BILL ANALYSIS Ó SB 1455 Page 1 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 SB 1455 Page 2 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: SB 1455 Page 3 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 SB 1455 Page 4 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 SB 1455 Page 5 United States Marine Corps, Brigadier General, Edward D. Banta Opposition None on file Analysis Prepared by:Rick Pratt / ED. / (916) 319-2087