BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 169 Page 1 Date of Hearing: April 6, 2011 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Felipe Fuentes, Chair AB 169 (Torres) - As Amended: March 25, 2011 Policy Committee: Education Vote:10-0 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No SUMMARY This bill clarifies that county offices of education (COEs) are eligible for federal funding pursuant to state and federal law. FISCAL EFFECT No additional state GF/98 administrative costs. COMMENTS 1)Purpose . COEs provide a variety of educational programs and services, including direct services to at-risk pupils (i.e., juvenile court schools, community day schools). COEs also provide services to school districts in the areas of business, administrative, and curriculum and are directly responsible for the financial oversight of districts. There are 58 COEs. The services provided are affected by the size and type of districts within the county, the geographical location and size of the county, and the special needs of students that are not met by the districts. Several COEs argue they have been excluded from funding opportunities to the detriment of their students. For example, in 2006, COEs were excluded from the Middle and High School Supplement Counseling Program, which provided for additional counselors to low achieving students. This bill clarifies that COEs are eligible for federal funding, as specified. AB 169 Page 2 2)Previous legislation . AB 339 (Torres), similar to this bill, was vetoed by the governor in August 2009, with the following message: "I am returning Assembly Bill 339 without my signature. This bill would redefine "school districts" to include school districts, county offices of education, and other agencies deemed eligible pursuant to state and federal law, for the purpose of allocating federal education funds. However, in its current form, I am concerned that the bill may have unintended consequences for charter schools and/or other educational agencies currently eligible for these federal funds." Analysis Prepared by : Kimberly Rodriguez / APPR. / (916) 319-2081