Under the Dome: Summer recess check-in
Published: August 1, 2013
Legislators will return from their summer recess in early August for the final push to get bills to the governor’s desk. The Assembly reconvenes on Aug. 5 and the Senate on Aug. 12. The following are updates on several bills of importance.
AB 182 Bonds: school districts and community college districts
Buchanan, D-Alamo
Would require capital appreciation bonds to be issued pursuant to the Education Code and limit the ratio of total debt service to principal for each bond series to 4:1. It would also require capital appreciation bonds to be eligible for refinancing beginning 10 years after the date of issuance. The authority of school districts to issue bonds pursuant to the Government Code, which allows for a maximum term of 40 years and an interest rate of up to 12 percent, would expire in 2019.
Status: Awaiting consideration on the Senate Floor
CSBA position: Oppose unless amended
AB 375 School employees: dismissal or suspension: hearing
Buchanan, D-Alamo
Would revise the process for dismissal and suspension of certificated school employees, including imposing a seven-month time limit for completion of an employee-requested hearing; would also revise procedures for the hearing, revise definitions for compulsory leave of absence offenses versus optional leave of absence offenses, and allow a certificated employee to challenge compulsory leaves of absence while waiting for the dismissal hearing.
Status: Given reconsideration by the Senate Education Committee
CSBA position: Oppose
AB 420 Pupil discipline: suspensions: willful defiance
Dickinson, D-Sacramento
Would limit the authority of a school district superintendent and school principal by only allowing a student enrolled in any of grades 6-12 to be suspended, but not expelled, for willful defiance on or after the third offense in a school year, provided other specified correction measures were attempted before the recommendation to suspend.
Status: On the Senate Floor
CSBA position: Neutral (updated position)
AB 643 Public schools: pupil records: confidentiality
Stone, D-Scotts Valley
Would conform California law with the federal Uninterrupted Scholars Act of 2013. Would allow state and local child welfare agencies responsible for the care and protection of a pupil that are engaged in addressing the educational needs of a student in foster care to have access to student records without parental consent or notification.
Status: Enrolled to the governor for signature or veto
CSBA position: Support
SB 49 School safety plans
Lieu, D-Torrance
Would require each school to adopt or review and update its comprehensive school safety plan every three years instead of every year and would add as a required component of the plan procedures related to individuals with guns on school campuses and at school-related functions, including but not limited to training programs related to active shooters and active terrorists.
Status: Awaiting consideration by the Assembly Appropriations Committee
CSBA position: Support and seek amendments
SB 744 Pupils: involuntary transfer: county community schools and community day schools
Lara, D-Bell Gardens
Would revise the list of pupils who may be involuntarily enrolled in a county community school to remove homeless children and limit kinds of probation referrals allowed. The bill would require a parent or guardian’s consent for the enrollment of a pupil who was referred as the result of a recommendation by a school attendance review board. The bill would also give these pupils the right to re-enroll in their school district of residence, and not be denied readmission based on failure to comply with additionally imposed criteria beyond the terms stated in the initial or subsequent expulsion order.
Status: Being heard in Assembly Education Committee on Aug. 14.
CSBA position: Oppose unless amended
More detailed information on these and other bills is available at www.csba.org/Advocacy/CSBAPositions.
Outstanding Legislators needed!
Nominate your district’s state senator or Assembly member for CSBA’s Outstanding Legislator of the Year by Sept. 13.