BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 1777|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 1777
Author: Alarcon (D)
Amended: 5/26/06
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 8-2, 4/27/06
AYES: Scott, Alquist, Lowenthal, Romero, Simitian, Soto,
Speier, Torlakson
NOES: Maldonado, Denham
NO VOTE RECORDED: Morrow
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 7-5, 5/25/06
AYES: Murray, Alarcon, Alquist, Escutia, Florez, Romero,
Torlakson
NOES: Aanestad, Ashburn, Battin, Dutton, Poochigian
NO VOTE RECORDED: Ortiz
SUBJECT : Juvenile court schools
SOURCE : Los Angeles County Office of Education
DIGEST : This bill provides supplemental funding to
school districts and county offices of education that
provide instructional services to foster youth.
ANALYSIS : This bill is very similar to funding
provisions for the Foster Youth Services Core District
Programs. There are six Foster Youth Services programs
(operated by school districts or a consortia) and 53
countywide Foster Youth Services programs. The goals of
CONTINUED
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these programs are to, among other things, (1) identify the
needs of foster youth, (2) provide educational and social
support services, and (3) improve student academic
achievement and reduce juvenile delinquency.
Outcome data for these programs, as reported by the
California Department of Education (CDE) in February 2006,
shows positive program results as demonstrated by
improvement in academic performance, expulsion rates, and
attendance rates. This report included several
recommendations, including (1) providing adequate funding
for the program, (2) developing a statewide database to
collect and share information, and (3) expanding countywide
programs to service all foster youth, not only those living
in licensed children's institutions (only about 12 percent
of foster youth). This last recommendation would be
partially fulfilled by expanding the Foster Youth Services
programs to serve foster youth in a juvenile court school
or transitioning from a juvenile court school.
This bill:
1. Requires, beginning in the 2006-07 fiscal year and until
the 2010-11 fiscal year, each county office of education
(COE) that provides educational services through a
juvenile court school to foster youth to receive, in
addition to the base revenue limit, an allowance from
the amount annually transferred to Section A of the
State School Fund.
2. Requires, beginning in the 2006-07 fiscal year and until
the 2010-11 fiscal year, each school district that
provides educational services to foster youth
transferring to the district or COE from a juvenile
detention hall or probation camp and they have received
educational services through a juvenile court school to
receive the same funding as described above, for a
period of at least six months, but not greater than one
year, after enrollment in the district or COE.
3. Prohibits the six school districts/consortia currently
receiving supplemental funding from receiving funds
pursuant to this bill.
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4. Specifies that funding for services to foster children
who transition to public school will only be from funds
specifically appropriated for that purpose in the annual
Budget Act.
5. Provides that program costs are capped at $1 million
annually until the 2010-11 fiscal year.
6. Requires each COE operating a juvenile court school to
designate staff persons as transition counselors with
specified responsibilities.
7. Requires the CDE to submit a report to the Legislature
evaluating the effectiveness of the additional funding.
8. Sunsets the bill's provisions on January 1, 2011.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:
Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2006-07 2007-08
2008-09 Fund
Foster youth services $1,000 annually through
2010-2011 General*
* Counts toward meeting the Proposition 98 minimum
funding guarantee.
At this time, data is unavailable on the number of foster
youth in juvenile halls, probation camps, ranches, and
other settings that receive educational support services
through COEs.
California Corrections Standards Authority's 2005 4th
quarter data indicate that there are approximately 10,900
youth in halls, camps, and ranches. By one estimate, 20
percent (2,180) of these youth may be eligible. (The
number of foster youth statewide is approximately 90,000.)
A district or COE would be prohibited from using funds
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received for these youth for students for whom it has
received funding for Foster Youth Services programs.
The proposed 2006-07 Budget appropriates $10 million for
Foster Youth Services programs.
SUPPORT : (Verified 5/25/06)
Los Angeles County Office of Education (source)
Los Angeles County Education Foundation
NC:mel 5/27/06 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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