AB 2656: Pupils: diploma alternatives: fee waiver: foster youth.
- Session Year: 2015-2016
- House: Assembly
- Latest Version Date: 2016-09-27
Existing law authorizes certain persons, including, among others, any person 16 years of age or older, to have his or her proficiency in basic skills taught in public high schools verified according to criteria established by the State Department of Education. Existing law requires the State Board of Education to award a certificate of proficiency to persons who demonstrate that proficiency. Existing law requires the department to develop standards of competency in basic skills taught in public high schools and to provide for the administration of examinations prepared by, or with the approval of, the department to verify competency. Existing law authorizes the department to charge a fee for each examination application in an amount sufficient to recover the costs of administering the requirements of these provisions but prohibits the fee from exceeding an amount equal to the cost of test renewal and administration per examination application. Existing law prohibits the department from charging the fee to an examinee who qualifies as a homeless child or youth and meets other specified criteria.
This bill would additionally prohibit the department from charging the fee to a foster youth, as defined, who is under 25 years of age.
Existing law separately requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to issue a high school equivalency certificate and an official score report, or an official score report only, to a person who has not completed high school and who meets specified requirements, including, among others, having taken all or a portion of a general education development test that has been approved by the state board and administered by a testing center approved by the department, with a score determined by the state board to be equal to the standard of performance expected from high school graduates. Existing law authorizes the Superintendent to charge an examinee a one-time fee to pay costs related to administering these provisions and issuing a certificate, as specified. Existing law limits the amount of the fee to $20 per person and requires each scoring contractor to forward that fee to the Superintendent. Existing law prohibits a scoring contractor or testing center that charges its own separate fee from charging that separate fee to an examinee who qualifies as a homeless child or youth, is under 25 years of age, and can verify his or her status as a homeless child or youth.
This bill would additionally prohibit the scoring contractor or testing center from charging the fee to a foster youth, as defined, who is under 25 years of age.
Existing law requires the Superintendent, on or before December 1, 2018, to submit 2 reports to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature, one relating to high school proficiency tests, and one relating to high school equivalency tests, that each include, among other things, the number of homeless youth that took a high school proficiency or equivalency test in each of the 2016, 2017, and 2018 calendar years, and the impact of the opportunity to take a high school proficiency or equivalency test at no cost on the number and percentage of homeless youth taking a high school proficiency or equivalency test.
This bill would require the Superintendent to also incorporate data on high school proficiency or equivalency test examinees who are foster youth, as defined, into each report.
Existing law authorizes certain persons, including, among others, any person 16 years of age or older, to have his or her proficiency in basic skills taught in public high schools verified according to criteria established by the State Department of Education. Existing law requires the State Board of Education to award a certificate of proficiency to persons who demonstrate that proficiency. Existing law requires the department to develop standards of competency in basic skills taught in public high schools and to provide for the administration of examinations prepared by, or with the approval of, the department to verify competency. Existing law authorizes the department to charge a fee for each examination application in an amount sufficient to recover the costs of administering the requirements of these provisions but prohibits the fee from exceeding an amount equal to the cost of test renewal and administration per examination application. Existing law prohibits the department from charging the fee to an examinee who qualifies as a homeless child or youth and meets other specified criteria.
This bill would additionally prohibit the department from charging the fee to a foster youth, as defined, who is under 25 years of age.
Existing law separately requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to issue a high school equivalency certificate and an official score report, or an official score report only, to a person who has not completed high school and who meets specified requirements, including, among others, having taken all or a portion of a general education development test that has been approved by the state board and administered by a testing center approved by the department, with a score determined by the state board to be equal to the standard of performance expected from high school graduates. Existing law authorizes the Superintendent to charge an examinee a one-time fee to pay costs related to administering these provisions and issuing a certificate, as specified. Existing law limits the amount of the fee to $20 per person and requires each scoring contractor to forward that fee to the Superintendent. Existing law prohibits a scoring contractor or testing center that charges its own separate fee from charging that separate fee to an examinee who qualifies as a homeless child or youth, is under 25 years of age, and can verify his or her status as a homeless child or youth.
This bill would additionally prohibit the scoring contractor or testing center from charging the fee to a foster youth, as defined, who is under 25 years of age.
Existing law requires the Superintendent, on or before December 1, 2018, to submit 2 reports to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature, one relating to high school proficiency tests, and one relating to high school equivalency tests, that each include, among other things, the number of homeless youth that took a high school proficiency or equivalency test in each of the 2016, 2017, and 2018 calendar years, and the impact of the opportunity to take a high school proficiency or equivalency test at no cost on the number and percentage of homeless youth taking a high school proficiency or equivalency test.
