BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2560
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 30, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
AB 2560 (Bonilla) - As Amended: April 22, 2014
Policy Committee: EducationVote:7-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing
(CTC), to require a credential holder, as part of the initial
issuance or renewal of a credential, to read and attest by
signature, a statement regarding their duties as a mandated
reporter. Specifically, this bill:
1)Requires an initial applicant or renewal applicant who renews
their credential online, to read and attest by electronic
signature a specified statement that the applicant understands
the duties imposed by the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting
Act (CANRA). Initial applicants who renew by paper are also
required to read and attest by signature their duties under
CANRA, as specified.
2)Codifies the language of the statement that the initial
applicant and renewal applicants are required to read and
sign.
FISCAL EFFECT
One-time cost of approximately $15,000 (special funds) to the
CTC to create an additional webpage and process paper forms.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose. This bill clarifies that teachers as mandated
reporters are required to report suspected child abuse or
neglect immediately to law enforcement and not to school
administration. The bill is in response to recent cases of
unreported student physical and sexual abuse, including
incidences where mandated reporters have reported suspected
AB 2560
Page 2
child abuse or neglect only to school administration that
subsequently went unreported. According to the author, it is
important that mandated reporters, such as teachers, report
the suspected abuse to the correct entity so immediate action
can be taken to ensure all students are safe on campus.
2)CTC budget . The CTC is a special fund agency. About 78% of
CTC state operations are supported by credential fees, which
are a revenue source for the Teacher Credentials Fund (TCF);
the remaining 22% is supported by educator exam fees, which
fund the Test Development and Administration Account (TDAA).
Credential applications have declined substantially in recent
years leading to operating shortfalls in the TCF. Over the
last two years, the Legislature authorized a number of changes
to address the shortfall, including credential fee increases
and fees for certain accreditation activities. Despite these
actions, the TCF continues to be unstable.
The Governor's 2014-15 Budget proposes to authorize additional
accreditation fees that could generate an additional $650,000
for the CTC and stabilize their budget. The CTC indicates the
cost of the activities required by this bill could be
absorbable if the Governor's budget proposal is approved. The
Legislature has not yet taken action on this budget proposal.
Analysis Prepared by : Misty Feusahrens / APPR. / (916)
319-2081