The department shall:

(a) Upon the request of the governing board of a school district, advise the governing board of the school district on the acquisition of new schoolsites and, after a review of available plots, give the governing board of the school district in writing a list of the recommended locations in the order of their merit, considering especially the matters of educational merit, safety, reduction of traffic hazards, and conformity to the land use element in the general plan of the city, county, or city and county having jurisdiction. The governing board of the school district may purchase a site deemed unsuitable for school purposes by the department only after reviewing the report of the department on proposed sites at a public hearing. The department shall charge the school district a reasonable fee for each schoolsite reviewed not to exceed the actual administrative costs incurred for that purpose.

(b) Develop standards for use by a school district in the selection of schoolsites, in accordance with the objectives set forth in subdivision (a). The department shall investigate complaints of noncompliance with site selection standards, and shall notify the governing board of the school district of the results of the investigation. If that notification is received before the acquisition of the site, the governing board of the school district shall discuss the findings of the investigation in a public hearing.

(c) Establish standards for use by school districts to ensure that the design and construction of school facilities are educationally appropriate, promote school safety, and provide school districts with flexibility in designing instructional facilities.

(d) Upon the request of the governing board of a school district, review plans and specifications for school buildings in the school district. The department shall charge the governing board of a school district, for the review of plans and specifications, a reasonable fee not to exceed the actual administrative costs incurred for that purpose.

(e) Upon the request of the governing board of a school district, make a survey of the building needs of the school district, advise the governing board of the school district concerning the building needs, and suggest plans for financing a building program to meet the needs. The department shall charge the school district, for the cost of the survey, a reasonable fee not to exceed the actual administrative costs incurred for that purpose.

(f) Provide information relating to the impact or potential impact upon a schoolsite of hazardous substances, solid waste, safety, hazardous air emissions, and other information as the department may deem appropriate.

(g) (1) Develop strategies to assist small school districts with technical assistance relating to school construction and the funding of school facilities. The strategies may include informing the districts of how to receive the approval required for school construction, including the requirements of the Division of the State Architect, and how to secure state funding, including from the state bond funds made available pursuant to the Leroy F. Greene School Facilities Act of 1998 (Chapter 12.5 (commencing with Section 17070.10) of Part 10).

(2) For purposes of this subdivision, “small school district” means a school district with fewer than 2,501 units of average daily attendance.

(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 837, Sec. 2. (AB 203) Effective January 1, 2018.)