Chapter 12. Libraries And Education of California Government Code >> Division 2. >> Title 3. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 12.

County free libraries may be constructed, leased, built, rebuilt, furnished, refurnished, or repaired pursuant to the Education Code, or pursuant to this part; provided that, in counties wherein a union high school library district maintaining a district free public library was established prior to June 30, 1912, county free libraries shall be constructed, leased, built, rebuilt, furnished, refurnished or repaired pursuant to Section 27264 of the Education Code until such time as the union high school library district elects to become a part of the county free library system.

The board of supervisors may provide library service at charitable, detention, and penal institutions of the county under its supervision and control, and may also provide to officers and employees of county departments such library service as is required in the performance of their duties. Such service shall be rendered through the county free library and the cost is a charge upon the county payable out of the general fund.

The board of supervisors may authorize and provide for the education or information of the public relative to the prevention of fires and the conservation of natural resources and the presentation of information designed for the promotion thereof. The board may act through the agency of any appropriate officer or department of the county having jurisdiction over the particular subject matter and may provide for such education or information by means of the preparation and furnishing of lectures, motion pictures, stereoptican slides, or other projection of pictures, or by any means which it deems appropriate. The cost of the preparation and furnishing of such education or information is a county charge. This section does not authorize the publicizing of any county, county officer, or department, or of the work or accomplishments thereof.

The board of supervisors may authorize and provide for the education or information of the public relative to accident prevention and for the presentation to the public of information designed for the promotion thereof. The board of supervisors may contract with and employ any person, firm, association, or a corporation for the furnishing to the county of such services and may pay from any available funds such compensation to any such person, firm, association, or corporation as it deems proper for the services rendered.

The board of supervisors may provide financial assistance to elementary school districts which have within the boundaries of such school districts (a) a redevelopment agency and a housing authority organized under state law, or (b) any facilities used by the county to house county employees. Any funds received pursuant hereto by an elementary school district may be deposited by the governing board of the school district in any fund of the district. The provisions hereof are applicable only to elementary school districts which have an average daily attendance of less than 3,000.

The board of supervisors may provide financial assistance to elementary school districts which have within the boundaries of such school districts any facilities used by the county to house county employees. Any funds received pursuant hereto by an elementary school district may be deposited by the governing board of the school district in any fund of the district. The provisions hereof are applicable only to elementary school districts which have an average daily attendance of less than 3,000.

The board of supervisors may authorize and provide for contributions to nonprofit educational radio and television stations, provided all of the following conditions exist:
  (1) The purpose of the contribution is to enable the citizens of the county to enjoy greater educational and cultural advantages.
  (2) A substantial number of the residents of the county live within the reception area of the station.
  (3) The station regularly broadcasts programs which have educational or cultural significance.
  (4) The contribution is to the general funds of the station and not for or in connection with any particular program.
  (5) The contribution is not accompanied, directly or indirectly, by any direction of, sponsorship of, control of, or restriction of any program or the content of any program. This section does not in any way restrict the power of the board of supervisors to provide for expenditures for other authorized purposes including, but not limited to, the purposes specified in Sections 26100, 26103, 26106, 26152, or 26153.

The board of supervisors may contract with any radio, television broadcasting station, or cable television originating facilities to broadcast or rebroadcast meetings of the board of supervisors and may pay from any available funds for such broadcasts or rebroadcasts.

For purposes of assisting in the development of the human resources of the county, the board of supervisors may provide for the testing of individuals to determine such individual's level of educational achievement and job capabilities, both actual and potential; provided, however, that such testing may be done only upon the request of the individual to be tested.