The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) was adopted in 1972.  This act requires all public agencies in California, including school districts, to follow certain procedures for implementing requirements of the CEQA statute and the State CEQA Guidelines (State CEQA Guidelines Section 15022).  Best Best & Krieger LLP has provided the Districts with our 2018 Update to Local Guidelines for Implementing the California Environmental Quality Act.   They have been revised and amended to reflect the State CEQA Guidelines, the Public Resources Code and local practices. 

Due to amendments by the California Legislature and court interpretations of sections of the ACT, the district should update our local guidelines to reflect these recent changes.  The 2018 Guidelines were adopted by the Board on May 8, 2018.

Most of the districts constructions projects qualify for a Categorical Exemption under one of thirty three classes listed in the guidelines (see Section 3.22).  Categorical exemptions are filed by my office immediately after the Board of Education approves an exempt project.  Projects not qualifying for a Categorical Exemption or projects where there may be a question about the exemption are reviewed by district legal counsel and a determination is made on the next step in the CEQA process.  Projects not qualifying for a Categorical Exemption typically require some type of action prior to the Board approval of a project.