BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 2033
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 14, 2014

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                     AB 2033 (Salas) - As Amended:  May 1, 2014 

          Policy Committee:                              EducationVote:7-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY    

          This bill requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction  
          (SPI) to award Agricultural Career Technical Education Incentive  
          Grant funding to school districts that meet certain requirements  
          and demonstrate how grant funding will be consistent with its  
          adopted local control and accountability plan. Expresses  
          legislative intent that funds appropriated for the Agricultural  
          Career Technical Education Incentive Program in the annual  
          Budget Act shall be no less than the amount appropriated during  
          the 2013-14 fiscal year. 
          
           FISCAL EFFECT   

          General Fund/Proposition 98 costs of $4.1 million to continue  
          funding the Agricultural Career Technical Education Incentive  
          Grant at the 2013-14 funding level. 


          This program was one of a few categorical programs that remained  
          as a separate funding stream outside of the Local Control  
          Funding Formula.  The Governor's 2014 January budget proposed to  
          add the $4.1 million dedicated to this program into the LCFF,  
          thereby discontinuing the dedicated funding source.  If the  
          Governor's proposal is enacted, districts would have local  
          discretion to continue the program using their LCFF funding.  


          The Assembly and Senate Subcommittees on Education took action  
          to reject the Governor's proposal and continue funding the  
          Agricultural Education Incentive Grants as a separate program.










                                                                  AB 2033
                                                                  Page  2

           COMMENTS:    


           Background  . Agricultural Education Incentive Grants provide  
          ongoing grant funding to high schools with approved agricultural  
          programs (such as Future Farmers of America). The purpose of the  
          grant program is to maintain agricultural vocational programs in  
          California's high schools to ensure a trained and skilled  
          workforce within the agricultural sector. Approved agricultural  
          programs include the following components: classroom  
          instruction, leadership activities, and a project-based  
          occupational experience. 


          In 2013-14 CDE has granted 303 Agricultural Education Incentive  
          Grants to 222 school districts, totaling $4.1 million. The grant  
          funding can be used for non-salaried purposes, such as  
          agricultural supplies and equipment, as well as field trips and  
          conferences. Grant recipients also 


          must provide matching funds. In order to receive ongoing  
          funding, grant recipients are evaluated annually on the quality  
          of their program, which includes on-site reviews and technical  
          assistance.


           Analysis Prepared by  :    Misty Feusahrens / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081