BILL NUMBER: SB 682	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 28, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Padilla
    (   Coauthors:   Senators  
Alquist,   Florez,   Romero,   and Wyland
  ) 

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2009

   An act to add Section 52377.5 to the Education Code, relating to
individuals with exceptional needs.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 682, as amended, Padilla. Individuals with exceptional needs:
 employment   academic and occupational 
training  : pilot program  .
   Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to
establish the capacity to provide transition services such as
employment and academic training, strategic planning, interagency
coordination, and parent training for a broad range of individuals
with exceptional needs, including autism spectrum disorders and other
disabilities. 
   This bill would authorize each county office of education to
create an educational program to provide employment-related services
to individuals with autism spectrum disorders and other disabilities
or special needs. The bill would require that each program include an
advisory board, and would authorize each program to perform
specified functions, including collaborating with a multipurpose
community designed to offer housing, employment, and recreational
opportunities.  
   This bill, contingent upon the availability of federal funds for
this purpose, would establish a pilot program for the purposes of
providing combined academic and occupational training to secondary
school pupils with autism spectrum disorders and other special needs.
The bill would state the Legislature's intent that this pilot
program model existing career technical education programs, as
specified. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 52377.5 is added to the Education Code, to
read: 
   52377.5.  Each county office of education may create an
educational program to provide employment-related services to
individuals with autism spectrum disorders and other disabilities or
special needs. A program established pursuant to this section shall
include an advisory board and may do any or all of the following:
   (a) Include mentoring and internship programs with a focus on
employment training and opportunities.
   (b) Provide participants with both the work skills necessary to
exhibit competence on the job and career technical training necessary
for securing employment.
   (c) Collaborate with a multipurpose community designed to offer
housing, employment, and recreational opportunities. 
    52377.5.   To the extent that federal funds are made
available for this purpose, there is hereby established a pilot
program for the purposes of providing combined academic and
occupational training to secondary school pupils with autism spectrum
disorders and other special needs. It is the intent of the
Legislature that this pilot program model existing career technical
education programs, including, but not limited to, partnership
academies and regional occupational programs or centers, that may be
tailored to meet the unique needs of pupils with autism spectrum
disorders and other special needs.