45103.1
. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter,
personal services contracting for all services currently or
customarily performed by classified school employees to achieve cost
savings is permissible, unless otherwise prohibited, when all the
following conditions are met:
(1) The governing board or contracting agency clearly demonstrates
that the proposed contract will result in actual overall cost
savings to the school district, provided that:
(A) In comparing costs, there shall be included the school
district's additional cost of providing the same service as proposed
by a contractor. These additional costs shall include the salaries
and benefits of additional staff that would be needed and the cost of
additional space, equipment, and materials needed to perform the
function.
(B) In comparing costs, there shall not be included the school
district's indirect overhead costs unless these costs can be
attributed solely to the function in question and would not exist if
that function was not performed by the school district. Indirect
overhead costs shall mean the pro rata share of existing
administrative salaries and benefits, rent, equipment costs,
utilities, and materials.
(C) In comparing costs, there shall be included in the cost of a
contractor providing a service any continuing school district costs
that would be directly associated with the contracted function. These
continuing school district costs shall include, but not be limited
to, those for inspection, supervision, and monitoring.
(2) Proposals to contract out work shall not be approved solely on
the basis that savings will result from lower contractor pay rates
or benefits. Proposals to contract out work shall be eligible for
approval if the contractor's wages are at the industry's level and do
not undercut school district pay rates.
(3) The contract does not cause the displacement of school
district employees. The term "displacement" includes layoff,
demotion, involuntary transfer to a new classification, involuntary
transfer to a new location requiring a change of residence, and time
base reductions. Displacement does not include changes in shifts or
days off, nor does it include reassignment to other positions within
the same classification and general location or employment with the
contractor, so long as wages and benefits are comparable to those
paid by the school district.
(4) The savings shall be large enough to ensure that they will not
be eliminated by private sector and district cost fluctuations that
could normally be expected during the contracting period.
(5) The amount of savings clearly justify the size and duration of
the contracting agreement.
(6) The contract is awarded through a publicized, competitive
bidding process.
(7) The contract includes specific provisions pertaining to the
qualifications of the staff that will perform the work under the
contract, as well as assurance that the contractor's hiring practices
meet applicable nondiscrimination standards.
(8) The potential for future economic risk to the school district
from potential contractor rate increases is minimal.
(9) The contract is with a firm. A "firm" means a corporation,
limited liability company, partnership, nonprofit organization, or
sole proprietorship.
(10) The potential economic advantage of contracting is not
outweighed by the public's interest in having a particular function
performed directly by the school district.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, personal
services contracting shall also be permissible when any of the
following conditions can be met:
(1) The contract is for new school district functions and the
Legislature has specifically mandated or authorized the performance
of the work by independent contractors.
(2) The services contracted are not available within the district,
cannot be performed satisfactorily by school district employees, or
are of such a highly specialized or technical nature that the
necessary expert knowledge, experience, and ability are not available
through the school district.
(3) The services are incidental to a contract for the purchase or
lease of real or personal property. Contracts under this criterion,
known as "service agreements," shall include, but not be limited to,
agreements to service or maintain office equipment or computers that
are leased or rented.
(4) The policy, administrative, or legal goals and purposes of the
district cannot be accomplished through the utilization of persons
selected pursuant to the regular or ordinary school district hiring
process. Contracts are permissible under this criterion to protect
against a conflict of interest or to ensure independent and unbiased
findings in cases where there is a clear need for a different,
outside perspective. These contracts shall include, but not be
limited to, obtaining expert witnesses in litigation.
(5) The nature of the work is such that the criteria for emergency
appointments apply. "Emergency appointment" means an appointment
made for a period not to exceed 60 working days either during an
actual emergency to prevent the stoppage of public business or
because of the limited duration of the work. The method of selection
and the qualification standards for an emergency employee shall be
determined by the district. The frequency of appointment, length of
employment, and the circumstances appropriate for the appointment of
firms or individuals under emergency appointments shall be restricted
so as to prevent the use of emergency appointments to circumvent the
regular or ordinary hiring process.
(6) The contractor will provide equipment, materials, facilities,
or support services that could not feasibly be provided by the school
district in the location where the services are to be performed.
(7) The services are of such an urgent, temporary, or occasional
nature that the delay incumbent in their implementation under the
district's regular or ordinary hiring process would frustrate their
very purpose.
(c) This section shall apply to all school districts, including
districts that have adopted the merit system.
(d) This section shall apply to personal service contracts entered
into after January 1, 2003. This section shall not apply to the
renewal of personal services contracts subsequent to January 1, 2003,
where the contract was entered into before January 1, 2003,
irrespective of whether the contract is renewed or rebid with the
existing contractor or with a new contractor.