BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 1266|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 1266
Author: Knight (R)
Amended: 4/28/99
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 10-0, 4/21/99
AYES: Alpert, McPherson, Alarcon, Dunn, Haynes, Knight,
Monteith, O'Connell, Ortiz, Sher
NOT VOTING: Chesbro, Hayden, Hughes, Vasconcellos
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 8-2, 5/27/99
AYES: Johnston, Alpert, Johnson, Karnette, Kelley, Leslie,
McPherson, Mountjoy
NOES: Burton, Perata
NOT VOTING: Bowen, Escutia, Vasconcellos
SUBJECT : Selective Service Act: registration: high
school
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill requires governing boards of school
districts to make every reasonable effort to appoint a
Selective Service registrar for each high school, and to
make every reasonable effort to inform pupils about the
importance of Selective Service obligations, the
consequences of failure to register for the Selective
Service, and how to register for the Selective Service.
ANALYSIS : The Selective Service . Under current law
young men are required to register with the Selective
CONTINUED
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Service pursuant to the Military Selective Service Act
within 30 days of their 18th birthday. If they fail to do
so, their registration may still be accepted up to their
26th birthday.
Failure to register with the Selective Service is a felony,
punishable by a fine up to $250,000, imprisonment for up to
5 years, or both.
Registration with the Selective Service is required to be
eligible for federal student loans and federal job training
programs. Within California, registration is required for
many state and local jobs. In the 1997-98 Regular Session,
the Legislature enacted AB 397 (Kuykendall), which denies
state financial aid to those who fail to register.
Department of Education advisory on the Selective Service .
Each year the State Department of Education sends an
advisory to district and county superintendents requesting
that steps be taken to remind young men who have turned, or
will soon turn, age 18 of their legal responsibility to
register with the Selective Service. The advisory contains
information relative to how the registration process works,
penalties for non-compliance, and implications for failure
to register for student financial aid, access to job
training benefits, federal employment and other
consequences.
In addition, the Department's advisory recommends the
appointment of Selective Service registrars from among
counselors, faculty, other staff, or adult school
volunteers.
This bill requires governing boards of school districts to
make every reasonable effort to appoint a Selective Service
registrar for each high school, and to make every
reasonable effort to inform pupils about the importance of
Selective Service obligations, the consequences of failure
to register for the Selective Service, and how to register
for the Selective Service.
Comments
Need for the bill . According to the author, every effort
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must be made to ensure that young men are aware of and
fulfill their obligation to register for the Selective
Service.
According to information provided by the Selective Service
System, 92 percent of men ages 18-25 are registered
nationally. This figure increases to 98 percent in the
20-25 age group. The California registration rate is
significantly lower, at 67 percent.
Supporters of the bill contend that these provisions are
necessary to help improve California's compliance with the
Selective Service law, particularly since so many young men
would not be readily available should the Congress and the
President reinstate the draft in the event of a national
emergency.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: Yes
Unknown, potentially over $15,000. The author has provided
a letter from Central Unified School District indicating
that they already have a registration program. Of issue in
determining mandated costs is interpretation of the "every
reasonable effort" language. To the extent districts must
provide a financial remuneration to selective service
registrars, this bill imposes mandated costs. Those
districts already providing this service could, under this
bill, claim as a mandate the costs they currently fund.
SUPPORT : (Verified 5/28/99)
California Council of Police and Sheriffs
National Sojourners, Inc., Fresno Chapter No. 269
Reserve Officers Association of the United States, D.C.
Department, General Lewis B Hershey Chapter
Ronald H. Markarian, Major General (CA. Ret.)
California Selective Service System
AMVETS, Department of California
Fresno County National Guard Commission
Disabled American Veterans, Department of California
Selective Service System Region III
Association of the U.S. Army - Central California Chapter
California Veterans Board, Acting Chairman
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National Council of LaRaza
California Association of County Veterans Service Officers,
Inc.
Central Unified School District
Air Force Junior ROTC, Duncan Polytechnical High School
Central California Education Legislation Consortium
Tammersville School District
Glendora Unified School District
Lodi Unified School District
Legion of Valor
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California
Wiley Farms
American Legion, Department of California
Several individuals
OPPOSITION : (Verified 5/28/99)
Friends Committee on Legislation of California
California Federation of Teachers
NC:sl 5/29/99 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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