BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 1266|
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UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Bill No: SB 1266
Author: Knight (R), et al
Amended: 7/7/99
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 10-0, 4/21/99
AYES: Alpert, McPherson, Alarcon, Dunn, Haynes, Knight,
Monteith, O'Connell, Ortiz, Sher
NOT VOTING: Chesbro, Hayden, Hughes, Vasconcellos
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 8-2, 5/27/99
AYES: Johnston, Alpert, Johnson, Karnette, Kelley, Leslie,
McPherson, Mountjoy
NOES: Burton, Perata
NOT VOTING: Bowen, Escutia, Vasconcellos
SENATE FLOOR : 25-5, 6/2/99
AYES: Alpert, Baca, Brulte, Dunn, Figueroa, Haynes,
Hughes, Johannessen, Johnson, Johnston, Karnette, Kelley,
Knight, McPherson, Monteith, Morrow, Mountjoy, O'Connell,
Ortiz, Peace, Poochigian, Rainey, Schiff, Sher, Wright
NOES: Bowen, Hayden, Lewis, Perata, Vasconcellos
NOT VOTING: Alarcon, Burton, Chesbro, Costa, Escutia,
Leslie, Murray, Polanco, Solis, Speier
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 72-0, 7/12/99 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT : Selective Service Act: registration: high
school
SOURCE : California Selective Service System
CONTINUED
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DIGEST : This bill encourages governing boards of school
districts to make every reasonable effort to inform
eligible pupils of their Selective Service obligations.
Assembly Amendments (a) make the bill permissive rather
than mandatory; they remove the word "shall" and insert
"should, but are not required to," and (b) make technical,
clarifying changes and add co-authors.
ANALYSIS : The Selective Service . Under current law
young men are required to register with the Selective
Service pursuant to the Military Selective Service Act
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), which denies
state financial aid to those who fail to register.
Department of Education advisory on the Selective Service .
Each year the State Department of Education 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. The 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.
In addition, the department's advisory recommends the
appointment of Selective Service registrars from among
counselors, faculty, other staff, or adult school
volunteers.
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This bill states that governing boards of school districts
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.
Comments
Need for the bill . 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.
According to information provided by the Selective Service
System, 92 percent of men ages 18-25 are registered
nationally. This figure increases to 98 percent in the
20-25 age group. The California registration rate is
significantly lower, at 67 percent.
Supporters of the bill contend that these provisions are
necessary to help improve California's compliance with the
Selective Service law, particularly since so many young men
would not be readily available should the Congress and the
President reinstate the draft in the event of a national
emergency.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No
Local: No
Unknown, but probably insignificant, local costs.
SUPPORT : (Verified 7/13/99)
California Selective Service System (source)
California Council of Police and Sheriffs
National Sojourners, Inc., Fresno Chapter No. 269
Reserve Officers Association of the United States, D.C.
Department, General Lewis B Hershey Chapter
Ronald H. Markarian, Major General (CA. Ret.)
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California Selective Service System
AMVETS, Department of California
Fresno County National Guard Commission
Disabled American Veterans, Department of California
Selective Service System Region III
Association of the U.S. Army - Central California Chapter
California Veterans Board, Acting Chairman
National Council of LaRaza
California Association of County Veterans Service Officers,
Inc.
Central Unified School District
Air Force Junior ROTC, Duncan Polytechnical High School
Central California Education Legislation Consortium
Tammersville School District
Glendora Unified School District
Lodi Unified School District
Legion of Valor
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California
Wiley Farms
American Legion, Department of California
Antelope Valley Union High School District
Bret Harte Union High School District
Campbell Union High School District
Delaine Eastin, Superintendent of Public Instruction
Eastern Sierra Unified School District
Golden Plains Unified School District
Modesto City Schools
Mountain Valley Unified School District
Oceanside Unified School District
Parlier Unified School District
Perris Union High School District
Rocklin Unified School District
Ventura Unified School District
West Sonoma County Union High School District
Several individuals
OPPOSITION : (Verified 7/13/99)
Friends Committee on Legislation of California
ASSEMBLY FLOOR :
AYES: Aanestad, Ackerman, Alquist, Baldwin, Bates, Battin,
Brewer, Briggs, Calderon, Campbell, Cardenas, Cardoza,
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Cedillo, Corbett, Correa, Cox, Cunneen, Davis, Dickerson,
Ducheny, Dutra, Firebaugh, Florez, Floyd, Frusetta,
Gallegos, Granlund, Havice, Hertzberg, Honda, House,
Jackson, Kaloogian, Keeley, Knox, Kuehl, Leach, Lempert,
Leonard, Longville, Lowenthal, Machado, Maddox,
Maldonado, Margett, Mazzoni, McClintock, Migden, Nakano,
Olberg, Oller, Robert Pacheco, Rod Pacheco, Pescetti,
Reyes, Romero, Scott, Shelley, Soto, Steinberg,
Strickland, Strom-Martin, Thompson, Thomson, Torlakson,
Vincent, Washington, Wayne, Wiggins, Wildman, Zettel,
Villaraigosa
NOT VOTING: Aroner, Ashburn, Baugh, Bock, Papan, Runner,
Wesson, Wright
NC:sl 7/13/99 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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