Cal. Sch. Boards Ass'n v. State

*570 We consider the vexing problem of how California, particularly its legislative branch, may comply with the requirement *433 that it fund its education mandates, imposed by the California Constitution, article XIII B, section 6. Is it constitutional for the state legislature to designate funding it already provides to school districts as offsetting revenue when reimbursing them for the costs of new state-mandated programs? In this case, where the legislation operates prospectively only, the answer is yes.

The appellants in this case are the California School Boards Association and its Education Legal Alliance (CSBA), the San Diego Unified School District, the Butte County Office of Education, the San Joaquin County Office of Education, and the Castro Valley Unified School District (the School Districts).

*571 Respondents are the State of California, the California State Controller, the Director of the California Department of Finance (collectively, the State), and the Commission on State Mandates. 1

CSBA and the School Districts appeal the trial court's denial of their motion for a writ of mandate as to the second cause of action in their third amended petition, its denial…