BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 1068
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Date of Hearing: August 10, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
SB 1068
(Leyva) - As Amended March 31, 2016
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill requires the California Department of Education (CDE)
to provide specified informational and training materials to
local education agency (LEA) liaisons for homeless youth.
Specifically, this bill:
1)Requires CDE to provide training materials to LEA liaisons to
assist them in providing professional development and other
support to school personnel providing services pursuant to the
federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
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2)Requires CDE to provide informational materials to LEA
liaisons, including updates and changes to state and federal
law, the responsibilities of LEA liaisons relating to homeless
children and youths, and the resources available to schools to
assist homeless children and youths.
3)Authorizes CDE to adapt informational and training materials
from state or national sources when applicable and
appropriate.
FISCAL EFFECT:
General Fund administrative costs of approximately $65,000 for
the CDE to provide informational materials regarding the
educational rights of homeless children and youth under state
and federal law.
COMMENTS:
1)Background. Existing federal law, the McKinney-Vento Homeless
Assistance Act, requires state educational agencies to ensure
that homeless children and youth have equal access to the same
free public education as is provided to other children and
youth. States are required to review and revise any laws,
regulations, practices, or policies that may act as barriers
to the enrollment, attendance, or success in school of
homeless children and youth. Federal law also requires each
LEA to designate a staff person as a liaison for homeless
children and youth to carry out specific duties. These duties
include ensuring immediate enrollment, referrals to
appropriate services, and providing notice of the rights of
homeless youth.
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The federal ESSA, signed into law December 10, 2015, amended
the McKinney-Vento program to require states to develop
professional development opportunities for LEA liaisons who
serve homeless youth.
2)Comments. This bill requires the CDE to assist with providing
professional development to school personnel providing
services to homeless youth. These activities are consistent
with the federal ESSA and no additional general fund would be
needed to support these activities.
This bill also requires the CDE to provide informational
materials to LEA liaisons regarding the educational rights of
homeless children and youths under state and federal law,
updates and changes to state and federal law, the
responsibilities of LEA liaisons relating to homeless children
and youths, and the resources available to schools to assist
homeless children and youths. These activities appear to
exceed federal law. CDE indicates they would need additional
state resources to implement these provisions of the bill.
Analysis Prepared by:Misty Feusahrens / APPR. / (916) 319-2081
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