Education

AB 2429 Extracurricular activities: Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) programs. (Audra Strickland, Westlake Village) [FAILED PASSAGE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION]
DESCRIPTION: Would require that a school or school district that prohibits Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) programs from being established or conducting activities on its campus or campuses, or that prohibits or hinders its pupils from participating in an off-campus JROTC program, be prohibited from expending state funds on any extracurricular activity.

SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: Officially supported by the California State Commanders Veterans Council; Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California.

AB 2994 Pupil Records: release of information. (Sally Lieber, Mountain View) [UPDATED AUGUST 9] [ENROLLED]
DESCRIPTION: Would require that a school district that requires the parent or guardian of a student to provide current emergency information to the school to advise the parent or guardian of the right to request that the student's name, address and telephone number not be released to military recruiters, institutions of higher education, or prospective employers. The bill would also place restrictions on the use of personal information that is obtained from the admission on campus of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test by military recruiters.

STATUS: Passed by the Assembly Committee on Education (vote 7-3) and by the Committee on Veterans Affairs April 29 (vote 6-3). Referred to Committee on Appropriations, but pulled from that Committee May 15. Passed by the Assembly May 27 (vote 45-33).
In the Senate, passed by the Committee on Education June 11 (vote 6-2). Passed by the Senate August 5 (vote 21-15).
NOTE: The votes in both Assembly Committees were along party lines with Democrats supporting the bill and Republicans voting against. In the Floor vote, all the affirmative votes were provided by Democrats, while all Republicans and a couple of Democrats voted against.
Similarly, in the Senate Committee on Education, the two votes against the bill, and one abstention, were by Republicans. On the Senate Floor vote, all affirmative votes were made by Democrats, but two Democrats, Lou Correa (Santa Ana) and Gloria Negrete McLeod (Chino) joined the Republicans in voting no.
The bill now returns to the Assembly for enrollment.

SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: Supported by American Civil Liberties Union; California Federation of Teachers; Coalition Against Militarism in Our Schools (if amended); Committee Opposed to Militarism and the Draft (if amended); Friends Committee on Legislation in California (if amended).

Opposed by the California State Commanders Veterans Council.
NOTE: The author of the bill, and the Committee Consultant completely ignored the stated opposition of the California State Commanders Veterans Council. The letter stating the Council's opposition was faxed to the author and to the Consultant on April 13. The bill analysis was not released until April 29 -- some 16 days later.

RECOMMENDATION: Veteran organizations should send letters to the Governor to request that he veto the bill. The following is suggested language provided by the office of Pete Conaty:

"AB 2994 is a thinly disguised attempt to make the military recruiters’ job more difficult in California. This bill is similar to AB 1778, also by Assemblywoman Lieber, which you vetoed in 2006. We believe this is, at its core, an anti-military and attempts to send the message that military service is not a viable career choice or an honorable profession.

This bill would negatively impact young Americans, soon to be adults, from receiving all the information available about opportunities awaiting them after high school graduation. This is especially true now that a new G.I. Bill has been enacted by the federal government.

This bill also goes against the often-stated desire for more “local control of our schools” that proponents such as the California Teachers Association usually argue for.

At a time when our country is at war, this bill will undermine our country, and our state in our fight in the Global War on Terror."

SB 1219 Student financial aid: member and former members of the Armed Forces. (Gilbert Cedillo, Los Angeles) [FAILED PASSAGE SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS]
DESCRIPTION: Would, commencing with the 2009–10 award year, entitle a student who was not awarded a Cal Grant A or B award at the time of his or her high school graduation, who is a member or former member of the United States Armed Forces, and who enrolls at a campus of the California Community Colleges or a qualifying baccalaureate program, to a Cal Grant A or B award. The bill would also require the Student Aid Commission to make preliminary awards to all applicants currently eligible for an award under the program, and would require each person who receives a preliminary award to affirm, in writing, under penalty of perjury, that he or she meets specified requirements for eligibility in the program, thus expediting awards to all applicants.

NOTE: The Governor's budget proposes to end the Competitive Cal Grant Program. Although current law authorizes 22,500 new competitive awards annually, the Governor's budget includes no funding for new awards under this program in 2008-09. The Administration intends that the program be entirely phased out as existing recipients graduate or otherwise leave the program.

STATUS: Passed by Senate Committee on Education April 9 (vote 9-0) and referred back to the Committee on Rules. Placed on the Suspense File by Senate Committee on Appropriations May 5. Held under submission May 22.

