BILL NUMBER: AB 2616	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 23, 2002
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 21, 2002
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 8, 2002
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 23, 2002
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 24, 2002

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Members Lowenthal and Liu
   (Coauthors:  Assembly Members Alquist, Aroner, Frommer, Jackson,
Kelley, Leach, Pavley, Strom-Martin, Vargas, and Washington)
   (Coauthors:  Senators Kuehl and Speier)

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2002

   An act relating to California State University.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2616, Lowenthal.  California State University:  visually
impaired pupils.
   Existing law establishes the California State University, and
provides for its administration by the Trustees of the California
State University.
   Existing law requires pupils who are visually impaired to be
taught by teachers whose professional preparation and credential
authorization are specific to that impairment.
   This bill would require the Trustees of the California State
University to assess the current status of the university's
credential programs that prepare teachers to work with the blind and
visually impaired pupil population in California.  The bill would
express the intent of the Legislature that the trustees fund programs
and other measures, including interactive television, Web-based
courses, and other off-campus options, for providing instruction that
will increase the number of teachers whose professional preparation
and credential authorization are specific to pupils who are visually
impaired.  The bill would require the Trustees of the California
State University to report, in writing, to the Legislature, on or
before April 1, 2003, concerning the status of these programs and
other similar measures.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) There is a critical shortage of trained, credentialed
professionals to work with the blind and visually impaired pupil
population in California to promote braille literacy skills that
impact the pupils' academics, life skills, and mobility.
   (b) There are an estimated 336 teachers of the visually impaired
and 179 orientation and mobility instructors currently employed in
California who provide direct instructional services, thereby
yielding an average pupil-teacher caseload ratio of 17 to 1 for
teachers of the visually impaired and 32 to 1 for orientation and
mobility teachers.
   (c) The relationships between class size and pupil learning are
well-known.  The recommended average caseload for teachers providing
instruction to visually impaired pupils is a ratio of 10 pupils to 1
teacher and for orientation and mobility pupils the recommended ratio
is 12 pupils to 1 teacher.  California far exceeds these average
caseloads, and the situation is worsening due to the increase in the
number of pupils and the fact that the number of new teachers who are
qualified and credentialed barely keeps pace with the number of
vision professionals leaving the field.  According to the Commission
on Teacher Credentialing in 1999, only 20 new teachers for the
visually impaired received a credential specific to those pupils.
   (d) To address this issue of the critical shortage of trained
staff in the field of visual impairment, there needs to be an
increase in the numbers of vision professionals recruited, educated,
and credentialed.
  SEC. 2.  (a) The Trustees of the California State University shall
assess the current status of the university's credential programs
that prepare teachers to work with the blind and visually impaired
pupil population in California.
   (b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the Trustees of the
California State University fund programs and other measures,
including interactive television, Web-based courses, and other
off-campus options, to deliver course instruction that will increase
the number of teachers whose professional preparation and credential
authorization are specific to pupils who are visually impaired.  If
the trustees do not fund these programs or other similar measures,
they shall include in the report to the Legislature required by
subdivision (c) the reasons why this funding has not been provided.
   (c) On or before April 1, 2003, the Trustees of the California
State University shall report, in writing, to the Legislature
findings and recommendations concerning the status of the programs
and other measures described in subdivision (b).