BILL NUMBER: AB 951	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Medina

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2013

   An act to add Section 48204.2 to the Education Code, relating to
public schools.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 951, as introduced, Medina. Educational rights of homeless
children: school district administrator and staff training.
   Existing law requires a school district to accept from the parent
or legal guardian of a pupil reasonable evidence that the pupil meets
the residency requirements for school attendance in the school
district. Existing law prohibits this requirement from limiting
access to pupil enrollment for a homeless child, without any proof or
documentation of residency under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless
Assistance Act.
   This bill would require a school district to ensure that all
administrators and certificated and classified staff are properly
trained regarding the rights of homeless children to receive
educational services, including, but not limited to, an overview of
the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. The bill would
require a school district to ensure that sufficient public notice is
provided to all parents and pupils regarding the educational rights
of homeless children and would require a school district to designate
a liaison between the school district and the homeless population to
ensure that homeless children are identified and served. By
requiring school districts to comply with these provisions, this bill
would impose a state-mandated local program.
   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 48204.2 is added to the Education Code, to
read:
   48204.2.  (a) Each school district shall ensure that all
administrators and certificated and classified staff are properly
trained regarding the rights of homeless children to receive
educational services. This training shall include an overview of the
federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11301
et seq.).
   (b) Each school district shall ensure that sufficient public
notice is provided to all parents and pupils regarding the
educational rights of homeless children.
   (c) Each school district shall designate a liaison between the
school district and the homeless population to ensure that homeless
children are identified and served. The liaison shall provide notice
to homeless families at schools and in the community and facilitate
access to school services including, but not limited to,
transportation services.
  SEC. 2.  If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this
act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local
agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant
to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of
the Government Code.