(a) Subject to funds being appropriated for this purpose in the annual Budget Act, the California Interscholastic Federation is encouraged to establish a statewide panel that includes, at a minimum, the following members: school administrators, school board members, coaches of secondary school athletics, teachers, parents, athletic directors, representatives of higher education, pupils participating in athletics at the secondary school level, and a representative of the State Department of Education, as described in Section 35179.3.

(b) The panel established pursuant to subdivision (a) is encouraged to develop an application process whereby public secondary schools may submit applications to the State Department of Education for grants to offset the costs of education and training of athletic coaches in an education and training program that emphasizes the components set forth in subdivision (c) of Section 35179.1.

(c) The panel established pursuant to subdivision (a) is encouraged to evaluate applications submitted to the State Department of Education pursuant to subdivision (b) and to recommend applicants to the State Department of Education for the award of dollar-for-dollar matching grants, in an amount determined by the department.

(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 1032, Sec. 1. Effective September 28, 2002.)