This bill would require the Superintendent to also incorporate data on high school proficiency or equivalency test examinees who are foster youth, as defined, into each report.
Existing law authorizes certain persons, including, among others, any person 16 years of age or older, to have his or her proficiency in basic skills taught in public high schools verified according to criteria established by the State Department of Education. Existing law requires the State Board of Education to award a certificate of proficiency to persons who demonstrate that proficiency. Existing law requires the department to develop standards of competency in basic skills taught in public high schools and to provide for the administration of examinations prepared by, or with the approval of, the department to verify competency. Existing law authorizes the department to charge a fee for each examination application in an amount sufficient to recover the costs of administering the requirements of these provisions but prohibits the fee from exceeding an amount equal to the cost of test renewal and administration per examination application. Existing law prohibits the department from charging the fee to an examinee who qualifies as a homeless child or youth and meets other specified criteria.
This bill would additionally prohibit the department from charging the fee to a foster youth, as defined, who is under 25 years of age.
Existing law separately requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to issue a high school equivalency certificate and an official score report, or an official score report only, to a person who has not completed high school and who meets specified requirements, including, among others, having taken all or a portion of a general education development test that has been approved by the state board and administered by a testing center approved by the department, with a score determined by the state board to be equal to the standard of performance expected from high school graduates. Existing law authorizes the Superintendent to charge an examinee a one-time fee to pay costs related to administering these provisions and issuing a certificate, as specified. Existing law limits the amount of the fee to $20 per person and requires each scoring contractor to forward that fee to the Superintendent. Existing law prohibits a scoring contractor or testing center that charges its own separate fee from charging that separate fee to an examinee who qualifies as a homeless child or youth, is under 25 years of age, and can verify his or her status as a homeless child or youth.
This bill would additionally prohibit the scoring contractor or testing center from charging the fee to a foster youth, as defined, who is under 25 years of age.
Existing law requires the Superintendent, on or before December 1, 2018, to submit 2 reports to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature, one relating to high school proficiency tests, and one relating to high school equivalency tests, that each include, among other things, the number of homeless youth that took a high school proficiency or equivalency test in each of the 2016, 2017, and 2018 calendar years, and the impact of the opportunity to take a high school proficiency or equivalency test at no cost on the number and percentage of homeless youth taking a high school proficiency or equivalency test.
This bill would require the Superintendent to also incorporate data on high school proficiency or equivalency test examinees who are foster youth, as defined, into each report.
Existing law authorizes certain persons, including, among others, any person 16 years of age or older, to have his or her proficiency in basic skills taught in public high schools verified according to criteria established by the State Department of Education. Existing law requires the State Board of Education to award a certificate of proficiency to persons who demonstrate that proficiency. Existing law requires the department to develop standards of competency in basic skills taught in public high schools and to provide for the administration of examinations prepared by, or with the approval of, the department to verify competency. Existing law authorizes the department to charge a fee for each examination application in an amount sufficient to recover the costs of administering the requirements of these provisions but prohibits the fee from exceeding an amount equal to the cost of test renewal and administration per examination application. Existing law prohibits the department from charging the fee to an examinee who qualifies as a homeless child or youth and meets other specified criteria.
This bill would additionally prohibit the department from charging the fee to a foster youth or former foster youth youth, as defined, who is under 25 years of age.
Existing law separately requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to issue a high school equivalency certificate and an official score report, or an official score report only, to a person who has not completed high school and who meets specified requirements, including, among others, having taken all or a portion of a general education development test that has been approved by the state board and administered by a testing center approved by the department, with a score determined by the state board to be equal to the standard of performance expected from high school graduates. Existing law authorizes the Superintendent to charge an examinee a one-time fee to pay costs related to administering these provisions and issuing a certificate, as specified. Existing law limits the amount of the fee to $20 per person and requires each scoring contractor to forward that fee to the Superintendent. Existing law prohibits a scoring contractor or testing center that charges its own separate fee from charging that separate fee to an examinee who qualifies as a homeless child or youth, is under 25 years of age, and can verify his or her status as a homeless child or youth.
This bill would additionally prohibit the scoring contractor or testing center from charging the fee to a foster youth or former foster youth youth, as defined, who is under 25 years of age.
Existing law requires the Superintendent, on or before December 1, 2018, to submit 2 reports to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature, one relating to high school proficiency tests, and one relating to high school equivalency tests, that each include, among other things, the number of homeless youth that took a high school proficiency or equivalency test in each of the 2016, 2017, and 2018 calendar years, and the impact of the opportunity to take a high school proficiency or equivalency test at no cost on the number and percentage of homeless youth taking a high school proficiency or equivalency test.
