requirements of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 1 of
Article XIII A of the California Constitution. The citizens'
oversight committee shall convene to provide oversight for, but not
be limited to, both of the following:
   (1) Ensuring that bond revenues are expended only for the purposes
described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 1 of
Article XIII A of the California Constitution.
   (2) Ensuring that, as prohibited by subparagraph (A) of paragraph
(3) of subdivision (b) of Section 1 of Article XIII A of the
California Constitution, no funds are used for any teacher or
administrative salaries or other school operating expenses.
   (c) In furtherance of its purpose, the citizens' oversight
committee may engage in any of the following activities:
   (1) Receiving and reviewing copies of the annual, independent
performance audit required by subparagraph (C) of paragraph (3) of
subdivision (b) of Section 1 of Article XIII A of the California
Constitution.
   (2) Receiving and reviewing copies of the annual, independent
financial audit required by subparagraph (C) of paragraph (3) of
subdivision (b) of Section 1 of Article XIII A of the California
Constitution.
   (3) Inspecting school facilities and grounds to ensure that bond
revenues are expended in compliance with the requirements of
paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 1 of Article XIII A of
the California Constitution.
   (4) Receiving and reviewing copies of any deferred maintenance
proposals or plans developed by a school district or community
college district, including any reports required by Section 17584.1.
   (5) Reviewing efforts by the school district or community college
district to maximize bond revenues by implementing cost-saving
measures, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
   (A) Mechanisms designed to reduce the costs of professional fees.
   (B) Mechanisms designed to reduce the costs of site preparation.
   (C) Recommendations regarding the joint use of core facilities.
   (D) Mechanisms designed to reduce costs by incorporating
efficiencies in schoolsite design.
   (E) Recommendations regarding the use of cost-effective and
efficient reusable facility plans.

15280.  (a) The governing board of the district shall, without
expending bond funds, provide the citizens' oversight committee with
any necessary technical assistance and shall provide administrative
assistance in furtherance of its purpose and sufficient resources to
publicize the conclusions of the citizens' oversight committee.
   (b) All committee proceedings shall be open to the public and
notice to the public shall be provided in the same manner as the
proceedings of the governing board. The citizens' oversight committee
shall issue regular reports on the results of its activities. A
report shall be issued at least once a year. Minutes of the
proceedings of the citizens' oversight committee and all documents
received and reports issued shall be a matter of public record and be
made available on an Internet website maintained by the governing
board.

15282.  (a) The citizens' oversight committee shall consist of at
least seven members to serve for a term of two years without
compensation and for no more than two consecutive terms. While
consisting of a minimum of at least seven members, the citizens'
oversight committee shall be comprised, as follows:
   (1) One member shall be active in a business organization
representing the business community located within the district.
   (2) One member shall be active in a senior citizens' organization.
   (3) One member shall be active in a bona fide taxpayers'
organization.
   (4) For a school district, one member shall be the parent or
guardian of a child enrolled in the district. For a community college
district, one member shall be a student who is both currently
enrolled in the district and active in a community college group,
such as student government. The community college student member may,
at the discretion of the board, serve up to six months after his or
her graduation.
   (5) For a school district, one member shall be both a parent or
guardian of a child enrolled in the district and active in a
parent-teacher organization, such as the Parent Teacher Association
or schoolsite council. For a community college district, one member
shall be active in the support and organization of a community
college or the community colleges of the district, such as a member
of an advisory council or foundation.
   (b) No employee or official of the district shall be appointed to
the citizens' oversight committee. No vendor, contractor, or
consultant of the district shall be appointed to the citizens'
oversight committee. Members of the citizens' oversight committee
shall, pursuant to Sections 35233 and 72533, abide by the
prohibitions contained in Article 4 (commencing with Section 1090)
and Article 4.7 (commencing with Section 1125) of Division 4 of Title
1 of the Government Code.

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