BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 2202
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          CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
          AB 2202 (Block)
          As Amended  August 13, 2012
          Majority vote
           
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          |ASSEMBLY:  |     |(May 30, 2012)  |SENATE: |39-0 |(August 20,    |
          |           |     |                |        |     |2012)          |
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                    (vote not relevant)

          Original Committee Reference:    HIGHER ED.  

           SUMMARY:   Makes changes related to the review of the Interstate 
          Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children 
          (Compact).  Specifically,  this bill  :

          1)Extends from December 1, 2012, to December 1, 2013, the due 
            date for a report on findings, conclusions, and 
            recommendations from a task force review of the Compact.

          2)Extends from January 1, 2013, to January 1, 2014, the sunset 
            date regarding the reconvening of a task force for purposes of 
            reviewing the Compact.

          3)Provides that, if the Superintendent of Public Instruction 
            (SPI) finds it infeasible or impractical to reconvene the task 
            force, then the SPI may convene the State Council established 
            to coordinate the implementation of the Compact for the 
            purpose of completing the report.

           The Senate amendments  delete the Assembly version of this bill, 
          and instead add the provisions relating to the review of the 
          Compact.  Senate amendments also make other, technical changes.

           EXISTING LAW:  

          1)Provides for the reconvening of a task force that was 
            originally required by AB 2049 (Saldana), Chapter 589, 
            Statutes of 2008, to provide a review of and make 
            recommendations regarding California's adoption of the 
            Compact, as specified.

          2)Requires the SPI to reconvene the task force and requires the 
            reconvened task force to conduct a review, as specified, of 








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            the impact of the adopted Compact on the children of 
            California's military families and report its findings and 
            conclusions, with recommendations, to the Legislature by 
            December 1, 2012.

          3)Requires the appointment of a state administrator and the 
            establishment of a State Council to administer and manage the 
            Compact and coordinate implementation among state agencies, 
            local education agencies, and military installations.

           AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY,  this bill required the Legislative 
          Analyst to conduct a study, as specified, and make 
          recommendations regarding opportunities for expanding access to 
          postsecondary education in underserved areas.

           FISCAL EFFECT:   According to the Senate Appropriations 
          Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.
           
          COMMENTS:   AB 343 (Salda�a), Chapter 237, Statutes of 2009, 
          enacted the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for 
          Military Children.  The Compact provides for the uniform 
          treatment of military children transferring between school 
          districts and states.  Among other things, the Compact is meant 
          to address issues related to: 

          1)Records, enrollment, placement and attendance, including the 
            transfer of unofficial and official records, and placement in 
            comparable courses, programs, and the same grade level 
            regardless of age.

          2)Granting of additional excused absences to a pupil whose 
            parent has been called to or returned from active duty.

          3)Eligibility for enrollment and participation in 
            extracurricular activities, including allowing military 
            dependents to attend the same school and participation in 
            programs and extracurricular activities with the consent of a 
            non-custodial parent or other person who is caring for that 
            child (standing in loco parentis).  

          4)Graduation, including the use of best efforts to waive 
            required courses for pupils who successfully completed similar 
            coursework, and consider granting a diploma from the sending 
            school for pupils who transfer in their senior year of high 
            school.








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          5)Binding effect of the Compact, whereby all member states' laws 
            conflicting with the Compact are superseded by the Compact and 
            all rules and bylaws developed by the commission are binding 
            upon member states. 

          Among other things, AB 343 (Salda�a) requires the appointment of 
          a state administrator and the establishment of a State Council 
          to manage and coordinate California's participation in and 
          compliance with the Compact among state agencies, local 
          education agencies, and military installations.

          The Compact was jointly developed by The Council of State 
          Governments' National Center for Interstate Compacts, the 
          Department of Defense, military families, and various national 
          organizations and state departments of education.  To date, 43 
          states, including California, have adopted the compact.

          Because of delays in implementing various provisions of the 
          Compact, including the establishment of a State Council, school 
          districts have not received assistance in implementation and 
          some are not even aware that the Compact exists.  By delaying 
          the review and report, this bill provides an additional year to 
          implement the Compact, so its impact can be assessed.


           Analysis Prepared by  :    Rick Pratt / ED. / (916) 319-2087 


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