BILL ANALYSIS
SB 305
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 305 (Vasconcellos)
As Amended July 7, 1999
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :25-12
EDUCATION 12-5 APPROPRIATIONS 14-7
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|Ayes:|Mazzoni, Alquist, |Ayes:|Migden, Cedillo, Davis, |
| |Calderon, Correa, | |Hertzberg, Kuehl, Papan, |
| |Cunneen, Davis, Honda, | |Romero, Keeley, |
| |Nakano, Scott, Soto, | |Steinberg, Thomson, |
| |Strom-Martin, Wildman | |Wesson, Wiggins, Wright, |
| | | |Aroner |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Campbell, Baldwin, Leach, |Nays:|Brewer, Ackerman, |
| |Robert Pacheco, Rod | |Ashburn, Campbell, |
| |Pacheco | |Maldonado, Runner, Zettel |
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SUMMARY : Requires school districts to ensure that all students
in grades nine to 12 receive specified parenting education.
Specifically, this bill:
1)Requires, beginning in the 2000-2001 school year, all students
in grades nine to 12 to receive parenting education from
adequately trained instructors in appropriate education
courses.
2)Requires the parenting education to be designed to develop
knowledge of topics including, but not limited to, all of the
following:
a) Parental responsibilities;
b) Child growth and development;
c) Maintaining healthy relationships;
d) Child abuse and neglect issues;
e) Self-esteem;
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f) Personal hygiene;
g) Household budgeting;
h) Teen parenting issues; and,
i) Positive communication and problem solving skills.
3)States legislative intent that each school district ensures
that all students who are pregnant and all students who are
known to be prospective fathers for the babies of these
pregnant students be enrolled in the next scheduled parenting
education course.
4)Requires each parent or guardian of a student in a course in
which parenting education is taught to be given notice about
the proposed participation of the student, and access to the
instructional materials.
5)Requires a teacher of parenting education to hold specified
qualifications.
6)Requires the State Department of Education (SDE) to submit to
the Legislature, by January 1, 2004, an evaluation of the
effectiveness of requiring parenting education.
7)Requires a juvenile court school and the State Department of
Youth Authority (CYA) to offer a course in parenting to each
student or ward who is at least 12 years old.
8)Requires the Director (director) of the State Department of
Health Services (DHS) to convene a summit no later than March
31, 2000 to develop a master plan for parenting education in
nonpublic school settings. Requires the director to submit a
proposed master plan of parenting education to the Legislature
by January 1, 2001.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Requires the course of study in grades seven or eight to
include course content in parenting skills and education.
2)Requires SDE to supply a sample curriculum in parenting
education suitable as a stand-alone course or for
incorporation within existing courses in grades seven or
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eight. The content of which should develop a knowledge of
topics including, but not limited to:
a) Child growth and development;
b) Parental responsibilities;
c) Household budgeting;
d) Child abuse and neglect issues;
e) Personal hygiene;
f) Maintaining healthy relationships;
g) Teen parenting issues; and,
h) Self-esteem.
3)Requires county boards of education to administer the
operation of juvenile court schools.
4)Requires CYA to adopt and prescribe minimum standards of
programs of education for juvenile homes, ranches, camps,
forestry camps, and youth correctional facilities.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee:
1)Unknown General Fund (GF) (Proposition 98) costs, potentially
over $4 million annually to school districts and juvenile
court schools, to provide a parenting course taught by an
appropriately trained teacher. The Department of Finance
notes that funding for this program may be similar to the cost
to provide AIDS prevention instruction, which is budgeted at
$4 million annually.
2)Unknown GF (Proposition 98) costs, potentially over $4 million
annually to school districts and juvenile court schools, to
provide a parenting course taught by an appropriately trained
teacher. The Department of Finance notes that funding for
this program may be similar to the cost to provide AIDS
prevention instruction, which is budgeted at $4 million
annually.
SB 305
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COMMENTS : Several studies have concluded that the first 3 years
of life lay the foundation for all that follows and cite many
factors, particularly the lack of family support, for the causes
of health, economic and social problems later in life.
Analysis Prepared by : Lynn Lorber / ED. / (916) 319-2087
FN: 0003260