BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    




          Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary

                                SB 1266  (Knight)

Hearing Date:5/24/89            Amended:4/28/99        
Consultant: Karen French        Policy Vote:Education  10-0
____________________________________________________________ 

BILL SUMMARY: 

SB 1266 requires the governing boards of school districts  
to make "every reasonable effort" to appoint a Selective  
Service registrar for each high school and to inform pupils  
about the importance of Selective Service obligations, the  
consequences of failure to register for the Selective  
Service, and how to register.

                         Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
  
Major Provisions        1999-2000             2000-01               2001-02   Fund  

School mandate      -----Unknown, potentially over $150----------General*

*Costs count toward meeting the Proposition 98 minimum guarantee.

STAFF COMMENTS:  FOR VOTE ON RECONSIDERATION ONLY

This bill was heard on May 17, 1999, and FAILED PASSAGE  
(1-6).  The author has provided a letter from Central  
Unified School District indicating that they already have a  
registration program.  Of issue in determining mandated  
costs is interpretation of the "every reasonable effort"   
language.   To the extent districts must provide a  
financial remuneration to selective service registrars,  
this bill imposes mandated costs.  Those districts already  
providing this service could, under this bill, claim as a  
mandate the costs they currently fund.

Each year the State Department of Education sends an  
advisory to district and county superintendents requesting  
that steps be taken to remind young men to register.  The  
advisory contains information relative to how the  
registration process works, penalties for non-compliance  
(felony), and implications for failure to register on  
access to student financial aid, job training benefits,  
federal employment, etc.











According to information provided by the Selective Service  
System, 92% of men ages 18 to 25 are registered nationally.  
 This figure increases to 98% in the 20 to 25 age group.   
The California registration rate is significantly lower, at  
67%.