The governing board of a school district may, with the approval of the county board of supervisors, sell or lease any building of the district together with the site upon which the building is located, without complying with any other provisions of this article, provided that the county board of supervisors finds that all of the following conditions exist:

(a) The sale or lease is to be made to an incorporated nonprofit tax-exempt community or civic organization with a membership comprised predominantly of persons residing in the community in which the building and site are situated.

(b) The building is not suitable for school purposes.

(c) The building has an historic value and its preservation and utilization for the benefit of the community will best be ensured by sale or lease to an organization specified in subdivision (a).

(d) The sale or lease is to be executed for a consideration to enure to the school district reflecting the fair market value of the property, or its fair rental value, as the case may be, except that the sale may be executed for a consideration that is less than the fair market value of the property if all of the following conditions exist:

(1) More than 50 percent of the buildings on the site have been designated as historically significant by the State Historical Resources Commission.

(2) For a period of 25 years, commencing with the date that possession of the property is transferred, the building or buildings designated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be used and maintained for public benefit as an historical resource, and the site shall otherwise be available for public access and use, including, but not limited to, park and recreational uses. Any violation of this condition shall result in the automatic reversion of title to the property so transferred, without remuneration, to the transferor school district. The condition set forth in this paragraph does not prohibit any use of the site that is necessary or appropriate to its use and maintenance for historical purposes.

(3) The consideration paid is equal to or greater than the sum of the actual cost of the acquisition of the property by the school district and the actual cost of any capital improvements made to the property.

(e) Adequate provision has been made in connection with the sale or lease transaction to protect the district against all civil liabilities which might arise in connection with any use of the building and site.

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