BILL NUMBER: SB 675 ENROLLED
BILL TEXT
PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 31, 2010
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 31, 2010
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 30, 2010
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 20, 2010
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 16, 2010
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 2, 2009
INTRODUCED BY Senator Steinberg
(Principal coauthors: Senators Hancock and Romero)
(Coauthor: Senator Alquist)
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Hayashi and Torlakson)
FEBRUARY 27, 2009
An act to add and repeal Article 5.5 (commencing with Section
54698) of Chapter 9 of Part 29 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the
Education Code, relating to partnership academies.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 675, Steinberg. Partnership academies: Clean Technology and
Renewable Energy Job Training, Career Technical Education, and
Dropout Prevention Program.
Existing law establishes the partnership academies program as a
school-business partnership program to provide occupational training
to educationally disadvantaged high school pupils. Under existing
law, the Superintendent of Public Instruction is required to award
grants to school districts maintaining high schools to plan,
establish, and maintain these partnership academies.
Existing law requires the surcharge imposed on the consumption of
electricity in the state to be transferred to the Energy Resources
Programs Account in the General Fund, which is available, upon
appropriation by the Legislature, for ongoing energy programs and
projects.
This bill would require the Controller annually to allocate
$8,000,000 from the Energy Resources Program Account, upon
appropriation by the Legislature, to the Superintendent of Public
Instruction for expenditure in the form of local grants to be
allocated pursuant to the existing provisions for creating and
maintaining partnership academies. The bill would require a grantee
to implement or maintain a partnership academy that focuses on
employment in clean technology businesses and renewable energy
businesses and provides skilled workforces for the products and
services for energy or water conservation, or both, renewable energy,
pollution reduction, or other technologies.
The bill would require the State Energy Resources Conservation and
Development Commission, in consultation with the State Department of
Education, to develop guidelines, that would be exempted from the
Administrative Procedure Act, to ensure that programs receiving
grants reflect current state energy policies and priorities as well
as provide skills and education linked to the needs of relevant
industries.
The bill would authorize a school district to apply for planning
grants for implementing a partnership academy and would allow the
Superintendent to expend up to 5% of the funds transferred to the
Superintendent to pay the costs incurred in the administration of
this program. The bill would require the State Department of
Education in consultation with the State Energy Resources
Conservation and Development Commission to provide a report to the
Legislature that includes a description of the curriculum and
substance of the programs funded by grants awarded pursuant to these
provisions, and specified data. The bill would provide that the bill'
s provisions would become inoperative on June 30, 2016, and, as of
January 1, 2017, would repeal these provisions.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Article 5.5 (commencing with Section 54698) is added to
Chapter 9 of Part 29 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code,
to read:
Article 5.5. Clean Technology and Renewable Energy Job
Training, Career Technical Education, and Dropout Prevention Program
54698. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
(1) California's international leadership in renewable energy,
energy conservation, clean technology, and climate change policies
creates significant, but dramatically underfunded, opportunities to
provide strategic capital investments in energy conservation, clean
technologies, and renewable energy, including projects that
contribute directly to workforce development and educational
opportunities for high school pupils, young workers, community
college students and graduates, youth who participate in community or
state service organizations, college and university students and
graduates, apprenticeship programs for building and construction
trades and other technical and vocational careers, and training
programs for unemployed, underemployed, or displaced workers and high
school dropouts.
(2) California has an opportunity to combine the education and
training of both its future college-educated workforce, the
underemployment of recent high school graduates, and its highly
skilled technical workforce with its effort to combat high school
dropout rates and the retraining of workers who have been displaced
by the loss of high-wage jobs in California. Clean technology jobs
and renewable energy jobs (green collar jobs) can provide underserved
communities with a pathway out of poverty, a new and inspiring focus
for educational institutions and nonprofit organizations, and
significant statewide economic and environmental benefits.
(3) A 2006 poll of at-risk California 9th and 10th graders by
Peter D. Hart Research Associates found that six in ten pupils were
not motivated to succeed in school. Of those pupils, more than 90
percent said they would be more engaged in their education if classes
helped them acquire skills and knowledge relevant to future careers.
Career technical education programs that create paths to further
education, advanced training, or productive jobs in high opportunity
careers can keep pupils engaged and on track toward a diploma.
(4) Investments in training students in industries that focus on
renewable energy, energy conservation, clean technologies, and
climate change mitigation, will develop the workforce for these
industries and provide multiple benefits to California in all of the
following ways:
(A) Helping to achieve the state's climate change goals required
by the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Division 25.5
(commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and Safety Code).
(B) Creating employment opportunities for Californians that would
otherwise not be fully realized.
(C) Creating opportunities for new businesses, and expanding and
retrofitting existing businesses.
(D) Expanding the state's utilization of renewable energy.
(E) Contributing to the growth of clean technology businesses in
California.
