BILL NUMBER: SB 168	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 9, 2007
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 21, 2007

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

                        FEBRUARY 1, 2007

   An act  to amend Section 56351.7 of, and  to add Section
56351.10 to  , the Education Code, relating to public
schools.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 168, as amended, 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  required the task force  to
report to the Governor and the Legislature by June 30, 2004. 

   The 
    Existing law required the  Superintendent  is
required  to utilize that task force to develop standards
for pupils to learn, and to achieve mastery of, the braille
mathematics code as they progress through kindergarten and grades 1
to 12, inclusive. The task force  is   was 
required to report to the State Board by March 1, 2006, regarding
those standards.
   This bill would  require   specify that the
task force be composed of no more than 15 members and that
participation by the members in the task force is voluntary. 
    The bill would require  the Superintendent to 
form an   use the  advisory task force  ,
with prescribed membership approved by the State Board,  to
develop guidelines as a resource for teachers of functionally blind
and visually impaired pupils in the area of physical education. This
bill would require the task force  , by June 30, 2009,  to
report  on the guidelines it develops  to the
Superintendent, the Governor, and the  Legislature by June
30, 2009   education committees of the Assembly and the
Senate  .
   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.  (a) It is the intent of the Legislature for
functionally blind and visually impaired pupils to have full and
equal access to the physical education that is part of the course of
study requirements meant for all pupils.
   (b) (1) It is also the intent of the Legislature for teachers of
functionally blind and visually impaired pupils to have a resource in
the form of guidelines that include teaching strategies and methods
to ensure that the Physical Education Model Content Standards for
California Public Schools adopted by the State Board of Education can
be taught effectively. The guidelines also are intended to include
best practices of accommodation, adaptation, and modification of
physical education activities, so that functionally blind and
visually impaired pupils can be included in all physical education
that is part of the course of study requirements meant for all
pupils.
   (2) The guidelines are intended to be directed toward classroom
teachers, general physical education teachers, and school
administrators.
   SEC. 2.    Section 56351.7 of the  
Education Code   is amended to read: 
   56351.7.  (a) The Superintendent  of Public Instruction
 shall form an advisory task force to develop standards for
the mastery of the braille code as a child progresses through
kindergarten to grade 12, inclusive.
   (b) The task force shall include, but shall not be limited to,
members approved by the  State Board of Education 
 state board  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) Braille experts.
   (5) Groups that advocate for  the  teaching of, and use
of, braille.
   (6) Groups that advocate for the visually impaired. 
   (c) The task force shall be composed of no more than 15 members.
 
   (d) Participation of task force members in the task force is
voluntary.  
   (c) The task force shall report to the Governor and to the
education committees of the Assembly and the Senate by June 30, 2004.

   SEC. 3.    Section 56351.10 is added to the 
 Education Code   , to read:  
   56351.10.  (a) The Superintendent shall utilize the advisory task
force established pursuant to Section 56351.7 to develop guidelines
as a resource for teachers of functionally blind and visually
impaired pupils in the area of physical education.
   (b) By June 30, 2009, the task force shall report on the
guidelines it develops pursuant to subdivision (a) to the
Superintendent, the Governor, and the education committees of the
Assembly and the Senate.  
  SEC. 2.    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 as a resource for teachers of
functionally blind and visually impaired pupils in the area of
physical education.
   (b) The task force shall include, but not be limited to, members
approved by the State Board 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.