(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to expedite the repair, alteration, and reconstruction of school facilities that have been damaged or destroyed by fire, earthquake, flood, or other manmade or natural disasters, to return those school facilities to a condition that makes them useful to school districts in the least amount of time and at the lowest appropriate cost while maintaining the integrity and safety of the structure as required by the laws of this state.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, if a school facility has been damaged or destroyed by fire, earthquake, flood, or other manmade or natural disaster, all reviews or approvals required by this article shall be expedited. In no event shall any review or approval exceed 60 days, excluding weekends and holidays, from the date of receipt of all complete plans, specifications, and documentation for the facilities from the district.

(c) If, upon review, the plans or specifications require minor amendment or modification, these minor amendments or modifications shall not delay the completion of the review or approval beyond the 60-day requirement specified in subdivision (b) unless the amendment or modification constitutes a major substantive change affecting the entire project. While any minor amendments or modifications are being undertaken, the remainder of the project shall continue under review so that a timely and adequate review may be completed within the 60-day requirement of subdivision (b).

(d) A state agency that is required to perform any review or approval under this article may hire additional personnel or incur any additional costs necessary to perform the review or approval within the time limits set forth in this section and shall charge the district a fee not to exceed the actual cost of the review or approval.

(e) As used in this section, “damaged” means damages to the extent that occupancy is precluded based upon a report of an architect or a structural engineer and the concurrence of the Department of General Services in the report’s conclusion that the occupancy of the premises is precluded.

(f) The expedited review and approval required by this section shall not apply if the documents are not submitted within six months of the damage to, or destruction of, the facilities.

(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 277, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 1997. Operative January 1, 1998.)