BILL NUMBER: AB 183 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 16, 2007
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Coto
JANUARY 24, 2007
An act to add Section 51229 49041 to
the Education Code, relating to pupils.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 183, as amended, Coto. Pupils: high school graduation
schools : voter registration.
(1) Existing law requires the Secretary of State to annually
provide voter registration forms and information to students in all
high schools, community colleges, and campuses of the California
State University and University of California. Existing law requires
that the number of forms be consistent with the number of students
enrolled at each school who are of voting age or will be of voting
age by the end of the year and requires the Secretary of State to
provide additional forms to any school, free of charge, if so
requested by a school. Existing law also declares the Legislature's
intent that every school do all in its power to ensure that students
are provided the opportunity and means to register to vote. The last
2 full weeks in April and the last 2 full weeks in September are
required to be known as "high school voter weeks," during which time
deputy registrars of voters are required to be allowed to register
students and school personnel on any high school campus.
This bill would require, commencing with the 2009-10 school year,
and for each school year thereafter, each school district with at
least one high school to report the voter registration efforts
described in the above provisions of existing law and to publish
those efforts prominently and annually on the Internet Web sites of
its high schools and in parent newsletters or other communication
vehicles used within the school community. The bill would specify the
data to be reported and published. By imposing new duties on school
districts, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
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
(2) 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 49041 is added to the
Education Code , to read:
49041. (a) Commencing with the 2009-10 school year, and for each
school years thereafter, each school district with at least one high
school shall report the voter registration efforts described in
Section 2146 of the Elections Code and Section 49040 and publish
those efforts prominently and annually on the Internet Web site of
each of its high schools and in parent newsletters or other
communication vehicles used within the school community.
(b) The data to be reported and published pursuant to subdivision
(a) shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(1) The number of voter registration forms and notices describing
eligibility requirements distributed within each high school.
(2) A list of the efforts made by each high school to provide
eligible pupils the opportunity and means to register to vote.
(3) The number of pupils who actually registered to vote at each
high school by deputy registrars of voters during "high school voter
weeks."
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.