BILL NUMBER: AB 1922	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Davis

                        FEBRUARY 16, 2010

   An act to add Section 51204.8 to, and to add Chapter 3.9
(commencing with Section 8680) to Part 6 of Division 1 of Title 1 of,
the Education Code, relating to civil rights education.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1922, as introduced, Davis. Civil rights education: California
Civil Rights Education Commission.
   Existing law establishes the system of public elementary and
secondary schools in this state. Existing law establishes courses of
study to be pursued by elementary and secondary school pupils. The
State Department of Education is required to incorporate, into
publications that provide examples of curriculum resources for
teacher use, those materials that are age-appropriate and consistent
with subject frameworks on history and social science that deal with
civil rights, human rights violations, genocide, slavery, and the
Holocaust.
   This bill would establish the 15-member California Civil Rights
Commission in state government. The bill would require the commission
to provide information and coordination and facilitation services
with respect to courses and programs that relate to the civil rights
movement, and to provide assistance to education officials and
community organizations. The bill would specify the procedure for the
appointment of the members of the commission. The bill would provide
that members of the commission would receive no compensation for
their services, but would be reimbursed for the expenses they incur
while performing their duties. The commission would be authorized to
hire employees and enter into contracts for goods and services. The
commission would also be authorized to apply for, and receive, gifts
and grants from public and private sources.
   The bill would require the State Board of Education to make civil
rights education a mandatory part of instruction in the public
elementary and secondary schools, and to work with the California
Civil Rights Commission in implementing prescribed guidelines.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares both of the
following:
   (a) Understanding the important role of the Civil Rights Movement
in the lives of African Americans and all other Americans, and
understanding the importance of teaching California's children all of
our history, it is the goal of the Legislature to provide meaningful
support to this most important endeavor.
   (b) California's role in the struggle for civil rights also needs
to be formalized and taught as a beacon of hope for all Californians.

  SEC. 2.  Chapter 3.9 (commencing with Section 8680) is added to
Part 6 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code, to read:
      CHAPTER 3.9.  CALIFORNIA CIVIL RIGHTS EDUCATION COMMISSION


   8680.  (a) The California Civil Rights Education Commission is
hereby established in state government. The commission shall be
assigned to the office of the Secretary of State for administrative
purposes only.
   (b) The commission shall provide, or assist education officials
and community organizations with providing, information and
coordination and facilitation services, with respect to courses or
programs that relate to the civil rights movement. In completing
these tasks, the commission may act as a liaison with various
entities, including, but not necessarily limited to, the United
States Congress, the California Legislature, the National Association
for the Advancement of Colored People, as well as other national and
international agencies.
   8681.  (a) (1) The commission shall consist of 15 members, 11 of
whom shall serve terms, commencing and ending on July 1 of the
appropriate years, on a rotating basis. Of the 11 initial members of
the commission who serve terms, three shall serve terms ending on
July 1, 2012, four shall serve terms ending on July 1, 2013, and four
shall serve terms ending on July 1, 2014. Members of the commission
appointed to succeed the members referenced above, other than those
appointed to fill the unexpired portion of a term, shall all serve
three-year terms. No member may serve more than two terms.
   (2) The 11 members serving terms shall be chosen from applicants
who apply to a four-member joint committee consisting of
representatives of the California State Conference of the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the University of
California, the California State University, and the California
Community Colleges. The joint committee shall make its initial 11
appointments by July 1, 2011. The members of the joint committee
shall also be members of the commission.
   (3) The members of the joint committee shall be appointed as
follows:
   (A) The representative of the California State Conference of the
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People shall be
appointed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction from a list of
up to two names submitted by the conference to the Superintendent of
Public Instruction.
   (B) The representative of the University of California shall be
appointed by the President of the University of California.
   (C) The representative of the California State University shall be
appointed by the Chancellor of the California State University.
   (D) The representative of the California Community Colleges shall
be appointed by the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
   (b) The members of the commission shall be California residents,
and shall be appointed with due regard for broad geographic
representation.
   (c) The commission shall have a chairperson, who shall be
designated from the membership of the commission by the
Superintendent of Public Instruction to serve in that capacity for
the remainder of his or her term.
   (d) Eight members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for
the transaction of the business of the commission. Members of the
commission shall receive no compensation for the performance of their
duties, but shall be reimbursed for the expenses they incur in
performing these duties.
   (e) The commission shall adopt rules and regulations, and set
standards and policies, for the organization, operation, management,
budgeting, and programs of the commission. The commission is
authorized to hire employees and enter into contracts for goods and
services.
   8682.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the commission
may apply for, and receive, gifts, grants, and donations from any
public or private sources, including, but not necessarily limited to,
federal funds and private foundation grants.
  SEC. 3.  Section 51204.8 is added to the Education Code, to read:
   51204.8.  The state board shall make civil rights education a
mandatory part of the curriculum in public elementary and secondary
schools. The state board shall work with the California Civil Rights
Education Commission established pursuant to Chapter 3.9 (commencing
with Section 8680) of Part 6 of Division 1 of Title 1 in implementing
all of the following guidelines:
   (a) Providing assistance and advice to public elementary and
secondary schools with respect to civil rights movement education and
awareness programs.
   (b) Surveying and cataloging the extent to which civil rights
education exists in statewide curricula.
   (c) Creating an inventory of civil rights memorials, exhibits, and
resources that could be used in classrooms and for other educational
programs.
   (d) Compiling a list of volunteers who are willing to share their
knowledge and experiences concerning the struggle for civil rights.
   (e) Preparing reports for the Governor and the Legislature on the
inclusion of civil rights studies into the educational systems of the
state.