This bill would require the Superintendent to also incorporate data on high school proficiency or equivalency test examinees who are foster youth or former foster youth youth, as defined, into each report.
Existing law authorizes certain persons, including, among others, any person 16 years of age or older, to have his or her proficiency in basic skills taught in public high schools verified according to criteria established by the State Department of Education. Existing law requires the State Board of Education to award a certificate of proficiency to persons who demonstrate that proficiency. Existing law requires the department to develop standards of competency in basic skills taught in public high schools and to provide for the administration of examinations prepared by, or with the approval of, the department to verify competency. Existing law authorizes the department to charge a fee for each examination application in an amount sufficient to recover the costs of administering the requirements of these provisions but prohibits the fee from exceeding an amount equal to the cost of test renewal and administration per examination application. Existing law prohibits the department from charging the fee to an examinee who qualifies as a homeless child or youth and meets other specified criteria.
This bill would additionally prohibit the department from charging the fee to a foster youth or former foster youth who is under 25 years of age.
Existing law separately requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to issue a high school equivalency certificate and an official score report, or an official score report only, to a person who has not completed high school and who meets specified requirements, including, among others, having taken all or a portion of a general education development test that has been approved by the state board and administered by a testing center approved by the department, with a score determined by the state board to be equal to the standard of performance expected from high school graduates. Existing law authorizes the Superintendent to charge an examinee a one-time fee to pay costs related to administering these provisions and issuing a certificate, as specified. Existing law limits the amount of the fee to $20 per person and requires each scoring contractor to forward that fee to the Superintendent. Existing law prohibits a scoring contractor or testing center that charges its own separate fee from charging that separate fee to an examinee who qualifies as a homeless child or youth, is under 25 years of age, and can verify his or her status as a homeless child or youth.
This bill would additionally prohibit the scoring contractor or testing center from charging the fee to a foster youth or former foster youth who is under 25 years of age.
Existing law requires the Superintendent, on or before December 1, 2018, to submit 2 reports to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature, one relating to high school proficiency tests, and one relating to high school equivalency tests, that each include, among other things, the number of homeless youth that took a high school proficiency or equivalency test in each of the 2016, 2017, and 2018 calendar years, and the impact of the opportunity to take a high school proficiency or equivalency test at no cost on the number and percentage of homeless youth taking a high school proficiency or equivalency test.
This bill would require the Superintendent to also incorporate data on high school proficiency or equivalency test examinees who are foster youth or former foster youth into each report.
Existing law establishes a system of elementary and secondary schools in this state in which instruction is received by pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive. Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of postsecondary education in this state. Kindergarten to grade 14 education is commonly characterized as comprising the elementary and secondary schools and community colleges.
This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation relating to kindergarten to grade 14 education in this state.
Existing law establishes a system of elementary and secondary schools in this state in which instruction is received by pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive. Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of postsecondary education in this state. Kindergarten to grade 14 education is commonly characterized as comprising the elementary and secondary schools and community colleges.
This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation relating to kindergarten to grade 14 education in this state.
(a)(1)A person 16 years of age or older, or who has been enrolled in the 10th grade for one academic year or longer, or who will complete one academic year of enrollment in the 10th grade at the end of the semester during which the next regular examination will be conducted, may have his or her proficiency in basic skills taught in public high schools verified according to criteria established by the department.
(2)The state board shall award a certificate of proficiency to persons who demonstrate that proficiency. The certificate of proficiency shall be equivalent to a high school diploma, and the department shall keep a permanent record of the issuance of all certificates.
(b)(1)The department shall develop standards of competency in basic skills taught in public high schools and shall provide for the administration of examinations prepared by or with the approval of the department to verify competency. Regular examinations shall be held once in the fall semester and once in the spring semester of every academic year on a date, as determined by the department, that will enable notification of examinees and the schools they attend, if any, of the results thereof not later than two weeks before the date on which that semester ends in a majority of school districts that maintain high schools.
(2)In addition to regular examinations, the department may, at the discretion of the Superintendent, conduct examinations for all eligible persons once during each summer recess and may conduct examinations at any other time that the Superintendent deems necessary to accommodate eligible persons whose religious convictions or physical handicaps prevent their attending one of the regular examinations.
(c)(1)The department may charge a fee for each examination application in an amount sufficient to recover the costs of administering the requirements of this section. However, the fee shall not exceed an amount equal to the cost of test renewal and administration per examination application. All fees levied and collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the State Treasury for remittance to the current support appropriation of the department as reimbursement for costs of administering this section. Any reimbursements collected in excess of actual costs of administration of this section shall be transferred to the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund by order of the Director of Finance.
