BILL NUMBER: SB 1266 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Senator Knight
FEBRUARY 26, 1999
An act to amend Section 51230 of, and to add Sections 35041.3 and
51413 to, the Education Code, relating to the selective service.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1266, as introduced, Knight. Selective Service Act:
registration: high school.
Existing law requires each public postsecondary educational
institution to make every reasonable effort to inform all male
applicants for undergraduate admission of their obligation to
register in accordance with the federal Military Selective Service
Act through one or more means, as determined by each institution.
Existing law prohibits any person subject to the federal Military
Selective Service Act from receiving any financial aid administered
by the Student Aid Commission if that person has not registered in
accordance with that act.
Existing law sets minimum requirements for graduation from high
school and receipt of a high school diploma, or high school
equivalency diploma.
This bill would, to the extent permitted by federal law, prohibit
a school district from issuing a high school diploma, and would
prohibit the Superintendent of Public Instruction from issuing a high
school equivalency diploma, to a person subject to the federal
Military Selective Service Act if that person has not registered in
accordance with that act.
This bill would require that all pupils be taught about the
importance of, and their personal responsibility to, the selective
service obligation as a part of the course in American government and
civics required for high school graduation, the consequences of
failure to register, and be taught how to register, including, but
not limited to, registration by use of the Internet.
Existing law authorizes school districts to appoint prescribed
staff, including, but not limited to, police reserve officers,
administrative advisors, and legal counsel.
This bill would, to the extent permitted by federal law, require
the governing board or boards of any school district to appoint a
selective services registrar for each high school, who may be a
school employee or a school volunteer who is 18 years of age or
older, to ensure that all pupils subject to the federal Military
Selective Service Act enrolled in the high school have registered in
accordance with that act.
By requiring school districts to comply with these new
requirements relating to selective service, this bill would impose a
state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement, including the creation of a State Mandates Claims Fund
to pay the costs of mandates that do not exceed $1,000,000 statewide
and other procedures for claims whose statewide costs exceed
$1,000,000.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 35041.3 is added to the Education Code, to
read:
35041.3. Notwithstanding any provision in a city, county, or city
and county charter to the contrary, and to the extent permitted by
federal law, the governing board or boards of any school district
shall appoint a selective service registrar for each high school.
The selective service registrar may be an employee of the high school
where he or she is appointed or a school volunteer who is 18 years
of age or older. The duties of the selective service registrar are
to ensure that all pupils subject to the federal Military Selective
Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 451 et seq.) enrolled in the high school
have registered in accordance with that act.
SEC. 2. Section 51230 of the Education Code is amended to read:
51230. As a part of the course in American government and civics
required for high school graduation pursuant to subparagraph (D) of
paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 51225.3, all pupils shall
read do all of the following:
(a) Read and be taught all of the following:
(a)
(1) The Declaration of Independence.
(b)
(2) The United States Constitution, including the Bill of
Rights.
(c)
(3) Substantive selections from the Federalist Papers.
(d)
(4) The Emancipation Proclamation.
(e)
(5) The Gettysburg Address.
(f)
(6) George Washington's Farewell Address.
(b) Be taught about the importance of, and their personal
responsibility to, selective service obligations.
(c) Be taught about the consequences of failure to register for
the selective service.
(d) Be taught how to register, for the selective service including
where to obtain the required for or how to register electronically
over the Internet (http://www.sss.gov).
SEC. 3. Section 51413 is added to the Education Code, to read:
51413. To the extent permitted by federal law, a school district
may not issue a high school diploma, and the Superintendent of Public
Instruction may not issue a high school equivalency diploma, to a
person subject to the federal Military Selective Service Act (50
U.S.C. App. 451 et seq.) if that person has not registered in
accordance with that act.
SEC. 4. Notwithstanding Section 17610 of the Government Code, if
the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains
costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and
school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7
(commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the
Government Code. If the statewide cost of the claim for
reimbursement does not exceed one million dollars ($1,000,000),
reimbursement shall be made from the State Mandates Claims Fund.