(5) A failure to act by California will perpetuate the lack of an
integrated education, job training, and business infrastructure that
otherwise could take advantage of the projected growth in these
industries and the corresponding increase in state and local taxes,
other public revenues, and additional economic benefits associated
with the likely surge in clean technology and renewable energy jobs.
(6) The American Solar Energy Association, for example, concluded
that in 2006 approximately 3.6 million Americans were directly
employed by renewable energy and energy efficiency firms and that
another 5 million Americans held jobs indirectly attributable to
these industries. The renewable energy and energy efficiency
industries of America generated approximately nine hundred
seventy-five million dollars ($975,000,000) in revenue in 2006. These
industries could employ a workforce of up to 40 million Americans,
and could generate four trillion five hundred billion dollars
($4,500,000,000,000) in annual revenue by 2030 if these industries
were expanded aggressively.
(7) The Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory at the
University of California, Berkeley, found that renewable energy
creates more jobs per megawatt of power installed, per unit of energy
produced, and per dollar of investment, than the fossil fuel
energy-based sector.
(8) A study by the Apollo Alliance, a coalition of business,
labor, and environmental organizations, showed that a major national
investment in renewable energy, alternative automobiles and fuels,
high-performance buildings, and infrastructure would result in the
creation of nearly 3.5 million green collar jobs for Americans over a
10-year period.
(9) Reducing high school dropout and joblessness rates among
California's young people who are preparing for and entering the job
market are important state priorities and it is especially important
that high school and community college students who choose to do so
are trained in careers that will help California achieve its
greenhouse gas reduction goals and contribute to the development of
California's renewable energy resources.
(b) (1) It is the intent of the Legislature to stimulate the
economy of the State of California by creating partnership academies
that will lead to the creation of tens of thousands of good paying
jobs in industries and businesses that are in compliance with the
state's environmental protection laws and regulations, providing
entrepreneurs and employers the best-trained workforce in the United
States, and preparing young people and adults to work in clean, green
industries and professions. These jobs would provide green pathways
out of poverty for individuals in communities that suffer higher high
school dropout rates, joblessness, and pollution. These jobs would
help achieve California's climate change mitigation obligations and
conserve our state's vital resources of water, air quality, land, and
energy. These partnership academies would enable California to offer
opportunities for business leaders, communities, young people, and
adults alike, all of which would benefit from California's emerging
new green economy.
(2) It is the intent of the Legislature that the grants authorized
by this article should be expended by school districts to train in
industries that will be located in California.
(c) The Legislature finds and declares that the State Energy
Resources Conservation and Development Commission is currently
authorized by Section 40016 of the Revenue and Taxation Code to
increase the amount of the existing surcharge imposed on the
consumption of electrical energy pursuant to that section. It is the
intent of the Legislature that if the commission takes this
authorized action, eight million dollars ($8,000,000) annually of the
resulting funds deposited in the Energy Resources Programs Account
would be available to fund the program established by this article.
54698.1. As used in this article, the following terms have the
following meanings:
(a) "Clean technology business" means a business that focuses on
one or more of the following:
(1) Energy audits for determining the energy savings that could be
recovered through utility bill financing.
(2) Retrofitting and weatherization activities that increase
energy efficiency and conservation.
(3) Energy- and water-efficient public buildings.
(4) Retrofitting and installing energy-efficient household
appliances, windows, doors, insulation, and lighting.
(5) Retrofitting and installing water and energy conservation
technologies in existing homes, industrial buildings, commercial and
public buildings, and farms, forestlands, and ranches, to improve
efficiency, including the use of energy and water management
technologies and control systems.
(6) The manufacture, sale, assembly, installation, construction,
and maintenance of energy-efficient technologies and renewable energy
facilities or the component parts of renewable energy technologies.
(7) Energy-efficient technologies or practices and renewable
energy production or the component parts of renewable energy plants
and energy distribution, including energy storage, energy
infrastructure (including transmission), transportation (including
logistics), clean vehicle technology, clean heat and power, and water
and wastewater (including water conservation).
(8) Natural resource conservation for the purpose of adapting to
climate change, including fish and wildlife habitat restoration,
reforestation, native species preservation, invasive species
eradication, community tree planting, and other activities that
address stressors on natural resources generated by climate change.
(b) "Renewable energy business" means a business that focuses on
one or more of the following:
(1) Research and development, manufacturing, generation,
development, or maintenance of appropriately sited power line
transmission.
(2) Power storage.
(3) Installation, repair, maintenance, or related activities
necessary to produce energy from wind, photovoltaic, solar thermal,
geothermal, biomass, including cellulosic ethanol, biodiesel, and
biomass power, green waste, and fuel cells.
