BILL NUMBER: AB 609	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Swanson

                        FEBRUARY 16, 2011

   An act to amend Section 41326.1 of the Education Code, relating to
school districts.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 609, as introduced, Swanson. School districts: state
administrators.
   (1) Existing law provides for emergency apportionments made by the
state to school districts that are experiencing financial problems
or that become insolvent. Existing law requires the Superintendent of
Public Instruction to appoint a trustee to any district that has
accepted emergency apportionments because it has determined during a
fiscal year that its revenues are less than the amount necessary to
meet its current year expenditure obligations.
   Existing law further provides that if a school district accepts an
emergency apportionment that exceeds an amount equal to 200% of the
amount of reserve recommended for that district, as specified, the
Superintendent must, among other things, assume the legal rights,
duties, and powers of the governing board and appoint an
administrator to act on his or her behalf.
   Existing law requires the Superintendent and the state-appointed
administrator to prepare reports and plans, including a management
review and recovery plan, a multiyear financial recovery plan, and an
annual report on the financial condition of the district, as
specified.
   Existing law further requires that, within 30 days of assuming
authority, the state-appointed administrator discuss options for
resolving the fiscal problems of the district with several designated
groups, and consider, on at least a monthly basis, information from
one or more of these groups.
   This bill would additionally require the state-appointed
administrator, within 60 calendar days of assuming authority, and at
intervals of no more than 90 calendar days thereafter during the term
of his or her authority, to convene a meeting open to the public.
The bill would require that at least 14 calendar days' notice of the
location, date, and time of the public meeting be provided on the
Internet Web site of the district, and that the location, date, and
time of the public meeting reasonably be expected to accommodate
attendance of members of the community. The bill would require the
meeting to provide an opportunity for free discussion of the issues
facing the district.
   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.  Section 41326.1 of the Education Code is amended to
read:
   41326.1.   (a)    Within 30  calendar 
days of assuming authority, an administrator who has control over a
school district pursuant to Section 41326 shall discuss options for
resolving the fiscal problems of the district with all of the
following groups  ,  and shall consider, on a monthly basis,
or more frequently if so desired by the administrator, information
from one or more of the following groups: 
   (a) 
    (   1)  The governing board of the school
district. 
   (b) 
    (   2)  Any advisory council of the school
district. 
   (c) 
    (  3)  Any parent-teacher organization of the
school district. 
   (d) 
    (   4)  Representatives from the community in
which the school district is located. 
   (e) 
    (   5)  The district administrative team.

   (f) 
    (   6)  The County Office Fiscal Crisis and
Management Assistance Team. 
   (g) 
    (  7)  Representatives of employee bargaining
units. 
   (h) 
    (   8)  The county superintendent of schools.

   (b) Within 60 calendar days of assuming authority, and at
intervals of no more than 90 calendar days thereafter during the term
of his or her authority, the administrator shall convene a meeting
open to the public. Reasonable notice of the meeting shall be
provided on the Internet Web site of the district, and the location,
time, and date of the public meeting shall be posted no less than 14
calendar days before the meeting is to be convened. The meeting shall
be convened at a site located within the district that can
accommodate the attendance that is reasonably anticipated and on a
date, and at a time of day, that can reasonably be expected to be
convenient for the attendance of members of the community. The public
meeting shall provide an opportunity for free discussion of the
issues facing the district.