(a) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this article to finance the capital expenditures involved in the construction, equipping, and establishment of a regional occupational center to be maintained by the Stockton Unified School District, to serve an area in great need of occupational preparation. It is the further intent of the Legislature, by this article, to improve the employment opportunities of persons residing in areas of need for the training by providing educational programs of a nature that will serve the social and economic needs of that area. The program provided will also serve to upgrade the cultural and intellectual life, as well as the economic life, of the area to be served.

(b) The governing board of any school district maintaining a high school may, pursuant to Section 52301, cooperate with the Stockton Unified School District in the establishment and maintenance of the regional occupational center.

(c) In conjunction with the regional occupational center, regional occupational programs may be established in the Stockton Unified School District and in participating school districts.

(d) The cooperation in the establishment and maintenance of a regional occupational center pursuant to subdivision (b) and the establishment and maintenance of regional occupational programs pursuant to subdivision (c), may be undertaken pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 6500) of Chapter 5 of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code.

(e) Notwithstanding subdivisions (b), (c), and (d), the Stockton Unified School District has the sole duty to the state to operate and manage the regional occupational center and any regional occupational program authorized by this article.

(f) The amount computed for the Stockton Unified School District pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 42233 shall be deemed to have been increased by the amount raised within the Stockton Unified School District for the support of a regional occupational center and program, except capital outlay expenditures, maintained during the 1972–73 fiscal year by the county superintendents of schools. The other computations required by Article 2 (commencing with Section 42230) of Chapter 7 of Part 24 shall be adjusted to appropriately reflect the increase. The revenue limit applicable to the county superintendent of schools shall be reduced by an amount equal to the increase in the revenue limit of the Stockton Unified School District made pursuant to this subdivision.

(Repealed and added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 277, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1997. Operative January 1, 1998.)