Existing law requires the governing board of each school district to hold a public hearing on the proposed budget at a school district facility or at a convenient and accessible location for the school district’s residents. The notice must include the date, time, and location of the hearing. The notice must be published at least three days before the proposed budget is available for public inspection 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.
AB 721 amends existing notice provisions and instead requires school districts post notice of the dates and locations of the public hearing on their website no later than 45 days before the final date for hearing, but not less than 10 days before the day set for hearing. The bill requires each county superintendent of schools to verify that the notice is also posted on the school district’s website. This requirement is in effect through December 31, 2026.
Effective January 1, 20217, AB 721 amends existing law by removing the requirement to publish the notice in a newspaper of general circulation and instead requires the notice be posted prominently on the homepage of the school district’s website at least three days before the proposed budget is available for inspection.
The bill also requires that the State Department of Education select three school districts who agree to provide information regarding the notice requirements. The participating school district needs to provide information to the Department on or about December 31, 2024, December 31, 2025, and December 31, 2026.
(AB 721 amends, repeals, and adds Section 42103 of the Education Code.)