Sacramento Update - June 2015

Volume 39, Number 5 June 2015

Advocacy news from the California State PTA Legislation Team

To learn more about the California State PTA positions on bills currently before the California Legislature, click HERE.

Read the full issue

Budget passes on time; bills progress to second house

After months of anticipation – during which California State PTA and the education community have been actively advocating to provide for the needs of children – state lawmakers accomplished a major milestone in their work with the on-time passage of California's 2015-16 budget. There is a lot to like in this budget, but schools and kids are still not adequately funded. >>READ MORE

For more information, please contact Director of Legislation Kathy Moffat at legislation@capta.org.

Governor gets his way with the budget

After some speculation about possible increases over his May revision, California’s final state budget for the 2015-16 fiscal year looks much like what Governor Jerry Brown proposed in mid-May. Children are the prime beneficiaries of the small increase that occurred in the final budget, as compared with the May revisions. >>READ MORE

For more information, please contact Budget and Education Finance Advocate Shayne Silva at ssilva@capta.org.

California Assembly passes PTA-supported SB 277 (Pan) on vaccination of school children

On June 25, in dramatic fashion, against a backdrop of months of impassioned rhetoric, the California Assembly passed SB 277 (Pan) that would discontinue the use of personal beliefs as criteria to exempt children from the school attendance requirement that they be fully vaccinated. California State PTA strongly supports this bill. >>READ MORE

For more information, please contact Health Advocate Cathy Hall at chall@capta.org.

School facilities bond bills in focus

There are several bills that deal with state assistance to local schools and districts for school facilities construction and modernization. As you may know, the state has no funds left to assist local districts with facilities, as the last bond was passed in 2006, and those funds are now exhausted. >>READ MORE

For more information, please contact Director of Legislation Kathy Moffat at legislation@capta.org.

Overhauling teacher evaluation – SB 499 and AB 575

California’s teacher evaluation system has needed an update for years. The current system, established by the Stull Act in 1971, no longer meets today’s needs. SB 499 (Liu) and its companion from the Assembly, AB 575 (O’Donnell), are written to establish a new system, and California State PTA has adopted a “Support if Amended” position on both. >>READ MORE

For more information, please contact Education Advocate Donna Artukovic at dartukovic@capta.org .

PTA supports stronger restrictions for teen drivers

Reckless and distracted driving is the number-one killer of teens in America. California State PTA is supporting AB 235 (Frazier), which would strengthen current state laws that already place restrictions on teens during their first year behind the wheel. >>READ MORE

For more information, please contact Community Concerns Advocate Shereen Walter at swalter@capta.org .

Sexual health education in need of an update

The California Healthy Youth Act, AB 329 (Weber), is a broad-concept bill that will update the Education Code section that addresses comprehensive sexual health education. Its provisions are consistent with California State PTA’s position that quality sex education is critical for all our young people’s health. >>READ MORE

For more information or questions, please contact Health Advocate Cathy Hall at chall@capta.org.

Career technical education – what's next?

California State PTA supports the strengthening of Career Technical Education (CTE). We believe building better partnerships between schools, community colleges and businesses is a wise investment in California’s future economy. >>READ MORE

For further information, contact Education Advocate Donna Artukovic at dartukovic@capta.org.

California State PTA Legislation Action Committee
California State PTA Legislation Action Committee (LAC) meets during the legislative session, and takes action on pending state and federal legislation based on PTA's priorities and adopted authorities.

The LAC includes the director of legislation, president, president-elect, executive director, vice presidents or representatives from the commissions for communications, community concerns, education, health and family engagement, two district presidents and others as may be appointed by the president. This committee shall meet on call upon the approval of the president.

For more information, please refer to the Advocacy section of the California State PTA Toolkit. Click here to view currently adopted positions on legislation. For more information or to inquire if a bill is under consideration by California State PTA, contact the director of legislation at legislation@capta.org.

This message is being sent to PTA legislation officers and subscribers to our Legislative Alerts and Sacramento Update. Please feel free to forward this message to your members and other interested parties.