BILL ANALYSIS
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 1348
Author: Vasconcellos (D)
Amended: 5/26/00
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 10-3, 4/26/00
AYES: Alpert, McPherson, Alarcon, Chesbro, Dunn, Hayden,
O'Connell, Ortiz, Sher, Vasconcellos
NOES: Haynes, Knight, Monteith
NOT VOTING: Hughes
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 9-2, 5/25/00
AYES: Johnston, Alpert, Bowen, Burton, Escutia, Karnette,
McPherson, Perata, Vasconcellos
NOES: Leslie, Mountjoy
NOT VOTING: Johnson, Kelley
SUBJECT : Parenting education
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill calls for the convening of a summit
for the purpose of developing a master plan for parenting
education in nonpublic school settings.
ANALYSIS : Existing law:
1.Requires the course of study in grades 7 or 8 to include
a course in parenting education.
2.Requires the State Department of Education (SDE) to
CONTINUED
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supply a sample curriculum in parenting education
suitable as a stand-alone course or for incorporation
within existing courses in grades 7 or 8. 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.
This bill requires the Director of Health Services to
convene a summit no later than March 31, 2001 to develop a
master plan for parenting education in nonpublic school
settings. The bill requires the director to submit a
proposed master plan of parenting education to the
Legislature by January 1, 2002.
This bill requires the Department of Health Services (DHS)
to evaluate the Summit's recommendations and attempt to use
existing resources or secure private funding to underwrite
the study.
Comments
Need for the Bill . The purpose of this bill, according to
the author, is to educate children about their most
important function as productive members of society: being
parents. The author believes that attention should be
focused on parenting education to better prepare children
to be responsible, caring adults. The author notes that as
many as 75 percent of all prison inmates were abused as
children and that the only hope of breaking the cycle of
violence is to prepare every Californian to become a parent
who can provide a nurturing environment conducive to
healthy human development.
New Trend in Violence . The American Association for the
Advancement of Science researched the patterns of murder,
drugs, and guns and found a disturbing trend. In the
period between 1985-93, murders by adults decreased 20
percent, while murders by 18-24 year-olds increased 65
percent, and murders by 14-17 year-olds increased 165
percent. High birth rate over the last decade means than
40 million children will be in their teens in the next
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decade.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: Yes
General Fund costs of $500,000 for the DHS summit.
SUPPORT : (Per Senate Education Committee analysis)
California for Parenting Education in Schools
Doris Tate Crime Victims Bureau
Friends Committee on Legislation of California
Home Economics Teachers Association of California
Juvenile Court Judges of California
Little Hoover Commission
Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California
California Association for Counseling and Development
NC:sl 5/26/00 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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