County boards of education may do all of the following:

(a) Adopt rules and regulations governing the administration of the office of the county superintendent of schools.

(b) Review the county superintendent of schools annual itemized estimate of anticipated revenue and expenditures before the annual itemized estimate is filed with the auditor as required by Section 29040 of the Government Code, and make revisions, reductions, or additions in the annual itemized estimate it deems advisable and proper. An annual itemized estimate shall not be filed by the county superintendent of schools or be approved by the board of supervisors until it has first been so reviewed and approved by the county board of education.

(c) In the name by which the board of education is designated, acquire, lease, lease-purchase, hold, and convey real property for the purpose of housing the offices and the services of the county superintendent of schools, except that this subdivision shall only apply to the county boards of education to which all or a portion of the duties and functions of the county board of supervisors specified in subdivision (b) of Section 1080 have been transferred, with the exception of the recreational duties and recreational functions specified in subdivisions (c) and (d) of Section 1080.

(d) Contract with and employ any persons for the furnishing to the county board of education of special services and advice in financial, economic, accounting, engineering, legal, or administrative matters if these persons are specially trained and experienced and competent to perform the special services required. The county board of education may pay from any available funds the compensation that it deems proper for the services rendered.

(e) (1) Notwithstanding Section 25304 of the Government Code, fill by appointment any vacancy that occurs during the term of office of the county superintendent of schools. In a county in which the superintendent is elected, the appointee shall hold office until the office is filled by election at the next gubernatorial election.

(2) The authority described in this subdivision shall be vested in a county board of education only upon its adoption by the board at a public meeting held pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 1000).

(f) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2017.

(Repealed (in Sec. 1) and added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 38, Sec. 2. (SB 1016) Effective June 27, 2012. Section operative July 1, 2017, by its own provisions.)