(a) There is appropriated annually from the Driver Training Penalty Assessment Fund to the General Fund in the State Treasury and from the General Fund to the California Energy Extension Service of the Office of Planning and Research a sum as necessary to establish and maintain a unit for driver instruction within the State Department of Education as set forth in Section 41904.

(b) In addition, subject to Section 41305, there shall be appropriated from the Driver Training Penalty Assessment Fund to the General Fund, then to the State School Fund each fiscal year, the sum the Superintendent of Public Instruction certifies as necessary to reimburse on a quarterly basis for each current fiscal year school districts, county superintendents of schools, the Department of the Youth Authority, and the State Department of Education for the actual cost of instructing pupils in the operation of motor vehicles.

The amount shall not exceed ninety-seven dollars ($97) per pupil instructed in the laboratory phase of driver education in accordance with the rules and regulations of the State Board of Education.

(c) Subject to Section 41305, there shall also be appropriated from the Driver Training Penalty Assessment Fund the sum the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall certify as necessary to reimburse on a quarterly basis for each current fiscal year school districts, county superintendents of schools, the Department of the Youth Authority, and the State Department of Education for the actual cost of replacing vehicles and simulators used exclusively in the laboratory phase of driver education programs, but the amount shall not exceed three-fourths of that part of the actual cost of instructing pupils in the laboratory phase of driver education which is: (1) in excess of ninety-seven dollars ($97) per pupil instructed, and (2) expended by the district, the county superintendent of schools, the Department of the Youth Authority, and the State Department of Education in replacing the vehicles and simulators. Reimbursement for vehicles shall be computed for only that portion of the total mileage used exclusively in the laboratory phase of driver education programs.

(d) In addition, subject to Section 41305, there shall be provided from the Petroleum Violation Escrow Account to the General Fund, then to the State School Fund each fiscal year the sum the Superintendent of Public Instruction certifies as necessary to reimburse on a quarterly basis for each current fiscal year school districts, county superintendents of schools, the Department of the Youth Authority, and the State Department of Education for the costs of fitting automobile driver training vehicles with the instrumentation required under Section 51854 and to reimburse on a quarterly basis for each current fiscal year school districts for the costs of transferring instrumentation providing instructional information on fuel consumption and vehicle fuel efficiency from one automobile driver training vehicle to another under Section 51854.

(e) In addition, subject to Section 41305, there shall be appropriated from the Petroleum Violation Escrow Account to the Driver Training Penalty Assessment Fund and from the Driver Training Penalty Assessment Fund to the General Fund, then to the Superintendent of Public Instruction each fiscal year the sum the Superintendent of Public Instruction certifies as necessary to reimburse on a quarterly basis for each current fiscal year the State Department of Education for the costs of workshops conducted by the department under Section 51854.

(f) For purposes of computing reimbursement, whenever a school district, a county superintendent of schools, the Department of the Youth Authority, or the State Department of Education replaces a driver training vehicle or simulator purchased by the district with a vehicle or simulator that is a gift or loan, the purchase price of the new or acquired equipment shall be deemed to be the market value of the vehicle or simulator acquired through a gift or loan.

A simulator is any device approved by the State Department of Education to be used in classrooms for purposes of laboratory instruction under simulated driving conditions.

(Amended by Stats. 1989, Ch. 924, Sec. 1. Operative July 1, 1990, by Sec. 6 of Ch. 924.)