BILL ANALYSIS
SB 1266
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 1266 (Knight)
As Amended July 7, 1999
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :25-5
EDUCATION 13-0
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|Ayes:|Mazzoni, Campbell, | | |
| |Alquist, Correa, Cunneen, | | |
| |Davis, Nakano, | | |
| |Robert Pacheco, Rod | | |
| |Pacheco, Scott, Soto, | | |
| |Strom-Martin, Zettel | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Encourages school districts to inform eligible pupils
of their Selective Service obligations. Specifically, this bill
states that school district governing boards should, but are not
required to, make every reasonable effort to appoint a Selective
Service registrar for each high school. The bill also states
that districts should, but are not required to, make every
reasonable effort to inform pupils about the importance of
Selective Service obligations, the consequences of failure to
register for the Selective Service, and how to register for the
Selective Service.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown, but probably insignificant, local
costs.
COMMENTS : According to the author, every effort must be made to
ensure that young men are aware of and fulfill their obligation
to register for the Selective Service. The Selective Service
System indicates that 92% of men ages 18-25 are registered
nationally. This figure increases to 98% in the 20-25 age
group. The California registration rate is significantly lower,
at 67%. Supporters of this bill, which include numerous school
districts and veterans organizations, contend that its
provisions are necessary to improve California's compliance with
the Selective Service law.
Under current law, young men are required to register with the
Selective Service pursuant to the Military Selective Service Act
SB 1266
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within 30 days of their 18th birthday. If they fail to do so,
their registration may still be accepted up to their 26th
birthday. Failure to register with the Selective Service is a
felony, punishable by a fine up to $250,000, imprisonment for up
to five years, or both. Registration with the Selective Service
is required to be eligible for federal student loans and federal
job training programs. Within California, registration is
required for many state and local jobs. In the 1997-98 Regular
Session, the Legislature enacted AB 397 (Kuykendall), Chapter
575, Statutes of 1997, which denies state financial aid to those
who fail to register.
Each year the State Department of Education (SDE) sends an
advisory to district and county superintendents requesting that
steps be taken to remind young men who have turned, or will soon
turn, age 18 of their legal responsibility to register with the
Selective Service. SDE's advisory contains information relative
to how the registration process works, penalties for
non-compliance, and implications for failure to register for
student financial aid, access to job training benefits, federal
employment and other consequences. SDE's advisory also
recommends the appointment of Selective Service registrars from
among counselors, faculty, other staff, or adult school
volunteers.
Analysis Prepared by : Alva Johnson / ED. / (916) 319-2087 FN:
0001984