BILL NUMBER: AB 1330	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  663
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  OCTOBER 3, 2003
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  OCTOBER 2, 2003
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 2, 2003
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 28, 2003
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 25, 2003
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 18, 2003
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JULY 16, 2003
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 2, 2003
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 5, 2003

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Simitian

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2003

   An act to amend Section 8702 of, and to add and repeal Article 6
(commencing with Section 8780) of Chapter 4 of Part 6 of, the
Education Code, relating to instructional programs.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1330, Simitian.  Outdoor Environmental Education Program.
   Existing law contains legislative findings and declarations
regarding the need for an educational program that is designed to
build attitudes of stewardship toward the maintenance of the quality
of our environment and to enable all citizens to use resources
wisely.
   This bill would establish the Outdoor Environmental Education
Program, the purpose of which is to foster stewardship of the
environment and an appreciation of the importance of the wise use of
natural resources.  The bill would require the State Department of
Education to administer the program and, according to a priority
system to be developed by the department, select applicants for
participation in the program, pursuant to prescribed criteria.  The
bill would require the department to contract with an independent
evaluator to conduct an evaluation of the program and submit a report
to the Legislature no later than February 1, 2005.  The bill would
provide that the program and its evaluation be implemented only if
the Department of Finance determines that private funds are made
available for purposes of the costs of the program and its
evaluation.
   This bill would make these provisions inoperative on July 1, 2005,
and repeal them on January 1, 2006.


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


  SECTION 1.  Section 8702 of the Education Code is amended to read:

   8702.  The Legislature further finds and declares that an
educational program is needed that is designed to build necessary
attitudes of stewardship toward the maintenance of the quality of our
common environment and to enable all citizens to use wisely, and not
destructively, the resources at their disposal. These attitudes are
best developed at an early age through programs that encourage
personal responsibility and participation in the local community.
  SEC. 2.  Article 6 (commencing with Section 8780) is added to
Chapter 4 of Part 6 of the Education Code, to read:

      Article 6.  Outdoor Environmental Education Program

   8780.  There is hereby established the Outdoor Environmental
Education Program for the purpose of fostering stewardship of the
environment and an appreciation of the importance of the wise use of
natural resources, and showcasing the diversity of programs that
fulfill that purpose.
   8781.  (a) The State Department of Education shall administer the
program and shall select diverse entities to implement the program
according to a priority scoring system based on the eligibility
requirements enumerated in subdivision (b), upon application.
   (b) In order to be eligible, applicants shall do all of the
following:
   (1) Serve primarily at-risk youth and underserved demographic
groups.
   (2) Encourage collaboration with other entities in the provision
of services.
   (3) Serve a minimum adequate number of participants.
   (4) Commit a minimum adequate amount of resources to the program.

   (5) Promote outdoor educational activities.
   (6) Provide a curriculum that fosters stewardship of the
environment and an appreciation of the importance of the wise use of
natural resources.
   (7) Include service-learning and community outreach components for
the purpose of building partnerships between participants and local
communities.
   8782.  The State Department of Education shall contract with an
independent evaluator to evaluate the program and submit a report to
the Legislature on its findings and recommendations no later than
February 1, 2005.
   8783.  This article shall be implemented only if the Department of
Finance determines that private donations sufficient to fund the
program and its evaluation have been deposited with the State
Department of Education.  The Department of Finance shall report its
findings to the Chief Clerk of the Assembly.
   8784.  This article shall become inoperative on July 1, 2005, and,
as of January 1, 2006, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute,
that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2006, deletes or
extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.