(a) Of the total amount of fines and forfeitures received by a county under Section 1463.001 of the Penal Code, fines and forfeitures collected from any person charged with a misdemeanor under this code following arrest by any officer employed by the state or by the county shall be paid into the general fund of the county. However, the board of supervisors of the county may, by resolution, provide that a portion thereof be transferred into the road fund of the county.

(b) The board of supervisors of a county may enter into a contract with the Department of the California Highway Patrol for the purpose of providing adequate protection for school pupils who are required to cross heavily traveled streets, highways, and roadways in the unincorporated areas of the county. When requested, the Department of the California Highway Patrol may provide such service and the county shall reimburse the state for salaries and wages of crossing guards furnished by the Department of the California Highway Patrol pursuant to such contract, including any necessary retirement and general administrative costs and expenses in connection therewith, and may pay the costs thereof from amounts deposited in the road fund pursuant to this section.

(c) Fines and forfeitures received by a county under Section 1463.001 of the Penal Code may be used to pay the compensation of school crossing guards and necessary equipment costs and administrative costs.

(d) When requested by any county which had in effect on June 30, 1979, a contract with the Department of the California Highway Patrol, to provide protection for school pupils at school crossings, the department upon request of a county shall continue to administer such school crossing program until June 30, 1980. The county shall reimburse the Department of the California Highway Patrol for general administrative costs and expenses in connection therewith, except that, effective January 1, 1980, the crossing guards shall be furnished to the California Highway Patrol and such crossing guards shall be employees of the county, the county superintendent of schools, the affected school districts, or both the superintendent and the affected school districts, at the option of the board of supervisors of the county. Any salaries and wages of crossing guards, including necessary retirement and equipment costs and any administrative costs shall be paid or reimbursed by the county from amounts deposited in the road fund pursuant to this section.

(e) The board of supervisors may adopt standards for the provision of school crossing guards. The board has final authority over the total cost of the school crossing guard program of any agency to be paid or reimbursed from amounts deposited in the road fund pursuant to this section. The board of supervisors may specify that a designated county officer, employee, or commissioner is to hire school crossing guards, or, in the alternative, the board may specify that any school district crossing guard program in unincorporated areas shall be maintained by the school districts desiring the program.

(Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 308, Sec. 34. Effective July 21, 1994.)