BILL NUMBER: AB 1618	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 29, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Galgiani

                        FEBRUARY 8, 2012

   An act to  amend Section 1790 of the Education Code,
relating to technical education.   add Section 66013.4
to the Education Code, relating to the University of California.




	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1618, as amended, Galgiani.  Technical education.
  University of California academic majors: high-speed
rail transportation.  
   Existing law, the Donahoe Higher Education Act, sets forth the
missions and functions of the 3 segments comprising the state's
public postsecondary education system. Among those segments is the
University of California, administered by the Regents of the
University of California. Provisions of the act apply to the
University of California only to the extent that the regents act, by
resolution, to make the provisions applicable.  
   This bill would request the regents to direct the Academic Senate
of the University of California to develop an academic major program
or programs related to high-speed rail transportation for
implementation commencing with the 2013-14 academic year. The bill
also would make specified findings and declarations relating to
high-speed rail.  
   Existing law declares the intent of the Legislature to encourage
the establishment of technical, agricultural, and natural resource
conservation schools in those areas of the state where they are
needed in order to reduce the number of school dropouts, combat
juvenile delinquency, and to provide more skilled and trained
workers.  
   This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to these
provisions. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  yes  . State-mandated local program: no.


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

   SECTION 1.    The Legislature finds and declares all
of the following:  
   (a) The construction of the proposed high-speed rail project will
be a very significant event in the history of this state and in the
history of the central valley in particular.  
   (b) California has led the nation in many facets of American life,
and will soon again be a national leader with its development of
high-speed rail.  
   (c) High-speed rail will help to reduce air pollution and
California's dependence on foreign oil.  
   (d) Academic majors relating to high-speed rail will help to
generate jobs in parts of the state where unemployment is highest.
 
   (e) Engineering, economics, architecture, and public
administration are among the academic disciplines where
high-speed-rail-related studies could make important contributions to
the communities that will be served by high-speed rail
transportation. 
   SEC. 2.    Section 66013.4 is added to the  
Education Code   , to read:  
   66013.4.  The Regents of the University of California are
requested to direct the Academic Senate of the University of
California to develop an academic major program or programs related
to high-speed rail transportation for implementation commencing with
the 2013-14 academic year.  
  SECTION 1.    Section 1790 of the Education Code
is amended to read:
   1790.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares: (1) that young
people who have dropped out of high school, thereby failing to
receive a minimum education, are faced with limited opportunities and
employment barriers because of their lack of training and skills;
(2) that these young people comprise a disproportionately large
segment of the unemployed or unemployables in this state; (3) that
these young people are disproportionately involved in juvenile
delinquency and youth offenses; (4) that these young people comprise
a disproportionate share of those on the welfare rolls; (5) that
there is an increasing shortage of the skilled and trained workers
needed because of rapid technological change; (6) that many of these
young people by aptitude are not suited for purely academic studies;
(7) that many of these young people would benefit from technical,
agricultural, and natural resource conservation training so as to
become independent, productive workers; and (8) that technical,
agricultural, and natural resource conservation training would
provide skilled workers needed by our rapidly developing technology.
   (b) It is the intent and purpose of the Legislature to encourage
the establishment of technical, agricultural, and natural resource
conservation schools in those areas of the state where they are
needed in order to reduce the number of school dropouts, combat
juvenile delinquency, and to provide more skilled and trained
workers. This article shall be liberally construed to carry out these
intents and purposes.