(a) There is hereby established the Charter Schools Facilities Program to provide funding to qualifying entities for the purpose of establishing school facilities for charter school pupils.

(b) (1) The 2002 Charter School Facilities Account is hereby established within the 2002 State School Facilities Fund established pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 17070.40. The proceeds of bonds, as set forth in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 100620, shall be deposited into the 2002 Charter School Facilities Account for the purposes of this article. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, funds deposited into the account are hereby continuously appropriated for the purposes of this article.

(2) The 2004 Charter School Facilities Account is hereby established within the 2004 State School Facilities Fund established pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 17070.40. The proceeds of bonds, as set forth in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 100820, if approved by the voters, shall be deposited into the 2004 Charter School Facilities Account for the purposes of this article. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, funds deposited into the account are hereby continuously appropriated for the purposes of this article.

(3) The 2006 Charter School Facilities Account is hereby established within the 2006 State School Facilities Fund established pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 17070.40. The proceeds of bonds, as set forth in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 101012, if approved by the voters, shall be deposited into the 2006 Charter School Facilities Account for the purposes of this article. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, funds deposited into the account are hereby continuously appropriated for the purposes of this article.

(c) As used in this article, the following terms have the following meanings:

(1) “Authority” means the California School Finance Authority established pursuant to Section 17172.

(2) “Account” means the pertinent account established under subdivision (b).

(3) “Preliminary apportionment” means an apportionment made for eligible applicants under this article in advance of full compliance with all of the application requirements otherwise required for an apportionment pursuant to this chapter. The process for making preliminary apportionments under this article shall be substantially identical to the process established for critically overcrowded schools pursuant to Sections 17078.22 to 17078.30, inclusive.

(4) “Financially sound” means a charter school that has demonstrated, over a period of time determined by the authority, but not less than 24 months immediately preceding the submission of the application, that it has operated as a financially capable concern in California, as measured by criteria established by the authority. A charter school that cannot demonstrate that it has been a financially capable concern for at least 24 months immediately preceding the submission of the application, due solely to not having operated as a charter school for at least 24 months, may meet this 24-month requirement if the charter school is managed by staff who have at least 24 months of documented experience, as measured by criteria established by the authority and the charter school has an educational plan, financial resources, facilities expertise, management expertise, and has been a financially capable concern for at least 24 months, as established by the authority.

(d) The board shall, from time to time, transfer funds within the account to the California School Finance Authority Fund for the purposes of this article pursuant to the request of the authority as set forth in this article.

(Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 35, Sec. 6. Effective May 20, 2006. Operative after November 7, 2006, pursuant to Sec. 25 of Ch. 35, and adoption of Prop. 1D.)