(a) No later than five days after a school district receives notice of any change or changes adopted by the county superintendent of schools in the school district’s budget pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 42127.3, subdivision (e) of Section 42127.6, or subdivision (b) of Section 42131, the governing board of the school district may submit an appeal to the Superintendent, based upon the contention that the change or changes would do one or more of the following:

(1) Exceed the financial or program changes necessary to allow the school district to meet its financial obligations in the current fiscal year and with regard to its multiyear financial commitments. It is the intent of the Legislature that any change or changes adopted by the county superintendent of schools in a school district’s budget minimize, to the extent possible, any impact upon the educational program of the school district.

(2) Require reductions that are unnecessary in view of other reductions that are proposed by the governing board of the school district and that reasonably can be expected to be realized.

(3) Make one or more changes in the school district’s operations that are inconsistent with any provision of state or federal law.

(b) No later than five days after receiving that appeal, the Superintendent, with the concurrence of the president of the state board or the president’s designee, shall deny or uphold the appeal. If the appeal is denied, the school district shall implement the change or changes adopted by the county superintendent of schools. If the appeal is upheld, the Superintendent may revise the change or changes adopted by the county superintendent of schools or issue guidelines governing the manner in which the governing board of the school district or the county superintendent of schools shall be required to change the school district budget.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 497, Sec. 51. (AB 991) Effective January 1, 2020.)