BILL ANALYSIS Ó SB 911 Page 1 SB 911 Page 2 nDate of Hearing: August 3, 2016 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Lorena Gonzalez, Chair SB 911 (Hertzberg) - As Amended June 30, 2016 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Policy |Education |Vote:|7 - 0 | |Committee: | | | | | | | | | SB 911 Page 3 | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No SUMMARY: This bill deletes the January 1, 2017, repeal date of the California American Indian Education Center (AIEC) program thereby extending the operation of the program indefinitely. Requires the California Department of Education (CDE) to continue to report on the evaluation of the program every five years, starting in January 2021, and to make this information available to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature. FISCAL EFFECT: 1)Although this bill extends the AIEC program indefinitely, funding for the program is still subject to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act. The 2016-17 Budget Act provides $4.1 million (Proposition 98) for the program. This level of support is likely to be ongoing. 2)Ongoing costs of at least $70,000 (General Fund) to maintain the existing .6 FTE position at the CDE to administer the AIEC program. COMMENTS: 1)Purpose. The AIECs were established in the 1970's and have a SB 911 Page 4 long history of offering educational and cultural support to American Indian students. The AIECs serve as educational resource centers to students, parents and public schools in American Indian communities. Center staff assist schools with professional development, counseling, tutorial services, or parent education. They also provide supplemental and extended day instructional programs to meet the needs of American Indian students. Tribal organizations or incorporated American Indian organizations may apply to the CDE to establish a center. This bill, sponsored by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, aims to ensure these students continue to receive services provided through centers by eliminating the program's sunset date. 2)Background. There are currently 23 AIECs serving students in 19 counties, including Alameda, Humboldt, Lake, Kern, Los Angeles and San Diego. In 2013-14, 2,850 students received services through the AIEC program, representing 4% of the state's American Indian/Alaska Native students. Expenditures per student ranged from $596 to $4,783 per student. Funding for the AIECs is subject to the amount appropriated in the annual budget act. The initial allocation totaled $400,000, of which $350,000 was awarded to 10 programs through a grant application process, and $50,000 was used for state administration. The funds have increased to the current amount of $4.1 million and the state currently provides $70,000 to support CDE administrative costs. Analysis Prepared by:Misty Feusahrens / APPR. / (916) 319-2081 SB 911 Page 5