SB 1274 Patriotic exercise and instruction. (Mark Wyland, San Juan Capistrano/ Carlsbad. Jeff Denham, Modesto.) [UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2] ~~[ENROLLED]~~ [ENROLLED]
DESCRIPTION: Current law requires schools to conduct appropriate patriotic exercises. The Pledge of Allegiance satisfies the requirements of current law, but is not the only patriotic exercise that can satisfy the law.
Elementary schools are required to conduct the exercises every day during the school year at the beginning of the first regularly scheduled class or period at which the majority of the pupils of the school normally begin the school day.
Secondary schools are required to conduct patriotic exercises in accordance with regulations adopted by district governing board.
This bill would require that a pupil recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America each day during the school year in both public elementary and secondary schools, and all pupils would be required by completion of grade 5 to memorize and understand the meaning, including the words and concepts, of "pledge," "allegiance," and "republic," pf the Pledge of Allegiance.

This bill has been extensively amended. Currently, this bill would require that, when pupils are instructed with regard to the words of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America as part of these patriotic exercises, the instruction ensure that pupils understand the concepts of "pledge," "allegiance," "republic," and "indivisible." The bill would require that pupils understand the importance of the pledge as an expression of patriotism, love of country, and pride in the United States of America.
After the bill was removed from "Enrollment" status, it was further amended, basically to state that the instruction concerning the Pledge would satisfy the requirements for student to receive patriotic instruction.

STATUS: Passed by Senate Committee on Education April 16 (vote 9-0). Referred to Senate Committee on Appropriations. Withdrawn from Committee on Appropriations and passed by the Senate May 15 (vote 40-0).
In the Assembly, passed by the Committee on Education June 4 (vote 10-0). Passed by the Assembly June 19 (vote 72-0).
Senate concurred in Assembly amendments June 26.
Enrolled.
Withdrawn from enrollment June 30. Senate rescinded action which concurred in Assembly amendments. Returned to Assembly.
Back in the Assembly, action rescinded on passage of bill July 3. Amended and passed again August 12.
Returned to Senate again. Senate concurred in Assembly amendments August 19. ENROLLED.

SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: Supported by California Association of County Veteran Service Officers; Capitol Resources Family Impact; National Guard Association of California.

RECOMMENDATION: ~~No position. This bill is entirely unnecessary and has the potential to do more harm than good.~~ As amended, recommend support.

SB 1322 ~~Communism~~ Public employment and property. (Alan Lowenthal, Long Beach) [UPDATED AUGUST 9]
DESCRIPTION: Proposes findings and declarations by the Legislature that the "Cold War is over" and that the threat of communist takeover of federal or state government no longer exists. In the Education Code, would remove the provision that membership in the communist party is grounds for dismissal of the person as a teacher.

STATUS: Referred to Senate Committees on Education and on Judiciary. Passed by Committee on Education April 2 (vote 5-3). Withdrawn from Committee on Judiciary and referred to Committee on Appropriations. Released from Committee on Appropriations April 21. Passed by the Senate May 15 (vote 24-16).
In the Assembly, passed by the Committee on Education June 19 (vote 7-3), and by the Committee on Appropriations July 2 (vote 12-5). Passed by the Assembly August 4 (vote 41-31).
Senate concurred in Assembly amendments August 5 (vote 22-13). ENROLLED.
NOTE: The vote in the Senate Committee on Education was strictly along party lines. Those voting for the bill were Jack Scott, D-Pasadena; Elaine Alquist, D-Santa Clara; Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles; Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto; and Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch. Those opposing the bill were Mark Wyland, R-San Juan Capistrano/Carlsbad; Jeff Denham, R-Modesto; and Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria. The Floor vote was also strictly along party lines.
In the Assembly, Passed by the Committee on Education June 19 (vote 7-3). Passed by the Committee on Appropriations July 2 (vote 12-5). Passed by the Assembly August 4 (vote 44-29).
NOTE: The votes in the Assembly, as in the Senate, were strictly along party lines.
ALSO NOTE: In the Assembly, the bill was amended to change the title to words that are less pejorative than "Communism." The basic intent of the bill remains the same.

STATUS: Referred to Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs and on Education. Passed by the Committee on Veterans Affairs April 8 (vote 4-0), and by the Committee on Education April 16. Sent to the Floor by Senate Committee on Appropriations May 8. Passed by the Senate May 15 (vote 40-0).
In the Assembly, passed by the CommitteeS on Higher Education June 11 (vote 7-0), and Appropriations June 18 (vote 16-0). Passed by the Assembly June 26.
Enrolled and to the Governor July 7.
Signed by the Governor July 15. CHAPTERED.

SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: Officially supported by California State Commander Veterans Council; California Association of County Veteran Service Officers; National Guard Association of California.