BILL NUMBER: AB 68	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Dymally

                        DECEMBER 4, 2006

   An act to add Sections 18123, 35125, 45331, 49426.5, and 49605 to
the Education Code, relating to schools.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 68, as introduced, Dymally. Schools.
   (1) Existing law requires the governing board of a school district
to provide school library services for the pupils and teachers of
the district by establishing and maintaining school libraries or by
contractual arrangements with another public agency. Existing law
authorizes the governing board of a school district maintaining its
own library or libraries to appoint a librarian or librarians to
staff the libraries.
   This bill would require the governing board of a school district
to employ a full-time certificated librarian for each library under
its jurisdiction.
   (2) Existing law provides for the compensation of members of the
governing board of a school district. In a school district with an
average daily attendance for the prior school year that exceeded
400,000, a member who actually attends all meetings held may receive
as compensation for his or her services $2,000 per month. Existing
law provides for annual maximum 5% increases upon approval by the
governing board after January 1, 2002.
   This bill would, in a school district with an average daily
attendance for the prior school year that exceeded 500,000 and as an
alternative to the $2,000 per month compensation, authorize the
governing board to elect to have its members serve full time and
receive a salary that is no less than the lowest salary received by
the elected full-time members of the governing bodies of the cities
that they represent.
   (3) Existing law requires that a local educational agency that
receives funding from Title 1 of the federal No Child Left Behind Act
of 2001 ensure that every paraprofessional, as defined, hired on or
after January 8, 2002, who is supported by those Title 1 funds and
who assists in instruction to demonstrate compliance with certain
criteria. Existing law, the Instructional Aide Act of 1968 authorizes
school districts to employ instructional aides to assist classroom
teachers. Existing law states the intent of the Legislature that
teacher aides be employed in elementary schools to assist classroom
teachers.
   This bill would require the governing board of a school district
to employ a full-time paraprofessional for each kindergarten and
grade 1 to 6, inclusive, classroom under its jurisdiction.
   (4) Existing law requires the governing board of a school district
to give diligent care to the health and physical development of
pupils and authorizes the governing board to employ properly
certified persons for this work. Existing law authorizes school
nurses, if authorized by the governing board, to conduct immunization
programs, assess and evaluate the health and developmental status of
pupils to identify specific physical disorders and other factors
relating to the learning process, design and implement a health
maintenance plan to meet the individual health needs of the students,
refer pupils and their parents or guardians to community resources
for necessary services, and perform other duties.
   This bill would require the governing board of a school district
to employ a full-time certificated school nurse for each schoolsite
under its jurisdiction.
   (5) Existing law allows the governing board of any school district
to provide a comprehensive educational counseling program for all
pupils enrolled in the schools of the district. Existing law requires
that educational counseling include, but not be limited to, academic
counseling, career and vocational counseling, and personal and
social counseling.
   This bill would require the governing board of a school district
to employ a full-time certificated counselor for every 300 pupils
enrolled in any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive.
   (6) The bill would state the intent of the Legislature to add, to
the reforms set forth above, provisions that will provide incentives
to parents in an effort to decrease the numbers of pupils who drop
out of school, provide supplemental financial assistance to schools
based on the number of pupils enrolled in those schools who live in
poverty, and increase teacher salaries.
   (7) Because this bill may require schools to employ additional
librarians, school counselors, school nurses, and paraprofessionals,
it would impose a state-mandated local program.
   (8) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse
local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 18123 is added to the Education Code, to read:
   18123.  The governing board of a school district shall employ a
full-time librarian for each library under its jurisdiction and shall
make the assignments necessary to implement this requirement.
  SEC. 2.  Section 35125 is added to the Education Code, to read:
   35125.  As an alternative to the compensation specified in Section
35120, the governing board of a school district with an average
daily attendance for the prior school year that exceeded 500,000 may
elect to have its members serve full time and receive a salary that
is no less than the lowest salary received by the elected full-time
members of the governing bodies of the cities that they represent.
  SEC. 3.  Section 45331 is added to the Education Code, to read:
   45331.  The governing board of a school district shall employ a
full-time paraprofessional for each kindergarten and grade 1 to 6,
inclusive, classroom under its jurisdiction and shall make the
assignments necessary to implement this requirement.
  SEC. 4.  Section 49426.5 is added to the Education Code, to read:
   49426.5.  The governing board of a school district shall employ a
full-time certificated school nurse for each schoolsite under its
jurisdiction and shall make the assignments necessary to implement
this requirement.
  SEC. 5.  Section 49605 is added to the Education Code, to read:
   49605.  The governing board of a school district shall employ a
full-time certificated school counselor for every 300 pupils enrolled
in any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive, at the schools under its
jurisdiction and shall make the assignments necessary to implement
this requirement.
  SEC. 6.  It is the intent of the Legislature to add to the reforms
set forth in Sections 1 to 5, inclusive, of this act by enacting
provisions that will accomplish the following:
   (a) Provide incentives to parents in an effort to decrease the
numbers of pupils who drop out of school.
   (b) Provide supplemental financial assistance to schools based on
the number of pupils enrolled in those schools who live in poverty.
   (c) Increase teacher salaries.
  SEC. 7.  If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this
act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local
agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant
to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of
the Government Code.