BILL NUMBER: AB 700	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 24, 2013
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 6, 2013

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Gomez

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2013

   An act to amend Section 33540 of the Education Code, relating to
pupil instruction.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 700, as amended, Gomez. Pupil instruction: voter education.
   Existing law establishes the Instructional Quality Commission, and
requires the commission, among other duties, to ensure that
specified historical documents are incorporated into the
history-social science framework when it is revised.
   This bill would also require the commission  , when the
history-social science framework is revised,  to 
encourage a voter education component, providing instruction in how
to register and cast votes in local, state, and federal elections,
and how to use   ensure that voter education information
is included in the   American   government and
civics curriculum at the high school level, including, but not
limited to, information on the importance of registering to vote in
local, state, and federal elections, and where and how to access
 the voter information pamphlet and other materials to become an
informed voter  , to be included in American Government and
civics courses when the history-social science framework is revised
 . 
   The bill would provide that it shall not be construed as requiring
the commission to meet specifically for purposes of implementing the
changes made by the bill, and would require that any revisions to
the history-social science framework made pursuant to the bill be
implemented in accordance with the commission's regular adoption
schedule. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 33540 of the Education Code is amended to read:

   33540.  (a) The state board and the department shall request that
the commission review and revise, as necessary, the course
requirements in the history-social science framework developed by the
History-Social Science Curriculum Framework and Criteria Committee
of the state board to ensure that minimum standards for courses in
American government and civics include sufficient attention to
teaching pupils how to interact, in a practical manner, with state
and local governmental agencies and representatives to solve problems
and to petition for changes in laws and procedures.
   (b) When the history-social science framework is revised as
required by law, the commission shall do both of the following:
 ensure  
   (1) Encourage a voter education component to be included in the
American Government and civics course that includes instruction on
how to register and cast votes in local, state, and federal
elections, and how to use the voter information pamphlet and other
materials to become an informed voter.  
   (1) Ensure that voter education information is included in the
American government and civics curriculum at the high school level,
including, but not limited to, information on the importance of
registering to vote in local, state, and federal elections, and where
and how to access the voter information pamphlet and other materials
to become an informed voter. 
   (2) Ensure that the following historical documents are
incorporated into the framework, as appropriate:
   (A) The Declaration of Independence.
   (B) The United States Constitution, including the Bill of Rights.
   (C) The Federalist Papers.
   (D) The Emancipation Proclamation.
   (E) The Gettysburg Address.
   (F) George Washington's Farewell Address.
   SEC. 2.    This act shall not be construed as
requiring the Instructional Quality Commission to meet specifically
for purposes of implementing the changes made by Section 1 of this
act, and any revisions to the history-social science framework made
pursuant to Section 1 of this act shall be implemented in accordance
with the commission's regular adoption schedule.