BILL NUMBER: AB 183	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Coto

                        JANUARY 24, 2007

   An act to add Section 51229 to the Education Code, relating to
pupils.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 183, as introduced, Coto. Pupils: high school graduation: voter
registration.
   Under existing law, except as specified, a pupil may not receive a
diploma of graduation from high school if that pupil, while in
grades 9 to 12, inclusive, has not completed specified academic
requirements. Existing law requires each pupil completing grade 12 to
successfully pass the high school exit examination as a condition of
receiving a diploma of graduation or a condition of graduation from
high school.
   This bill would require, commencing with the 2009-10 school year,
and for each school year thereafter, that each pupil register to vote
as a condition of graduation from high school if the pupil otherwise
meets the requirements to vote, subject to the exceptions below. The
bill would make the pupil responsible for registering to vote and
require the pupil to submit proof of registration to the school
registrar or other appropriate school official. The bill would
require the school district to verify that a pupil has complied with
these provisions before the pupil is allowed to graduate. The bill
would authorize a pupil to choose not to register to vote by
submitting that preference in writing to the school registrar or
other appropriate school official. A pupil who does not meet the
criteria to register to vote would be exempted from this requirement.
A school district would be required to notify high school pupils of
this graduation requirement, as provided. By imposing new duties on
school districts, this bill would impose a state-mandated local
program.
   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 51229 is added to the Education Code, to read:
   51229.  (a) Commencing with the 2009-10 school year, and for each
school year thereafter, except as otherwise provided by this section
each pupil shall register to vote as a condition of graduation from
high school if the pupil otherwise meets the requirements to vote.
The pupil shall be responsible for registering to vote and shall
submit proof of registration to the school registrar or other
appropriate school official.
   (b) The school district shall verify that a pupil has complied
with this section before the pupil is allowed to graduate from high
school.
   (c) The school district shall keep confidential each pupil's voter
registration records and related information.
   (d) A pupil subject to subdivision (a) may choose not to register
to vote by submitting that preference in writing to the school
registrar or other appropriate school official.
   (e) A pupil who does not meet the criteria to register to vote,
including, but not limited to, not yet having reached the appropriate
age, is not subject to the requirements of subdivision (a).
   (f) The school district shall provide notice of the requirements
of this section to the pupils in its high schools upon the enactment
of this section and annually thereafter, and to each pupil at the
time of his or her enrollment in a high school of the district.
  SEC. 2.   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.