California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 1679


Introduced by Assembly Member Weber

January 19, 2016


An act to add Section 8236.2 to the Education Code, relating to child care.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1679, as introduced, Weber. Child care: state preschool programs: eligibility: military families.

The Child Care and Development Services Act requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to administer state preschool programs according to specified funding priorities. The act requires that priority for receiving state preschool services be given to low-income families who meet eligibility standards established by the Superintendent.

This bill would exclude the amount of the basic allowance for housing provided to an individual who is on federal active duty, state active duty, active duty for special work, or Active Guard and Reserve duty in the military that is equal to the lowest rate of the allowance for the military housing area in which the individual resides from income for purposes of determining eligibility for state preschool services.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

P1    1

SECTION 1.  

(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the
2following:

P2    1(1) California is home to a large number of military personnel,
2including 150,000 active duty personnel.

3(2) Military families are a unique population with unique
4circumstances. The children of military families face constant
5transition, including family mobility and parental deployment.

6(3) Military families move more than twice as often as civilian
7families. Forty percent of officers and 60 percent of enlisted
8personnel move during the school year. Thus, the lower the rank
9of the military family member, the more often the family moves.

10(4) During a time of war, military families endure the strains of
11long-term separation as one or both parents may be deployed
12overseas.

13(5) During parental deployment children are often anxious,
14stressed, and confused. Preschools can be a place where stability
15and routine can provide security. The classroom routine helps to
16cushion the impact of parental deployment.

17(6) Preschool can be a determining factor in the early academic
18success of a pupil from a military family by providing educational
19enrichment, as well as a stable and nurturing learning environment.

20(b) Given these special circumstances, it is the intent of the
21Legislature in enacting this act to ensure that military families have
22access to the preschool services that their children need.

23

SEC. 2.  

Section 8236.2 is added to the Education Code, to
24read:

25

8236.2.  

For purposes of determining eligibility for state
26preschool services pursuant to this article, the income of an
27individual who is on federal active duty, state active duty, active
28duty for special work, or Active Guard and Reserve duty in the
29military does not include the amount of the basic allowance for
30housing pursuant to Section 403 of Title 37 of the United States
31Code provided to the individual that is equal to the lowest rate of
32the allowance for the military housing area in which the individual
33resides.



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