BILL NUMBER: AB 916	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member O'Donnell

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2015

   An act relating to career technical education, and making an
appropriation therefor.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 916, as introduced, O'Donnell. Career technical education:
student organizations: funding.
   Existing law provides funding for 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 appropriate the sum of $1,170,000 from the General
Fund to the State Department of Education for the purposes of
allocating funds in support of career technical education student
organizations, as specified. The bill would also express various
findings and declarations of the Legislature relating to career
technical education.
   Funds appropriated by this bill would be applied toward the
minimum funding requirements for school districts and community
college districts imposed by Section 8 of Article XVI of the
California Constitution.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: yes. Fiscal committee: 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 Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) have long been
recognized for their contribution in developing leadership skills and
other "soft skill" competencies to pupils involved in high-quality
career technical education programs and courses.
   (b) The programs and activities of CTSOs play an integral part in
the effective delivery of career technical education programs and
courses, and motivate many pupils to further develop their leadership
potential.
   (c) Funding for the programs and activities of CTSOs were cut from
the annual Budget Act during the recent budget crisis, resulting in
a tremendous loss of opportunities for pupils enrolled in career
technical education programs and courses.
   (d) CTSOs chartered in California include Cal-Health Occupation
Student Association (Cal-HOSA) for health career pupils; the
California Future Farmers of America (California FFA) for pupils
studying agriculture and its related careers; the Future Business
Leaders of America (FBLA) for pupils enrolled in business courses;
Future Homemakers of America - Home Economics Related Occupations
(FHA-HERO) for pupils interested in home economics related
occupations; Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) for
pupils engaged in marketing programs; and SkillsUSA for pupils
interested in transportation, arts, media, entertainment,
engineering, and construction.
   (e) High school graduates of CTSOs serve as industry leaders on
boards, commissions, in elected offices, and as executive officers in
businesses both in California and worldwide.
   (f) Student leadership is an important part of every career
technical education program. CTSOs, and the opportunities they
provide, separate career technical education programs and courses
from the typical experiences pupils receive.
  SEC. 2.  (a) The sum of one million one hundred seventy thousand
dollars ($1,170,000) is appropriated from the General Fund to the
State Department of Education, to be allocate in support of career
technical education student organizations for purposes of supporting
youth leadership development programs and activities, training
teachers who advise these student organizations, maintaining
affiliation with national career technical education organizations,
and supplying support services necessary to carry out these
activities.(b) For purposes of making the computations required by
Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, the funds
appropriated pursuant to this section shall be deemed to be "General
Fund revenues appropriated for school districts," as defined in
subdivision (c) of Section 41202 of the Education Code, for the
2015-16 fiscal year, and included within the "total allocations to
school districts and community college districts from General Fund
proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIII B," as
defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202 of the Education Code,
for the 2015-16 fiscal year.