(a) Within the maximum time period set forth in Section 17078.30, the applicant shall have a period of up to four years from the date of the preliminary apportionment in which to complete the application for final apportionment.

(b) The applicant may request a single one-year extension of the period set forth in subdivision (a). The board shall grant the request for the single one-year extension if it determines that the applicant has made substantial progress towards completing the requirements for filing an application for final apportionment. The board may grant only one one-year extension for the project and may only grant the extension if granting the extension would not, in total, cause the project to exceed the maximum time period set forth in Section 17078.30.

(c) The board shall adopt regulations setting forth standards for determining the existence of substantial progress within the meaning of subdivision (b).

(d) The governing board of a school district shall report annually to the State Allocation Board regarding the progress made toward completing the requirements for filing an application for final apportionment, and shall annually hold, at a regularly scheduled meeting of the governing board, a public hearing pursuant to the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code) to discuss, and to receive public comment regarding, the report.

(e) In its first annual report the governing board of the school district shall certify that the State Department of Education has determined in writing that there is at least one approvable site within the proposed general location of the proposed facility identified pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 17078.22, or within the variance location authorized pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 17078.22.

(f) If the applicant for the one-year extension pursuant to subdivision (b) has not made substantial progress to complete the application process within the allotted time period, the preliminary apportionment shall be rescinded and shall be utilized by the board for funding of other projects that have received a preliminary apportionment pursuant to this article, or at the expiration of the maximum time allowed pursuant to Section 17078.30, the board shall use the funds for any other new construction purpose of this chapter.

(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 33, Sec. 24. Effective April 29, 2002.)