BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2276
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 14, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
AB 2276 (Bocanegra) - As Amended: May 1, 2014
Policy Committee: EducationVote:7-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
Yes Reimbursable: Yes
SUMMARY
This bill ensures a pupil who has been enrolled in a juvenile
court school, upon release, shall not be denied immediate
enrollment in a public school due to delay in transfer of
educational records, among other factors. Specifically, this
bill:
1)Requires a county office of education (COE) and county
probation to develop a transition planning policy that
includes collaboration with relevant local educational
agencies relating to pupils who are being released from
juvenile court schools.
2)Strongly encourages local educational agencies to enter into
memoranda of understanding and create joint policies regarding
the immediate enrollment of pupils transferring from juvenile
court schools.
3)Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) and
the Board of State and Community Corrections to convene a
statewide group to develop a model and study relating to the
transfer of educational records and enrollment of pupils who
are being transferred from juvenile court schools. The
findings and recommendations shall be reported to the
Legislature and appropriate policy committees on or before
January 1, 2016.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)Potential General Fund/Proposition 98 state-mandated costs,
likely in the range of $130,000 to $250,000, for COEs and
county probation to develop a transition plan in coordination
AB 2276
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with LEAs. The bill specifies this activity is part of
existing responsibilities for coordinating education and
services for youth in the juvenile justice system. To the
extent the Commission on State Mandates determines additional
requirements are imposed on COEs or county probation, the bill
would impose a state-mandated local program.
2)One-time General Fund administrative costs to the California
Department of Education and the Board of State and Community
Corrections in the range of $120,000 to $130,000 to convene a
statewide group to develop a model and study relating to the
transfer of educational records and enrollment of pupils who
are being transferred from juvenile court schools.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . According to the author, this bill clarifies existing
law to ensure juvenile justice-involved youth have a
successful educational transition when they return to their
local schools. The bill seeks to create a process to help
promote best practices for this transition. The author
contends, if a pupil does not successfully transition back to
their local school, they will likely reoffend and return to
confinement. The Youth Law Center supports the bill and the
goal of assuring these youth are immediately enrolled in
school and placed in appropriate educational programs once
released.
2)Background . County boards of education oversee juvenile court
schools, which can be situated in a variety of settings,
including juvenile halls, group homes, ranches, camps, day
centers, or regional youth facilities. The schools are
required to provide incarcerated pupils with an educational
program that meet minimum daily minutes and state standards.
According to the CDE, as of October 2010, there were 83
juvenile court schools in California.
Current law prohibits a pupil from being denied reenrollment
or readmission to a public school solely on the basis that the
pupil had contact with the juvenile justice system, including,
but not limited to: 1) arrest; 2) adjudication by a juvenile
court; 3) formal or informal supervision by a probation
officer; and 4) detention for any length of time in a juvenile
facility or enrollment in a juvenile court school.
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This bill specifies that a pupil released from a juvenile
court school shall not be denied immediate enrollment in a
public school for any of the following reasons: the pupil has
outstanding fees, fines, textbooks, or other items or moneys
due to the school last attended or is unable to produce
clothing or records normally required for enrollment, such as
previous academic records, medical records, including, but not
limited to, records or other proof of immunization history,
proof of residency, other documentation, or school uniforms.
This bill also seeks to foster collaboration at the local
level. The bill encourages LEAs to form memoranda of
understanding and create joint policies, systems, transition
centers and joint structures in order to expedite the transfer
of pupils from juvenile court schools.
Analysis Prepared by : Misty Feusahrens / APPR. / (916)
319-2081