WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

AB 1860

School facilities: design-build: alternative design-build: county superintendents of schools.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Tina McKinnor

AB 1860 grants county offices of education exclusive authority to award design-build and alternative design-build contracts, applying district-like procurement rules and LIAPCA par

Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
#schoolfacilities #alternativedesign-build #countysuperintendentsofschools #design-build
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · AB 1860

Summary of AB 1860 (2025-2026) – California

Title: School facilities: design-build: alternative design-build: county superintendents of schools

Jurisdiction: California

Author/Sponsor: Assembly Member McKinnor (co-sponsor: Tina McKinnor)

Purpose (high-level)
- Expand and standardize the use of design-build and alternative design-build contracting for public school facilities to county offices of education (COEs) and county superintendents of schools.
- Grant exclusive authority to COEs’ superintendents of schools to award design-build and alternative design-build contracts on behalf of the COE and county board of education.
- Apply the Local Agency Public Construction Act to COEs in the same manner that it currently applies to school districts, with the same prequalification, bid, and disclosure requirements.

Key Provisions and Changes

1) Design-build and alternative design-build authority for county offices of education
- AB 1860 would authorize COEs, with the approval of the county board of education, to procure:
- Design-build contracts for projects exceeding $1,000,000 (same thresholds as districts).
- Alternative design-build contracts for projects exceeding $5,000,000.
- In both cases, the COE superintendent of schools would have exclusive authority to award these contracts on behalf of the COE and the county board of education (i.e., the COE would not rely on other parties to make awards).

2) Consistency with current design-build framework
- The bill preserves the existing framework for school districts:
- Best value and/or low bid options for awarding contracts.
- Requirements around information verification and conflict-of-interest policies.
- Definitions of key terms (design-build, design-build entity/team, project, etc.) retained and aligned for COEs.

3) Application of Local Agency Public Construction Act to COEs
- Notwithstanding existing laws, AB 1860 would apply the Local Agency Public Construction Act to COEs in the same manner as it is applied to school districts.
- This includes requirements such as:
- Bid thresholds (e.g., contracts above specified amounts must follow public bidding standards).
- Prequalification questionnaires and financial statements for prospective bidders.
- Standardized proposal forms for bids.
- The intent is to ensure COEs follow the same procurement practices as districts when engaging in design-build and related contracts.

4) Statewide concern and charter counties
- The Legislature finds that these provisions address a statewide concern, so they would apply to all counties, including charter counties.
- The measure would supersede any inconsistent provisions in county charters to the extent applicable.

5) Perjury and cost implications
- The bill expands the crime of perjury due to the added verification requirements, resulting in a state-mandated local program (SHMC).
- No state reimbursement is required for costs mandated by this act (per Government Code requirements for state-mandated local costs).

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Effective/Key Administrative Steps:
    • COEs would need to obtain approval from their county board of education to proceed with design-build or alternative design-build contracting.
    • Once authorized, COEs would follow the design-build/alternative design-build procedures, including competitive procurement and best-value considerations, with the COE superintendent having exclusive award authority.
  • Related Law Updates:
    • Education Code sections 17250.10, 17250.15, 17250.20, 17250.60, and 17250.61 amended.
    • Public Contract Code section 20110 amended to reflect COE applicability similar to school districts.

Timelines Mentioned in Text

  • The bill references authority for COEs to procure design-build/alternative design-build contracts for projects over the specified thresholds; no explicit project-by-project effective date is stated beyond general legislative timing.
  • It aligns with current conventions for school districts (design-build implementation exists, with thresholds and best-value processes already in place).

Who is Affected

  • Primary: County offices of education and their governing boards (COE superintendents of schools, county boards of education).
  • Secondary: School districts (existing framework remains, with implied parallel treatment for COEs).
  • Bidders and contractors engaged in COE construction projects (subject to prequalification, bid processes, and conflict-of-interest policies).
  • Local government and school facility project stakeholders (benefit from standardized procurement and potentially faster project delivery).

Bottom Line
AB 1860 seeks to bring COEs into parity with school districts regarding design-build and alternative design-build contracting, granting exclusive contract-award authority to COE superintendents, and applying the same procurement laws and practices that govern district projects. It also expands the perjury-related verification requirements and clarifies that COEs fall under the Local Agency Public Construction Act in the same manner as districts.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.