BILL NUMBER: AB 1448	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Furutani

                        JANUARY 4, 2012

   An act relating to home-to-school transportation, making an
appropriation therefor, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take
effect immediately.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1448, as introduced, Furutani. Home-to-school transportation:
appropriation.
   (1) Existing law authorizes school district governing boards to
provide for the transportation of pupils to and from school whenever,
in the judgment of the governing board, the transportation is
advisable and reasons exist therefor. Existing law also authorizes
school district governing boards to purchase or rent and provide for
the upkeep, care, and operation of vehicles, or contract and pay for
the transportation of pupils to and from school by common carrier or
municipally owned transit system, or contract with and pay
responsible private parties for the transportation.
   This bill would express legislative findings and declarations
relating to the provision of home-to-school transportation by school
districts. The bill would express legislative intent to fund
home-to-school transportation to at least the level approved in the
Budget Act of 2011.
   (2) Existing law authorizes the Director of Finance to make
reductions in certain appropriations of the Budget Act of 2011 if
specified revenue forecasts are made for the 2011-12 fiscal year.
Pursuant to this provision, the Director of Finance reduced the
appropriation for home-to-school transportation that was included in
the Budget Act of 2011 by $248,000,000.
   This bill would make an appropriation of $248,000,000 from the
General Fund to the State Department of Education, for transfer to
Section A of the State School Fund, to restore this funding for
home-to-school transportation for the 2011-12 fiscal year.
   (3) This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately
as an urgency statute.
   Vote: 2/3. Appropriation: yes. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (1) All pupils should be provided with equitable educational
benefits.
   (2) Reductions to programs affecting access to schools, such as
home-to-school transportation, disproportionately and negatively
impact low-income and disadvantaged pupils in their ability to
equally participate in school.
   (3) The California Constitution requires the state to bear the
responsibility for ensuring that pupils receive equal educational
opportunities and free adequate educational services.
   (4) Federal and state law require school districts to provide
transportation for pupils with disabilities if those services are
necessary to provide the same level of educational benefit as other
pupils.
   (5) Providing California's youth with safe routes to school helps
to ensure their school participation, public safety, and well being.
   (b) Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature to fund
home-to-school transportation at the level approved in the Budget Act
of 2011.
  SEC. 2.  The sum of two hundred forty-eight million dollars
($248,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the
State Department of Education, Program 10-Instruction, for transfer
to Section A of the State School Fund, for Home to School
Transportation for the 2011-12 fiscal year, in augmentation of Item
6110-111-0001 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2011, as it was
reduced pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 3.94
of the Budget Act of 2011.
  SEC. 3.  This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the
meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate
effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:
   In order to restore urgently needed funding for home-to-school
transportation as soon as possible, it is necessary that this act
take effect immediately.