BILL NUMBER: AB 78	CHAPTERED  07/10/03

	CHAPTER  44
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  JULY 10, 2003
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  JULY 10, 2003
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  JUNE 30, 2003
	PASSED THE SENATE  JUNE 26, 2003
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 17, 2003
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 17, 2003
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 10, 2003

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Reyes
   (Coauthors:  Assembly Members Correa, Maddox, and Samuelian)

                        DECEMBER 23, 2002

   An act to add Section 51221.4 to the Education Code, relating to
curriculum.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 78, Reyes.  Education:  curriculum.
   Under existing law, the adopted course of study for grades 7 to
12, inclusive, is required to include instruction in the social
sciences, as prescribed.
   This bill would express the encouragement of the Legislature for
that instruction to contain instruction on the Vietnam war, including
the "Secret War" in Laos, and the role of Southeast Asians in that
war.  The bill would additionally express the encouragement of the
Legislature that the instruction include a component drawn from
personal testimony of Southeast Asians who were involved in the
Vietnam war and those who contributed to the war effort on the
homefront.
   The bill would specify that this instruction shall be carried out
in a manner that does not result in any new duties or programs being
imposed on school districts.


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


  SECTION 1.  Section 51221.4 is added to the Education Code, to
read:
   51221.4.  (a) The Legislature encourages instruction in the area
of social sciences, as required pursuant to subdivision (b) of
Section 51220, which may include instruction on the Vietnam war
including the "Secret War" in Laos and the role of Southeast Asians
in that war.  The Legislature encourages that this instruction
include, but not be limited to, a component drawn from personal
testimony, especially in the form of oral or video history of
Southeast Asians who were involved in the Vietnam war and those men
and women who contributed to the war effort on the homefront.  The
oral histories used as a part of the instruction regarding the role
of Southeast Asians in the Vietnam war and the "Secret War" in Laos
shall exemplify the personal sacrifice and courage of the wide range
of ordinary citizens who were called upon to participate and provide
intelligence for the United States.  The oral histories shall contain
the views and comments of their subjects regarding the reasons for
their participation in the war.  These oral histories shall also
solicit comments from their subjects regarding the aftermath of the
war and the immigration of Southeast Asians to the United States.
   (b) This section shall be carried out in a manner that does not
result in any new duties or programs being imposed on the school
district. In that regard, the Legislature finds and declares that
this section does not mandate costs to local agencies or school
districts and materials used to comply with this section shall be
part of normal curriculum materials purchased by school districts in
their normal course of business and purchasing cycles.