(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this article to the contrary, apportionments for the purchase of mobile classrooms for the education of physically handicapped pupils enrolled in integrated programs, as set forth in Part 30 (commencing with Section 56000), and for the education and therapy of speech-handicapped pupils may, subject to the approval of the department, be made to any school district not otherwise eligible to receive apportionments under Article 1 (commencing with Section 16000) and Article 2 (commencing with Section 16150) for that purpose.

(b) The State Department of Education may approve applications in those situations where mobile classrooms will be used by a county superintendent of schools required to educate physically handicapped minors pursuant to Chapter 7.2 (commencing with Section 56836) of Part 30. Mobile classrooms shall be used pursuant to an agreement authorized by Section 41308.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in this section, not more than 50 percent of the amount of any apportionment made pursuant to this section shall be repaid. Repayments shall be made in the following manner: Fifty percent of the amount of the apportionment shall be repaid in full with interest by the district, in annual amounts and at an interest rate over the period as the State Allocation Board may determine, not to exceed 20 years from the date the apportionment became final. In any school year in which 50 percent or more of the pupils in average daily attendance, as determined by the county superintendent of schools, and served by the facilities are not pupils from districts other than the applicant district, the repayment for the succeeding fiscal year shall be an amount which would have been payable if the district had been required to repay 100 percent of the apportionment over that period.

(d) The county board of supervisors of the county whose superintendent of schools uses mobile classrooms during any fiscal year shall at the time or times within the fiscal year as may be agreed upon between the county and the school district, but in any case not later than the end of the fiscal year, pay to the school district having the obligation to repay the apportionment made under this section for the purchase of mobile classrooms, an amount equal to 100 percent of the amount the district is required to repay in the fiscal year with respect to the apportionment described above.

(e) The county board of supervisors shall raise the amount required through a general tax levy on the property within the participating districts, or through a tuition charge not to exceed one hundred sixty dollars ($160) a year per pupil by the county superintendent of schools to the school districts of residence of pupils attending the facility including the district having the obligation to repay, or through a combination of these.

(f) The county superintendent of schools shall notify the county board of supervisors of his or her intention to approve a school district’s application for an allocation under this article before he or she approves the application.

(g) The department shall prepare specifications or regulations for the construction of mobile classrooms to provide for a useful life of no less than 20 years.

(h) The use of mobile classrooms shall meet specifications described by the department as they relate to the needs of the physically handicapped pupils being served, as set forth in Chapter 7.2 (commencing with Section 56836) of Part 30.

(Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 303, Sec. 3. (SB 509) Effective January 1, 2010.)