BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 1455
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Date of Hearing: June 15, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Patrick O'Donnell, Chair
SB
1455 (Block) - As Amended June 8, 2016
SENATE VOTE: 38-0
SUBJECT: Pupil enrollment: military dependents
SUMMARY: Provides that a student meets residency requirements
for school attendance if the student's parent is transferred or
is pending transfer to a military installation that is within
the boundaries of the school district. Specifically, this bill:
1)Provides that a pupil complies with the residency requirements
for school attendance in a school district, if he or she is a
pupil whose parent is transferred or is pending transfer to a
military installation within the boundaries of the school
district while on active military duty pursuant to an official
military order.
2)Defines "active military duty" to mean full-time military duty
status in the active uniformed service of the United States,
including members of the California National Guard and the
State Military Reserve on active duty orders pursuant to Title
10 or 32 of the United States Code or Part 1 (commencing with
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Section 100) of Division 2 of the Military and Veterans Code.
3)Defines "military installation" to mean a base, camp, post,
station, yard, center, homeport facility for any ship, or
other activity under the jurisdiction of the Department of
Defense or the United States Coast Guard.
4)Defines "parent" to mean the natural or adoptive parent or
guardian of a dependent child.
5)Requires a school district to accept applications by
electronic means for enrollment, including enrollment in a
specific school or program within the school district, and
course registration for pupils.
6)Requires the parent to provide proof of residence within 10
days after the published arrival date provided on official
documentation.
7)Allows a parent to use any of the following addresses as
related to his or her military move:
a) A temporary on-base billeting facility;
b) A purchased or leased home or apartment; or
c) Federal government or public-private venture off-base
military housing.
EXISTING LAW:
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FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, "No anticipated significant costs to the state.
This bill may result in a reimbursable state mandate but costs
associated with the requirement for a school district to
accept electronic applications for enrollment and course
registration are expected to be minor. In addition, because
state funding is provided to school districts for student
attendance, this funding would likely offset any additional
costs related to this requirement.
COMMENTS:
Need for the bill. According to the author, children of
military service members transferring on official military
orders to California are not eligible to register in high school
courses, enroll in specialized academic programs or enter random
lotteries for consideration into a charter or magnet school
until they are physically located within the district
boundaries. As a result, these students often miss course and
program registration deadlines. This bill would allow, by
electronic means, transferring military families to enroll their
children in a school, program or course prior to being
physically located within the boundaries of the school district.
The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military
Child. The Compact is an interstate agreement that provides
guidance as to how local school districts address the transition
needs of military children. With the passage of AB 343 (Saldana,
Chapter 237, Statutes of 2009), California ratified its
participation in the Compact. Existing law prohibits changes in
the Compact agreement unless the proposed changes are enacted
into law by unanimous consent of the member states. Under the
Compact, districts are required to be flexible in applying their
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local rules to students in order to facilitate enrollment,
placement, advancement, eligibility for extracurricular
activities, and on-time graduation. These provisions, however,
do not guarantee placement. It's not clear how districts apply
rules to application or program deadlines.
Separate from the Compact, this bill aims to provide military
families the ability to start the enrollment process as soon as
a written military transfer order is given. Parents must provide
proof of residence within 10 days after the published arrival
date provided on the military order.
Affected school districts. The provisions in this bill apply to
students of active-duty
members of the United States uniformed services, National Guard
and Reserve on
active-duty orders. California hosts more than 30 military
installations and 168 active-
duty service members. Presumably, the surrounding districts of
those military
installations may be the most affected by the requirements
outlined in the bill.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
Association of California School Administrators
Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson
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United States Marine Corps, Brigadier General, Edward D. Banta
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by:Rick Pratt / ED. / (916)
319-2087