BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 169
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   April 6, 2011

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Felipe Fuentes, Chair

                    AB 169 (Torres) - As Amended:  March 25, 2011 

          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 

           1)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 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. 

            Several COEs argue they have been excluded from funding 
            opportunities to the detriment of their students.  For 
            example, in 2006, COEs were excluded from the Middle and High 
            School Supplement Counseling Program, which provided for 
            additional counselors to low achieving students.  

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









                                                                  AB 169
                                                                  Page  2

           2)Previous legislation  .  AB 339 (Torres), similar to this bill, 
            was vetoed by the governor in August 2009, with the following 
            message: 

            "I am returning Assembly Bill 339 without my signature. This 
            bill would redefine "school districts" to include school 
            districts, county offices of education, and other agencies 
            deemed eligible pursuant to state and federal law, for the 
            purpose of allocating federal education funds.  However, in 
            its current form, I am concerned that the bill may have 
            unintended consequences for charter schools and/or other 
            educational agencies currently eligible for these federal 
            funds." 

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