Under the Dome: CSBA legislative updates
The following key bills were considered by CSBA’s Legislative Committee at its May 8 meeting. “AB” stands for Assembly Bill, “SB” for state Senate Bill.
AB 296 Supplemental educational services
Solorio, D-Santa Ana
This bill would require local educational agencies to perform specific duties related to notification and access to school facilities for supplemental educational services required under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. As written, this bill would require local educational agencies to provide a higher level of service and therefore would impose a state-mandated local program.
Position: Oppose
Status: Passed out of the Assembly Education Committee on a 7-2 vote; now pending in the Assembly Appropriations Committee
AB 343 Pupils: military families
Saldana, D-San Diego
This bill would enact the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, which would facilitate the educational placement and advancement of military children and help remove barriers to their educational success due to the frequent moves and deployment of their parents. The Compact also would establish the Interstate Commission, which would address future interstate problems and issues as they arise.
Position: Support
Status: Passed out of the Assembly Education and Judicial Committees on 10-0 votes; now pending in the Assembly Appropriations Committee
AB 654 State teachers retirement
Mendoza, D-Artesia
The California State Teachers Retirement System faces an unfunded obligation of approximately $20 billion. The state plans to stop paying its contribution to CalSTRS for income reported after the fiscal year in which it was earned. CalSTRS is sponsoring AB 654 to require state contributions for compensation to be reported within two fiscal years from the time they are earned and to redefine interest assessed on late payments and early retirement enhancements. Interest would be set according to actuarially assumed rates of return on CalSTRS investments or the true opportunity cost to the Teachers Retirement Fund. This bill would also require CalSTRS to impose penalties for late payments and reports. CSBA supports AB 654 because it is a fair, balanced approach to keeping the Teachers Retirement Fund solvent.
Position: Support
Status: Passed out of the Assembly Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security Committee on a 6-0 vote; now pending in the Assembly Appropriations Committee
AB 1407 Pupil attendance: interdistrict transfers
Huffman, D-San Rafael
This bill would extend the sunset to allow school districts that were “districts of choice” prior to July 1, 2007, to remain so for another five years. Under this provision, school boards may declare their district to be a district of choice, authorizing them to accept interdistrict transfers without needing the agreement of the district of residence. In addition, this bill would require the California Department of Education to prepare and submit to the Legislature a census report evaluating interdistrict transfer options within the state.
Position: Oppose
Status: Passed out of the Assembly Education Committee on a 9-0 vote; now pending in the Assembly Appropriations Committee
SB 253 Career and technical education: recognition certificates
Wyland, R-Escondido
This bill would authorize a school district or county office of education to offer a pupil a career and technical education certificate if the pupil meets specified requirements, including completion of four semester-long CTE courses, involvement in a structured work-based learning experience, and a related culminating project. The bill would prohibit the award of a certificate from being construed as equivalent to the award of a high school diploma or as a change to the statutory curriculum or compulsory education requirements.
Position: Support
Status: Passed out of the Senate floor on a 35-0 vote; now pending in the Assembly Education Committee
SB 592 Charter Schools Facilities Program
Romero, D-Los Angeles
Recent education bond measures approved by the voters set aside approximately $500 million (cumulatively) for the construction of charter school facilities. However, much of the money remains unspent. The California Charter School Association asserts school districts are unwilling to agree to hold title to facilities financed through the bond measures as required by existing law.
SB 592 would permit cities, counties, county offices of education and charter schools with a state lien to hold the title for charter facilities. CSBA opposes SB 592 unless it is amended to address concerns regarding a provision that would require school districts that agreed to hold title to a facility prior to 2010 to transfer title to another entity upon the request of a charter school. In its current form, SB 592 could require school districts to forfeit their investment in a charter facility.
Position: Oppose unless amended
Status: Passed out of the Senate Education Committee on a 9-0 vote; now pending in the Senate Appropriations Committee
SB 680 School attendance: interdistrict transfers
Romero, D-Los Angeles
This bill would remove the sunset and restrictions on the “districts of choice” option. Under this provision, school boards may declare their district to be a district of choice, authorizing them to accept interdistrict transfers without needing the agreement of a student’s district of residence.
Position: Oppose
Status: Passed out of the Senate Floor on a 37-0 vote; now pending in the Assembly Education Committee
SB 701 Special education: local plans
Correa, D-Santa Ana
This bill would require the governance structure of a multidistrict special education local plan area to include one school board member from each school district within that SELPA. CSBA is opposed because this bill would impose a state-mandated local program by requiring school districts and county offices of education to perform additional duties. Moreover, as many SELPAs include dozens of districts, this bill could lead to an unwieldy governance structure.
Position: Oppose
Status: Placed on the Senate Appropriations Suspense File
Related link: Find updates on CSBA’s positions on current legislation @ www.csba.org/LegislationAndLegal.aspx.