BILL ANALYSIS
------------------------------------------------------------
|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 244|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|1020 N Street, Suite 524 | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
------------------------------------------------------------
THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 244
Author: Wright (D), et al
Amended: 6/1/09
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 6-1, 4/22/09
AYES: Romero, Alquist, Hancock, Liu, Padilla, Simitian
NOES: Huff
NO VOTE RECORDED: Maldonado, Wyland
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 7-5, 5/28/09
AYES: Kehoe, Corbett, DeSaulnier, Hancock, Leno, Oropeza,
Yee
NOES: Cox, Denham, Runner, Walters, Wyland
NO VOTE RECORDED: Wolk
SUBJECT : Childrens services: high-risk children
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill requires the Department of Education
(DOE) to conduct a study regarding the feasibility of
providing priority enrollment in high-quality child care
and development programs for children from birth to five
years of age who are in the foster care system, in relative
care or reunification, or were formerly in the foster care
system, who are at risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation,
are homeless, or have a custodial parent in the foster care
system, or are on probation or parole, or in a correctional
or residential facility. This bill requires the DOE to
CONTINUED
SB 244
Page
2
report the findings of the study to the Governor and to
appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature
by December 31, 2010.
ANALYSIS :
Existing law provides that, in order to be eligible for
federal and state subsidized child development services,
families must meet, among other requirements, at least one
the following:
1. A current aid recipient.
2. Income eligible.
3. Homeless.
4. One whose children are recipients of protective services
or whose children have been identified as being abused,
neglected, or exploited; or at risk of being abused,
neglected, or exploited.
Existing law establishes priorities for enrollment in
federal or state subsidized child development services as
follows:
1. First priority is for neglected or abused children who
are recipients of child protective services, or children
who are at risk of being neglected or abused.
2. Second priority shall be given equally to eligible
families regardless of the number of parents in the
home, who are income eligible. Within this priority,
families with the lowest gross monthly income in
relation to family size must be admitted first.
Existing law establishes priorities for enrollment in state
preschool programs as follows:
1. First priority is for three- or four-year old neglected
or abused children who are recipients of child
protective services or who are at risk of being
neglected, abused or exploited.
SB 244
Page
3
2. Second priority if for eligible four-year old children
prior to enrolling eligible three-year old children.
Prior/Related legislation
AB 769 (Torres) of 2009, extends priority for enrollment in
a state preschool program to children who have a biological
parent who is, or who has been within the previous six
months, under the jurisdiction of the delinquency or
dependency court.
AB 659 (Ma) of 2008 would have extended to specified
locally funded child care programs in San Francisco
existing continuity of care provisions for families
receiving subsidized child care from state and federally
funded programs. AB 659 was vetoed by the Governor, whose
veto message read:
"The continuity of services in child care settings is a
laudable goal. However, this bill would create a
negative incentive for the county to rely on the
availability of state and federally funded programs to
alleviate their local program needs, rather than
maximizing their local funds to create a comprehensive
child care delivery system.
"The bill would also create significant Proposition 98
General Fund cost pressure to expand state child care
programs at a time of fiscal challenge."
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 6/1/09)
Alameda County Office of Education
Association of California School Administrators
City of Compton, Office of the City Manager
Compton Unified School District
Los Angeles County Education Foundation
Los Angeles County Office of Education
Maria's Italian Kitchen
Santa Clara County Office of Education
The Sally & Dick Roberts Coyote Foundation
SB 244
Page
4
Toberman Neighborhood Center
DLW:do 6/1/09 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
**** END ****