(a) An application for the establishment of a California American Indian education center may be made to the department by any tribal group or incorporated American Indian association, separately or jointly, upon forms provided by the department. Funding for existing centers or a new center shall not exceed funding provided for these purposes in the annual Budget Act or another statute. The department shall evaluate and rank the proposals for funding purposes.

(b) An application for funding by a California American Indian education center shall be ranked and approved on the basis of all of the following criteria:

(1) The application is designed to achieve measurable objectives for the center.

(2) The degree of commitment of the applicant to the purpose of American Indian education as demonstrated by the policies adopted, the allocation of staff, fiscal, and material resources, and the integration of existing resources and services.

(3) The extent and degree of collaborative efforts among local community resources, organizations, schools, and tribal communities.

(4) The potential impact a center will have on pupils, their families, and other organizations in the region.

(5) The number of pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, within the community of the applicant.

(6) Existing centers shall have priority based upon the demonstrated impact of each program on pupils, their parents or legal guardians, and the community served.

(7) Existing centers created by the department shall receive priority in funding.

(8) The application of an existing center shall receive priority for funding over an application for a new center.

(c) The funding level for each center shall be based upon a comprehensive community needs assessment, including the applicant’s history of educational support for American Indian pupils, their parents or legal guardians, and the amount of collaboration with local American Indians.

(d) Funding for each center shall be distributed by reference to pupil population, pupil academic performance, and the local economic base.

(e) To the extent possible, the centers shall be distributed in regions throughout the state in order to reflect the American Indian population base.

(f) The approval of an application for the establishment of a California American Indian education center shall be effective for a period of five calendar years. One calendar year before the expiration of the five-year period, the department shall commence an evaluation of the center in order to determine whether to renew the application of the existing center or approve a new application to establish a California American Indian education center.

(g) (1) If the application for a center has been approved by the department and the applicant has received written verification of that approval, the department shall distribute 75 percent of the grant award for each year of the grant no later than 45 days after enactment of the annual Budget Act or an additional authorizing statute, whichever is later.

(2) The department shall distribute the remaining 25 percent of the grant award for each year of the grant no later than April 1 of the year following the year in which the initial 75 percent is distributed pursuant to paragraph (1).

(Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 170, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2008.)