BILL NUMBER: AB 951 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 10, 2013
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 amended, Medina. Educational rights of homeless
children: local educational agency liaison: 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.
This bill would, if a local educational agency designates a local
educational agency liaison for homeless children and youth pursuant
to the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, require the
local educational agency to ensure that the liaison is 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 the designated liaison to provide notice to homeless families
at schools and in the community of the educational rights of
homeless children and youth and to facilitate access to school
services including, but not limited to, transportation services.
The bill would, as a condition of receiving a grant funded by the
federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, require the State
Department of Education to require a local educational agency that
applies for a grant to designate a local educational agency liaison
to train its school administrators and certified and classified staff
at least once a year regarding the educational rights of homeless
children and youth, as specified.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes no .
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 If a
local educational agency designates a local educational agency
liaison for homeless children and youths pursuant to Section 11432(g)
(1)(J)(ii) of Title 42 of the United States Code, that local
educational agency shall ensure that all
administrators and certificated and classified staff are
that the liaison is 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.). The designated
local educational agency liaison shall provide notice to homeless
families at schools and in the community of the educational rights of
homeless children and youth and facilitate access to school services
including, but not limited to, transportation services.
(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.
(b) As a condition for receiving a grant funded by the
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11301 et
seq.), the department shall require a local educational agency that
applies for a grant to designate a local educational agency liaison
to train its school administrators and certified and classified staff
at least once a year regarding the educational rights of homeless
children and youth to ensure homeless children and youth are
receiving the services that they need in order to enroll in, attend,
and succeed in school. This training shall include an overview of the
federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11301
et seq.).
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.