BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 339
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 6, 2009

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Kevin De Leon, Chair

                    AB 339 (Torres) - As Amended:  April 29, 2009 

          Policy Committee:                              Education  
          Vote:10-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill clarifies that county offices of education (COEs) are  
          eligible for federal funding pursuant to state and federal law.   


           FISCAL EFFECT  

          No additional state GF/98 administrative costs.  

           COMMENTS  

           Purpose  .  COEs provide a variety of educational programs and  
          services, including direct services to at-risk pupils (i.e.,  
          juvenile court schools, community day schools).  COEs also  
          provide services to school districts in the areas of business,  
          administrative, and curriculum and they are directly responsible  
          for the financial oversight of districts. There are 58 COEs.   
          The services provided are affected by the size and type of  
          districts within the county, the geographical location and size  
          of the county, and the special needs of students that are not  
          met by the districts. 

          According to the Los Angeles County Office of Education, the  
          sponsor of this bill, "Over the past several years, COEs have  
          been excluded from funding opportunities which greatly impact  
          the students they serve.  For example, most recently county  
          offices of education were excluded from the Middle and High  
          School Supplement Counseling Program which provided for  
          additional counselors.  Students served by county offices are at  
          risk students and are the very students the program was intended  
          to serve, yet they have been excluded." 








                                                                  AB 339
                                                                  Page  2


          This bill clarifies that COEs are eligible for federal funding,  
          as specified.   
            

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Kimberly Rodriguez / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081