BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1967
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 1967 (John A. Pérez)
As Amended April 26, 2012
Majority vote
EDUCATION 10-1 APPROPRIATIONS 12-5
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|Ayes:|Brownley, Norby, Ammiano, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Blumenfield, |
| |Buchanan, Butler, Carter, | |Bradford, Charles |
| |Eng, Grove, Halderman, | |Calderon, Campos, Davis, |
| |Williams | |Gatto, Ammiano, Hill, |
| | | |Lara, Mitchell, Solorio |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Wagner |Nays:|Harkey, Donnelly, |
| | | |Nielsen, Norby, Wagner |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Requires the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) and
the State Board of Education (SBE) to ensure the health and science
frameworks, adopted in the course of the next submission cycle
include the subject of organ procurement and tissue donation, as
appropriate.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee,
potential General Fund (GF) administrative costs, likely between
$175,000 and $250,000, to the State Department of Education's IQC to
complete the requirements of this measure. This assumes a portion
or all of the Commission's funding is restored to complete the
development of the health curriculum framework, as specified.
Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed all GF funding for the Curriculum
Development and Supplemental Materials Commission (now the IQC) in
2009. To date, this funding has not been restored.
COMMENTS : This bill requires the Instructional Quality Commission
(IQC) and the State Board of Education (SBE) to ensure the health
and science frameworks, adopted in the course of the next submission
cycle include the subject of organ procurement and tissue donation,
as appropriate.
Electing to be an Organ Donor: Currently, there are two ways to
register as an organ donor in California. First, each application
for a new or renewal driver's license or identification card
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provides a place for the applicant to indicate if he or she wants to
be an organ donor. If the person affirms this desire, the pink
donor dot symbol is pre-printed on the driver's license or
identification card. Second, the Donate Life California Web site
provides a way to register as an organ donor online.
According to Donate Life California, there are more than 100,000
people on the National Organ Transplant Waiting List, more than
21,000 of whom live in California. Nationwide, approximately 18
people die each day awaiting life-saving organ transplants, and a
new name is added to the national waiting list every 13 minutes.
One organ donor can save up to eight lives and one tissue donor can
improve lives of up to 50 others. Nationwide, minorities represent
49% of organ transplant candidates and more than 60% of kidney
transplants. In California, Latinos make up 32% of those waiting
for life-saving transplants, Asians/Pacific Islanders 16%, and
African Americans another 14%.
Health Education Standards & Graduation Requirements: Neither the
health education standards nor the frameworks include any
information about organ procurement or tissue donation. The health
curriculum framework was scheduled to be revised to align it to the
2008 health standards but due to the fiscal situation in the state
and resulting budget actions, the development of curriculum
frameworks and adoption of instructional materials has been
suspended until the 2015-16 school year. AB 2 X4 (Evans), Chapter
2, Statutes of 2009-10 Fourth Extraordinary Session, prohibits the
SBE from adopting or following any of the procedures to adopt
instructional materials, including following the procedures related
to framework development, through the 2012-13 school year. SB 70
(Budget and Fiscal Review Committee), Chapter 7, Statutes of 2011,
extended this prohibition to the 2015-16 school year. The revision
and adoption of a health framework may be several years away given
the existing fiscal challenges.
Despite the delay in the adoption of a health framework, the
Assembly should consider whether it is important to include organ
and tissue donation in the next revision of the health framework.
California does not require the completion of a health course as a
condition for graduation from high school. Districts are authorized
to offer health education courses to students and may require
students to complete health education coursework as a district
graduation requirement. According to Donate Life California, since
2006, more than 80 California high schools have voluntarily hosted
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organ donation presentations in their classrooms.
A number of recent bills have sought to amend the curriculum
standards and frameworks, and some have required instruction in a
particular subject matter. Because the education code is
permissive, districts can offer health education already, and many
if not most already do offer health education in high school.
Science Education Standards & Graduation Requirements: Neither the
science education standards nor the frameworks include information
about organ procurement or tissue donation. SB 300 (Hancock),
Chapter 624, Statutes of 2011, requires the science curriculum
standards to be revised by July 30, 2013, so there may be a revision
of the standards in the near future. The science curriculum
framework was scheduled to be updated in 2010 but due to the fiscal
situation in the state and resulting budget actions, the development
of curriculum framework and adoption of instructional materials has
been suspended until the 2015-16 school year (as noted above). The
revision and adoption of a science framework may be several years
away given the existing fiscal challenges.
High school students are required to complete two years of science
as a graduation requirement. It is unclear, however, which science
disciplines are most appropriate for a discussion on organ
procurement or tissue donation. For example, it may be appropriate
in a biology class, but may not be appropriate in a physics or
chemistry course. The bill specifies that this topic shall be
included in science disciplines, as appropriate.
Previous legislation: AB 1118 (John A. Pérez), of 2011, which was
held on the Assembly Appropriations suspense file, would have
required the Curriculum Development and Supplemental Materials
Commission and the SBE to ensure the health framework, adopted in
the course of the next submission cycle, includes the subject of
organ procurement and tissue donation in the instruction provided to
pupils in grades 9-10. Further it would have required a school
district, commencing with the 2012-13 school year, to provide pupils
who are enrolled in health classes in grades 9 and 10 at least 15
minutes of instruction in organ procurement and tissue donation, as
specified.
Analysis Prepared by : Chelsea Kelley / ED. / (916) 319-2087
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