BILL ANALYSIS Ó SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair 2015 - 2016 Regular Session AB 491 (Gonzalez) - English learners: identification: notice ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Version: June 23, 2016 |Policy Vote: ED. 9 - 0 | | | | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Urgency: No |Mandate: Yes | | | | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Hearing Date: August 11, 2016 |Consultant: Jillian Kissee | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- *********** ANALYSIS ADDENDUM - SUSPENSE FILE *********** The following information is revised to reflect amendments adopted by the committee on August 11, 2016 Bill Summary: This bill expands parental notification requirements relative to long-term English learners; requires the California Department of Education (CDE) to develop a sample notification letter disclosing the use of the results of the home language survey which determines the primary language of a student upon enrollment; and requires districts to provide the letter to parents at the time the home language survey is provided. Fiscal Impact: The CDE estimates one-time costs of $32,000 General Fund to develop a sample notification letter. AB 491 (Gonzalez) Page 1 of ? State reimbursable mandate costs potentially in the hundreds of thousands for school districts to provide the notification letter to parents or guardians of a student when the home language survey is provided, and to expand the information to be included in the parent notice of assessment of his or her child's English language proficiency. (Proposition 98) Author Amendments: Clarifies the intent of this bill is not to require testing of a student's primary language proficiency. -- END --