BILL NUMBER: AB 1448	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 19, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Furutani

                        JANUARY 4, 2012

   An act  to add Section 41857 to the Education Code, 
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 amended, Furutani. Home-to-school transportation:
 appropriation.   funding.  
   (1) Existing 
    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 , commencing with the 2012-13 fiscal year and
each fiscal year thereafter, prohibit the Legislature from reducing
funding for home-to-school transportation below the amount
established in the Budget Act of 2011. The bill would also 
express legislative findings and declarations relating to the
provision of home-to-school transportation by school districts
 . The bill   , and  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   majority  . Appropriation:
 yes   no  . 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   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. 
   SEC. 2.    Section 41857 is added to the  
Education Code   , to read:  
   41857.  Commencing with the 2012-13 fiscal year and each fiscal
year thereafter, the Legislature shall not reduce funding for
home-to-school transportation below the amount established in Item
6110-111-0001 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2011 (Chapter 33
of the Statutes of 2011).