Section 17285 Of Article 3. Approvals From California Education Code >> Division 1. >> Title 1. >> Part 10.5. >> Chapter 3. >> Article 3.
17285
. (a) Notwithstanding any provision of law except Sections
17286, 17287, 17405, and this section, a leased building that does
not meet the requirements of Section 17280 may not be used as a
school building, as defined in Section 17283, after September 1,
1990.
(b) A school district may lease a commercial building prior to
January 1, 2003, that does not meet the requirements of Section
17280, for use as a school building, as defined in Section 17283, if
the governing board of the district finds that all of the following
conditions have been met:
(1) The building was constructed in accordance with seismic safety
standards for commercial buildings constructed within an earthquake
zone.
(2) The building permit for the initial construction of the
building was issued on or after January 1, 1990.
(3) A structural engineer has inspected the building and submitted
a report to the governing board of the school district that
certifies that the building is in substantial compliance with the
requirements of the Field Act. This certification requirement is
satisfied if the structural engineer affixes his or her seal of
approval to the report and he or she attests in that report that to
the best of his or her knowledge:
(A) He or she has reviewed the design calculations, construction
documents, and the local government construction inspection records
of the building to the extent available.
(B) He or she has authorized testing and has observed or reviewed
the test results and the inspections of an adequate sample of the
structure's welds, anchor bolts, and other structural elements.
(C) He or she has observed that the overhead nonstructural
elements, including, but not limited to, light fixtures, heating, and
air-conditioning diffusers are adequately braced or anchored.
The governing board of the school district shall submit the report
to the Division of the State Architect for its review. The Division
of the State Architect has one month to review the report for
compliance with the above requirements, and to provide feedback to
the structural engineer regarding any insufficiencies with the
report, and whether or not the building is in substantial compliance
with the requirements of the Field Act. If the Division of the State
Architect does not respond within one month of the final and complete
report being submitted, the Division of the State Architect will be
deemed to have concurred with the structural engineer's report. A
final decision by the governing board of the school district to
occupy the building for school purposes shall not occur until the
governing board has reviewed and considered the feedback of the
Division of the State Architect, or the one month review period has
passed.
No member of the governing board of a school district, nor any
employee of a school district, shall be held personally liable for
injury to persons or damage to property resulting from the fact that
the governing board of the school district used a commercial building
pursuant to this subdivision for a school and the building was not
constructed under the requirements of Section 17280. This exemption
from personal liability for members of the governing board and
employees of a school district is not intended to limit the liability
of the school district for injury to persons or damage to property
resulting from the fact that the governing board or any employee of
the school district used a commercial building pursuant to this
subdivision for a school and the building was not constructed under
the requirements of Section 17280. This exemption from personal
liability for members of the governing board and employees of a
school district is not intended to limit the liability of the school
district, the governing board or the district's employees pursuant to
Section 835 of the Government Code. Section 17312 is not applicable
to a person who, pursuant to this section, leases or uses a building
for a school building that meets the requirements of this section but
does not meet the requirements of Section 17280. Approval and use of
a building pursuant this subdivision does not constitute a violation
of the Field Act.
(c) A building leased pursuant to Section 17280 may be used after
September 1, 1991, as a regional occupational center or program that
does not meet the requirements of Section 17280, provided the
building satisfies all of the following conditions:
(1) The facility is one of the following:
(A) A single-story, wood-framed structure.
(B) A single-story, light steel frame structure.
(C) A structure for which a structural engineer has submitted a
report that certifies that substantial structural hazards do not
exist, as to that structure. The governing board of the regional
occupational center or program, as provided for under Section
52310.5, shall review the report prior to approval of the lease and
may reject the report if there is any evidence of fraud regarding the
facts in the report.
(2) The building or structure complies with all applicable local
building standards and all applicable local health and safety
standards in the community in which it is located.
(3) The governing board of the regional occupational center or
program, as provided for under Section 52310.5, certifies to the
State Allocation Board that reasonable efforts have been made to
locate the regional occupational center or program in facilities that
conform to the seismic safety standards set forth in Part 2
(commencing with Section 2-101), Part 3 (commencing with Section
3-089-1), Part 4 (commencing with Section 4-403), and Part 5
(commencing with Section 5-102), of Title 24 of the California Code
of Regulations.