BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 237|
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CONSENT
Bill No: SB 237
Author: Calderon (D), et al.
Amended: 5/15/13
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 8-0, 5/8/13
AYES: Liu, Wyland, Block, Hancock, Hueso, Huff, Jackson,
Monning
NO VOTE RECORDED: Correa
SUBJECT : Retroactive high school diplomas: veterans
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill expands the pool of veterans who may
receive a retroactive high school diploma to include people who
served in the military after the Vietnam War, as specified.
ANALYSIS :
Retroactive high school diplomas
Existing law authorizes school districts and county offices of
education to retroactively grant a high school diploma to a
person who has not received a diploma if he/she meets either of
the following:
1.The person was interned by order of the federal government
during World War II and was enrolled in a high school
immediately preceding his/her internment and did not receive a
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diploma because his/her education was interrupted due to
internment.
2.The person is a veteran of World War II, the Korean War or the
Vietnam War, was honorably discharged from military service,
was enrolled in high school immediately preceding his/her
military service in those wars, and did not receive a diploma
because his/her education was interrupted due to military
service.
Existing law authorizes school districts and county offices of
education to, for a former member of the Armed Forces who is a
resident of California and who has received an honorable
discharge, or for a member of the Armed Forces who is a resident
of California, who has not received a high school diploma:
1.Evaluate classes completed in any high school, community
college or state college.
2.Grant credit toward graduation for military service and
training received while in the military service of the United
States.
3.Grant a diploma of graduation if satisfied that the person has
completed the equivalent of the requirements for graduation
from high school.
Existing law requires a high school to grant a diploma of
graduation to a veteran who was enrolled in grade 12 at the time
of entering military and had satisfactorily completed the first
half of the work required for grade 12.
Existing law defines a veteran as a person who has served 90
days or more in the military service of the United States during
a war with a foreign power or during any national emergency
declared by the President of the United States and who has
received an honorable discharge from that service.
Existing law provides that war with a foreign power exists under
any of the following conditions:
1.Whenever Congress has declared war and peace has not been
formally restored.
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2.Whenever the United States is engaged in active military
operations against any foreign power, whether or not war has
been formally declared.
3.Whenever the United States is assisting the United Nations, in
actions involving the use of armed forces, to maintain or
restore international peace and security.
High school graduation requirements
Existing law:
1.Requires a pupil to pass both the English language arts and
mathematics portions of the California High School Exit Exam
and complete the following courses as a condition of
graduating from high school:
A. Three years of English.
B. Two years of mathematics.
C. Two years of science, including biological and
physical sciences.
D. Three years of social studies, including United States
history and geography; world history, culture, and
geography; one semester of American government and civics,
and one semester of economics.
E. One year of visual or performing arts, foreign language,
or beginning with the 2012-13 school year, career technical
education.
F. Two years of physical education.
1.Requires one of the two years of mathematics to meet or exceed
the rigor of the content standards for Algebra I.
2.Authorizes school districts to impose additional coursework
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requirements as a condition of graduation from high school.
This bill expands the pool of veterans who may receive a
retroactive high school diploma to include people who served in
the military after the Vietnam War. Specifically, this bill:
1.Expands the group of veterans who may be granted a retroactive
high school diploma by interlocking reference to veterans of
World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War.
2.Expands the definition of "veteran" to include those who
served in the United States military during a humanitarian
mission.
3.Requires a school district or county office of education,
before granting a retroactive high school diploma, to require
an eligible veteran to pass the high school exit exam, or
verify the veteran has satisfactorily completed at least
one-half of the coursework required for grade 12.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local:
No
SUPPORT : (Verified 5/15/13)
American Legion, Department of California
AMVETS, Department of California
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author, "Currently,
districts and boards of education have the authority to
retroactively grant high school diplomas to those interned as
well as specified veterans. The specificity of the language
does not give school districts the clear ability to include
veterans in post-Vietnam conflicts. Further, this bill will
include those who served in humanitarian missions. Not all
persons deployed overseas do so in the name of conflict."
PQ:nld 5/15/13 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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