BILL ANALYSIS �
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Carol Liu, Chair
2012-13 Regular Session
BILL NO: SB 687
AUTHOR: Anderson
AMENDED: April 8, 2013
FISCAL COMM: No HEARING DATE: April 17, 2013
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT:Lenin Del Castillo
SUBJECT : Public School Volunteers.
SUMMARY
This bill would authorize the governing board of a school
district to permit the displacement of classified employees
and utilize volunteer aides instead to perform
noninstructional work and the maintenance or improvement of
a school facility under the supervision of a district
employee.
BACKGROUND
Under current law, any person, except a registered sex
offender, may be permitted by the governing board of a
school district to perform student supervisory duties
during breakfast and lunch periods or serve as a
nonteaching volunteer aide under the immediate supervision
and direction of the certificated personnel of the school
district to perform noninstructional work without
compensation. School districts may not abolish any of its
classified positions and utilize volunteer aides in lieu of
classified employees who are laid off as a result of the
abolishment of a position. Additionally, a school district
may not refuse to employ a person in a vacant classified
position and use volunteer aides instead. (Education Code
� 35021)
ANALYSIS
This bill would authorize the governing board of a school
district to permit the displacement of classified employees
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and utilize volunteer aides instead to perform
noninstructional work.
More specifically, this bill:
1) Removes the prohibitions in current law for school
districts to:
a) Abolish classified employees and utilize
volunteer aides in lieu of classified employees
that are laid off.
b) Refuse employment for a person in a
vacant classified position and use volunteer
aides instead.
2) Authorizes school districts to permit a person,
except for a registered sex offender, to volunteer
under the supervision of a district employee for the
maintenance or improvement of a school facility. The
volunteer shall serve without compensation of any type
or other benefits.
3) Prohibits a collective bargaining agreement entered
into after January 1, 2014, from prohibiting a school
district from using or encouraging volunteers.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Need for the bill : According to the author's office,
due to recent budget cuts, school districts have had
difficulty with maintaining their facilities and do
not have the flexibility to properly utilize
volunteers and assistance from their communities.
They believe this bill provides the ability for local
districts to assess the best way to meet their
maintenance needs with the help of parents and
community members.
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However, staff notes that this bill could potentially
lead to the displacement of classified employees with
volunteers who may not have the proper qualifications
and training to perform capital projects. This could
result in additional costs and liability for a
district. Also, by preventing collective bargaining
agreements from prohibiting the use of volunteers,
this bill would limit the local discretion of school
districts to make decisions on such matters.
SUPPORT
None on file.
OPPOSITION
California Federation of Teachers
California School Employees Association
California Teachers Association