Upon the Department of General Services’ approval of a manufacturer’s plans, specifications, and methods of construction of a factory-built school building, a school district, whenever it is otherwise required by any of the provisions of

Article 2 (commencing with

Section 17260), or

Article 3 (commencing with

Section 17280) of this

chapter to submit to the Department of General Services or to the State Department of Education the plans and specifications for the construction of a school building may, instead, include in its application for approval to each of such departments a notification that it intends to utilize such factory-built school building. The plans and specifications for the factory-built building to be utilized shall be submitted with the application and notification for identification purposes.

Before granting its approval for the use of such buildings, the Department of General Services shall insure that the plans, specifications, and methods of construction of the buildings have been approved and are in accordance with standards adopted by the department pursuant to

Section which are in effect at the time the application for approval is passed upon by the department. Whenever a school district complies with the alternative procedure prescribed by this

section it shall not be required to pay the filing fee prescribed by Sections and 17300, except that a fee shall be charged for onsite work pursuant to

Section 17358. If the submitted plans and specifications have not been previously approved the application shall be rejected. In such case a new application together with required documents shall be filed for approval of plans and specifications by either the manufacturer pursuant to the provisions of

Section or by the school district pursuant to the provisions of

Article 3 (commencing with

Section 17280) of this chapter.