BILL NUMBER: SB 168	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 20, 2007
	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.
   Existing law required 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 through
kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive. The task force was
required to report to the State Board by March 1, 2006, regarding
those standards.
   This bill would 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 Superintendent would be authorized to
revise the membership of the task force to include individuals with
expertise in physical education and in providing physical education
instruction and services to functionally blind and visually impaired
pupils. 
   The bill would require the Superintendent to use the advisory task
force 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 education committees of the
 Assembly and the Senate   Senate and the
Assembly  .
   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 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 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. 
   (e) The Superintendent may revise the membership of the task force
to include individuals with expertise in physical education and in
providing physical education instruction and services to functionally
blind and visually impaired pupils. 
  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.  the Senate and
the Assembly.