BILL NUMBER: AB 907	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 26, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Burke

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2015

   An act to  add Section 52334.7 to the Education Code, 
relating to career technical education.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 907, as amended, Burke. Career training: adult students.
   Existing law authorizes various career technical education
programs, including regional occupational centers and programs,
specialized secondary programs, partnership academies, and
agricultural career technical education programs. 
   This bill would make legislative findings regarding education for
adult students, and would state the Legislature's support for adult
students' access to career training resources, including student
financial aid.  
   The bill would authorize the Superintendent of Public Instruction
to certify, by name, each regional occupational center or program,
county office of education, or adult education program, that provides
a program of training to prepare adult students for employment in a
recognized occupation, to legally authorize the center, program, or
office to provide an educational program beyond secondary education,
as specified. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  yes  . State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) Career training for adults is an important part of workforce
and economic development in California.
   (b) Many of California's neediest adult students require financial
aid to support their career training.
   (c) Historically, those adult students have had access to federal
financial aid under Title IV of the federal Elementary and Secondary
Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 6301 et seq.).
   (d) Recent revisions in federal regulations governing Title IV of
the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec.
6301 et seq.) have eliminated the eligibility for financial aid for
adult students in many of California's career training programs
operated by local educational agencies, even though adults in those
programs have been historically eligible.
   (e) The Legislature supports:
   (1) Adult students' access to career training programs that will
improve or expand their job skills and employability.
   (2) Adult students' access to federal financial aid that may be
used for career training programs and services.
   (3) Providers of career training programs for adult students, as
those providers work to satisfy federal requirements necessary to
establish federal financial aid eligibility for those adult students.

   SEC. 2.    Section 52334.7 is added to the  
Education Code   , to read:  
   52334.7.  (a) The Superintendent may certify, by name, any
regional occupational center or program, county office of education,
or adult education program, that provides a program of training to
prepare adult students for gainful employment in a recognized
occupation, to legally authorize the center, program, or office to
provide an educational program beyond secondary education, including
an education program that leads to a degree or certificate, for
purposes of the center, program, or office participating in any
student financial assistance program authorized by Title IV of the
Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.
   (b) A regional occupational center or program, county office of
education, or adult education program applying for certification
pursuant to subdivision (a) shall comply with both of the following:
   (1) Satisfy all applicable eligibility requirements specified in
federal rulemaking pursuant to Sections 600.6, 600.7, and 600.9 of
Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations, other than the
authorization provided for in subdivision (a).
   (2) Apply in writing to the Superintendent, as an individual
center, program, or office, to be considered for certification
pursuant to subdivision (a).
   (c) Any person may file a complaint under the Uniform Complaint
Procedures, as set forth in Title 5 of the California Code of
Regulations, regarding an alleged violation by a local agency of
federal or state law or regulations governing adult education
programs or regional occupational centers and programs, including
allegations of unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or
bullying.
   (d) The Superintendent shall adopt regulations that authorize any
person to file a complaint under the Uniform Complaint Procedures, as
set forth in Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations,
regarding an alleged violation by a county office of education of
federal or state law or regulations governing that county office's
participation in any student financial assistance program authorized
by Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended,
including allegations of unlawful discrimination, harassment,
intimidation, or bullying.