54699. (a) The Controller shall annually allocate the sum of
eight million dollars ($8,000,000) from the Energy Resources Program
Account, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Superintendent
for expenditure in the form of grants to school districts, which
shall be allocated using the same criteria as provided in Article 5
(commencing with Section 54690), except as provided in subdivision
(b) of Section 54691, and pursuant to the additional requirements of
this article.
(b) In addition to the requirements specified in Article 5
(commencing with Section 54690), a school district applying for a
grant shall propose to implement a partnership academy, or to
maintain an existing academy, that focuses on employment in clean
technology businesses or renewable energy businesses and provides
skilled workforces for the products and services for energy or water
conservation, or both, renewable energy, pollution reduction, or
other technologies that improve the environment in furtherance of
state environmental laws.
(c) The Superintendent shall review grant applications submitted
by school districts in consultation with the State Energy Resources
Conservation and Development Commission.
(d) The Superintendent, in consultation with the State Energy
Resources Conservation and Development Commission, shall review
ongoing programs to ensure those programs are consistent with current
state energy policies and priorities.
(e) The State Energy Resources Conservation and Development
Commission, in consultation with the department, shall develop
guidelines to ensure that programs receiving grants reflect current
state energy policies and priorities as well as provide skills and
education linked to the needs of relevant industries.
(1) For the initial adoption of guidelines, the commission shall
provide written notice to the public of not less than 30 days.
(2) For substantive amendments to the guidelines, the commission
shall provide written public notice of not less than 15 days.
(3) Notwithstanding any other law, guidelines adopted pursuant to
this article shall be exempt from the requirements of Chapter 3.5
(commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of
the Government Code.
(f) (1) The Superintendent shall give first priority for grants
pursuant to this article to school districts that propose to
establish a partnership academy at school sites that do not currently
participate in the partnership academies program pursuant to Article
5 (commencing with Section 54690) and shall give second priority to
school districts that would establish a partnership academy at school
sites that do not currently participate in the green partnership
academies program funded pursuant to Section 32 of Chapter 757 of the
Statutes of 2008.
(2) The Superintendent shall award grants to a school district to
establish or operate a partnership academy pursuant to this article
in the following amounts:
(A) A district operating a partnership academy may receive one
thousand dollars ($1,000) per year for each qualified student
enrolled in grade 9 in an academy during the first year of that
academy's operation, except no more than forty-five thousand dollars
($45,000) may be granted to any one academy for the initial year.
(B) A district operating a partnership academy may receive one
thousand dollars ($1,000) per year for each qualified student
enrolled in either grade 9 or 10 in an academy during the second year
of that academy's operation except that no more than eighty thousand
dollars ($80,000) may be granted to any one academy for the second
year.
(C) A district operating a partnership academy may receive one
thousand dollars ($1,000) for each qualified student enrolled in any
of grades 9 to 11, inclusive, in an academy during the third year of
that academy's operation, except that no more than one hundred twenty
thousand dollars ($120,000) may be granted to any one academy for
the third year.
(D) A district operating a partnership academy may receive one
thousand dollars ($1,000) for each qualified student enrolled in any
of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, in an academy during the fourth and
following years of that academy's operation, except that no more than
one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) may be granted to any
one academy for each fiscal year.
(3) For purposes of this section, "qualified student" has the same
meaning as described in subdivision (c) of Section 54691, but shall
also include a 9th grade pupil who meets the at-risk criteria
specified in Section 54690, who is enrolled in an academy for the 9th
grade, obtains 90 percent of the credits each academic year in
courses that are required for graduation, and successfully completes
a school year during the 9th grade with an attendance record of not
less than 80 percent.
(g) The Superintendent may award a grant to a school district that
has received a grant pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section
54690), subject to subdivision (d) and the availability of funds.
(h) The Superintendent shall encourage a school district that
receives a grant under this article to work and coordinate with
regional occupational centers and programs for the required career
technical education sequence of courses.
(i) A school district may apply for planning grants, in accordance
with subdivision (a) of Section 54691, for implementing a
partnership academy pursuant to this article.
(j) Commencing in 2012 and not later than January 1 of each year
for which this article is operative, the Superintendent, in
consultation with the State Energy Resources Conservation and
Development Commission, shall provide a report to the Legislature
that includes, but is not limited to, a description of the curriculum
and substance of the programs funded by grants awarded pursuant to
this article. The first annual report shall include the
identification of gaps in available curricula relating to clean
technology and renewable energy that are consistent with current
state energy policy and priorities. Commencing in 2013, the report
also shall include pupil participation data and data collected for
purposes of academy certification under subdivision (e) of Section
54691.
(k) Up to 5 percent of the funds transferred to the Superintendent
pursuant to this article may be expended to pay the costs incurred
in the administration of this article.
54699.1. This article shall become inoperative on June 30, 2016,
and, as of January 1, 2017, is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2017, deletes
or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is
repealed.