BILL ANALYSIS AB 434 Page 1 CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS AB 434 (Block) As Amended August 17, 2010 Majority vote ----------------------------------------------------------------- |ASSEMBLY: |52-25|(June 3, 2009) |SENATE: |34-0 |(August 23, | | | | | | |2010) | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Original Committee Reference: ED. SUMMARY : Specifies that for the After School Education and Safety (ASES) Program, the cost of a program site supervisor may be included as direct services, provided that at least 85% of the site supervisor's time is spent at the program site. The Senate amendments strike the provisions of the bill that reduce the required match for ASES funds and authorize, rather than require, the cost of a program site supervisor to be counted as direct services. AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill was substantially similar to the version passed by the Senate. FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, there are no direct state costs, although the bill could result in a potential reduction in direct services. COMMENTS : The ASES program, passed by voters as Proposition 49 in 2002, provided almost $550 million for before and after school programs for students in kindergarten through ninth grade. In 2008-09, 377 predominantly districts and county offices of education received grants, serving 3,800 schools, although local governments and nonprofit organizations working in partnership with local educational agencies may also apply. After school programs must commence right after school and at least until 6 p.m. for 15 hours per week. Participating after-school programs are required to have an educational and literacy component in which tutoring or homework assistance is provided in one or more of the following areas: language arts, mathematics, history and social science, computer training, or sciences; and an educational enrichment component, which may include, but is not limited to, fine arts, career technical education, recreation, physical fitness and prevention AB 434 Page 2 activities. Priority for funding goes to schools where at least 50% of the pupils are eligible for free- or reduced-priced lunch. Maximum grants are $112,500 per year for elementary schools and $150,000 per year for middle or junior high schools based on a per pupil amount of $7.50 per day. Each program is required to provide a match equal to not less than one-third of the total grant. Facilities may count towards 25% of the local contribution. Current law requires an ASES provider to spend 85% of the funds on direct services to pupils and authorizes no more than 15% of funds on administrative costs. This bill specifies that the cost of a program site supervisor may be considered direct services as long as at least 85% of the site supervisor's time is spent at the program site. According to the California Department of Education (CDE), "direct services" is not defined. When the CDE initiated categorical program reviews two years ago, the question of how to count a site supervisor's time arose. The majority of the site supervisor's work is on managing the program and the bulk of his or her time is spent at the program site, which the CDE considers direct services. The remaining time may be spent at the district office conducting administrative duties. The CDE indicates that without clarification, it must require site supervisors to account for every minute of their time, which may be unnecessarily burdensome. Senate amendments authorize, rather than require, a program site supervisor's time to be considered direct services. It is unclear whether the district or the CDE has the authority to make this decision. The sponsor, the Children's Initiative, states that the provisions of this bill were discussed and recommended by the Advisory Committee on Before and After School Programs, established by SB 854 (Ashburn), Chapter 555, Statutes of 2005, which meets at least three times a year to provide advice and offer administrative and legislative recommendations. Analysis Prepared by : Sophia Kwong Kim / ED. / (916) 319-2087 FN: 0006124 AB 434 Page 3