BILL NUMBER: SB 168	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Denham
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Adams, Berryhill, DeVore, Jeffries,
Maze, Mullin, and Smyth)

                        FEBRUARY 1, 2007

   An act to add Section 56351.10 to the Education Code, relating to
public schools.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 168, as introduced, Denham. Physical education for the blind
and visually impaired.
   Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to
form an advisory task force, with prescribed membership approved by
the State Board of Education, to develop standards for mastery of the
braille code by pupils, and to report to the Governor and the
Legislature by June 30, 2004.
   Existing law requires the Superintendent to utilize that task
force to develop standards for pupils to learn, and to achieve
mastery of, the braille mathematics code as they progress from
kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive. Existing law requires the
task force to report to the state board by March 1, 2006, regarding
those standards.
   This bill would require the Superintendent to form an advisory
task force, with prescribed membership approved by the State Board of
Education, to develop guidelines in the field of physical education
to promote physical fitness by pupils in each school district who are
functionally blind or visually impaired. This bill would require the
task force to report to the Superintendent, the Governor, and the
Legislature by June 30, 2009.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 56351.10 is added to the Education Code, to
read:
   56351.10.  (a) The Superintendent shall form an advisory task
force to develop guidelines in the field of physical education to
promote physical fitness by pupils in each school district who are
functionally blind or visually impaired.
   (b) The task force shall include, but not be limited to, members
approved by the State Board of Education representing all of the
following:
   (1) Parents of visually impaired pupils.
   (2) Teachers of visually impaired pupils.
   (3) Researchers in the field of visual impairment.
   (4) Physical fitness education experts.
   (5) Groups that advocate for the blind on issues that include
physical education.
   (c) The task force shall report to the Superintendent, the
Governor, and to the education committees of the Assembly and the
Senate by June 30, 2009.