BILL NUMBER: AB 2242 VETOED DATE: 09/21/2012 To the Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 2242 without my signature. This bill limits the authority of school officials to suspend a student for "willful defiance or disruption of school activities." I cannot support limiting the authority of local school leaders, especially at a time when budget cuts have greatly increased class sizes and reduced the number of school personnel. It is important that teachers and school officials retain broad discretion to manage and set the tone in the classroom. The principle of subsidiarity calls for greater, not less, deference to our elected school boards which are directly accountable to the citizenry. Sincerely, Edmund G. Brown Jr.