BILL ANALYSIS
AB 434
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 434 (Block)
As Amended June 1, 2009
Majority vote
EDUCATION 10-1 APPROPRIATIONS 12-5
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|Ayes:|Brownley, Nestande, |Ayes:|De Leon, Ammiano, |
| |Ammiano, Arambula, | |Charles Calderon, Davis, |
| |Buchanan, Carter, Eng, | |Fuentes, Hall, John A. |
| |Garrick, Solorio, | |Perez, Price, Skinner, |
| |Torlakson | |Solorio, Torlakson, |
| | | |Krekorian |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Miller |Nays:|Nielsen, Duvall, Harkey, |
| | | |Miller, |
| | | |Audra Strickland |
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SUMMARY : Reduces the required match to the After School
Education and Safety (ASES) Program Act of 2002. Specifically,
this bill :
1)Reduces the required match of in cash or in-kind local funds
from the applicant school district, governmental agencies,
community organizations, or the private sector, from one-third
of the total grant to 15% of the total grant for the 2009-10
and 2010-2011 fiscal years (FYs).
2)For FYs 2009-10 and 2010-11, lowers the facilities or space
usage that can count towards the local match from 25% to 15%.
3)Provides that the cost of a program site supervisor shall be
included as direct services, provided that at least 85% of the
site supervisor's time is spent at the program site.
4)Finds and declares that this bill furthers the purposes of the
After School Education and Safety Program Act of 2002.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, by reducing the ASES program local match from
one-third to 15%, there is the potential effect of serving fewer
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pupils and decreasing program quality. For example, if the 377
local education agencies that received funds in 2008-09 were to
lower their match to 15% for two FYs as proposed by this bill,
there would be $95 million less in matching funds statewide for
ASES programs. Less local program funds available will lead to
General Fund/98 cost pressure to increase the amount
allocated for the ASES program to maintain existing service
and/or quality levels.
COMMENTS : The ASES program, passed by voters as Proposition 49
in 2002, provided almost $550 million for before and after
school programs for students in kindergarten through ninth
grade. In 2008-09, 377 predominantly districts and county
offices of education received grants, serving 3,800 schools,
although local governments and nonprofit organizations working
in partnership with local educational agencies may also apply.
After school programs must commence right after school and at
least until 6 p.m. for 15 hours per week. Participating
after-school programs are required to have an educational and
literacy component in which tutoring or homework assistance is
provided in one or more of the following areas: language arts,
mathematics, history and social science, computer training, or
sciences; and an educational enrichment component, which may
include, but is not limited to, fine arts, career technical
education, recreation, physical fitness and prevention
activities. Priority for funding goes to schools where at least
50% of the pupils are eligible for free- or reduced-priced
lunch.
Maximum grants are $112,500 per year for elementary schools and
$150,000 per year for middle or junior high schools based on a
per pupil amount of $7.50 per day. Each program is required to
provide a match equal to not less than one-third of the total
grant. Facilities may count towards 25% of the local
contribution.
This bill reduces the local match from one-third to 15% of the
total grant for FYs 2009-10 and 2010-11 only. The Assembly
Appropriations Committee also lowered the percentage facilities
can be used to count towards the match from 25% to 15%. The
author states, "With the current economic crisis facing the
state at all levels, school districts are not able to secure
and/or provide the necessary matching funds to draw down this
important funding for after school programs. This bill would
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temporarily reduce, over the next two fiscal years, the matching
funds by nearly half. This would allow LEAs [local educational
agencies] and local governments to continue providing homework
help, tutoring, mentoring, time for organized physical
activities, and play time in a safe environment. Some great
examples of these activities include performing arts classes,
dance classes, and cooking and nutrition classes."
The sponsor, the Children's Initiative, states that the match is
frequently comprised of value added activities, such as local
donations of tickets to arts, sports, and other events.
Districts also count supplemental staff time, such as counselors
who are not a required component of ASES, and supplies and
equipments, such as music instruments and art supplies, as local
matches. Due to the downturn in the economy, community and
business donations have decreased while school districts are
unable to keep staff beyond school time or are laying off staff.
According to the California Department of Education (CDE),
several districts have indicated that they may discontinue their
programs due to the inability to come up with the required local
match.
Current law requires an ASES provider to spend 85% of the funds
on direct services to pupils and authorizes no more than 15% of
funds on administrative costs. This bill specifies that the
cost of a program site supervisor shall be considered direct
services as long as at least 85% of the site supervisor's time
is spent at the program site. According to the CDE, "direct
services" is not defined. When the CDE initiated categorical
program reviews two years ago, the question of how to count a
site supervisor's time arose. The majority of the site
supervisor's work is on managing the program and the bulk of his
or her time is spent at the program site, which the CDE
considers direct services. The remaining time may be spent at
the district office conducting administrative duties. The CDE
indicates that without clarification, it must require site
supervisors to account for every minute of their time, which may
be unnecessarily burdensome.
The sponsor states that the provisions of this bill were
discussed and recommended by the Advisory Committee on Before
and After School Programs, established by SB 854 (Ashburn),
Chapter 555, Statutes of 2005, which meets at least three times
a year to provide advice and offer administrative and
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legislative recommendations.
Analysis Prepared by : Sophia Kwong Kim / ED. / (916) 319-2087
FN: 0001314