(2)The department shall not charge the fee to an examinee who meets all of the following criteria:
(A)The examinee qualifies as a homeless child or youth, as defined in paragraph (2) of Section 725 of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11434a(2)), or as a foster youth, as defined in subdivision (h).
(B)The examinee has not attained 25 years of age as of the date of the scheduled examination.
(C)For an examinee who qualifies as a homeless child or youth pursuant to subparagraph (A), the examinee can verify his or her status as a homeless child or youth. A homeless services provider that has knowledge of the examinees housing status may verify the examinees status for purposes of this subparagraph.
(3)For purposes of this subdivision, a homeless services provider includes either of the following:
(A)A homeless services provider listed in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 103577 of the Health and Safety Code.
(B)Any other person or entity that is qualified to verify an individuals housing status, as determined by the department.
(4)The loss of fees pursuant to paragraph (2), if any, shall be deemed to be a cost of administering this section for purposes of paragraph (1).
(d)(1)The state board shall adopt rules and regulations as necessary for implementation of this section.
(2)Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the state board shall adopt emergency regulations, as necessary, to implement the provisions of subdivision (c), as amended by the act that added this paragraph. The adoption of these regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, or general welfare.
(e)The department shall periodically review the effectiveness of the examinations administered pursuant to this section. The costs of this review may be recovered through the fees levied pursuant to subdivision (c).
(f)(1)On or before December 1, 2018, the Superintendent shall submit a report to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(A)The number of homeless youth and foster youth that took a high school proficiency test in each of the 2016, 2017, and 2018 calendar years.
(B)The impact of the opportunity to take a high school proficiency test at no cost on the number and percentage of homeless youth and foster youth taking a high school proficiency test.
(C)The estimated number of homeless youth and foster youth who may take a high school proficiency test in future years.
(D)Recommendations for a permanent funding source to cover the cost of the waived fees.
(E)The annual and projected administrative cost to the department.
(F)The annual and projected reimbursement to contractors pursuant to this section.
(2)The requirement for submitting a report imposed under paragraph (1) is inoperative on January 1, 2020, pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.
(g)Additional state funds shall not be appropriated for purposes of implementing paragraph (2) of subdivision (c).
(h)For purposes of this section, a foster youth means any individual who meets or has ever met one of the following criteria:
(1)A child who was the subject of a petition filed pursuant to Section 300 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and removed from his or her home by the juvenile court pursuant to Section 319 or 361 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(2)A child who was the subject of a petition filed pursuant to Section 602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and removed from his or her home by the juvenile court pursuant to Section 727 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
SEC. 2.Section 51421.5 of the Education Code, as added by Section 3 of Chapter 384 of the Statutes of 2015, is amended to read:51421.5.(a)If, for purposes of this article, a contractor or testing center charges an examinee its own separate fee, the contractor or testing center shall not charge that fee to an examinee who meets all of the following criteria:
(1)The examinee qualifies as a homeless child or youth, as defined in paragraph (2) of Section 725 of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11434a(2)), or as a foster youth, as defined in subdivision (h).
(2)The examinee has not attained 25 years of age as of the date of the scheduled examination.
(3)For an examinee who qualifies as a homeless child or youth pursuant to paragraph (1), the examinee can verify his or her status as a homeless child or youth. A homeless services provider that has knowledge of the examinees housing status may verify the examinees status for purposes of this paragraph.
(b)For purposes of this section, a homeless services provider includes either of the following:
(1)A homeless services provider listed in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 103577 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2)Any other person or entity that is qualified to verify an individuals housing status, as determined by the department.
(c)Additional state funds shall not be appropriated for purposes of implementing this section.
(d)Notwithstanding subdivision (c), the Superintendent may use surplus funds in the Special Deposit Fund Account, established pursuant to Section 51427, to reimburse contractors for the loss of fees, if any, pursuant to this section. A contract executed by the department for the provision of examinations pursuant to Section 51421 or this section shall require that any contracting party accept all examinees, including those entitled to a fee waiver pursuant to this section. For purposes of this subdivision, surplus funds are funds remaining after the costs permitted by subdivision (a) of Section 51421 are paid.
(e)On or before December 1, 2018, the Superintendent shall submit a report to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(1)The number of homeless youth and foster youth that took a high school equivalency test in each of the 2016, 2017, and 2018 calendar years.
(2)The impact of the opportunity to take a high school equivalency test at no cost on the number and percentage of homeless youth and foster youth taking a high school equivalency test.
(3)The estimated number of homeless youth and foster youth who may take a high school equivalency test in future years.
(4)Recommendations for a permanent funding source to cover the cost of the waived fees.
(5)The annual and projected administrative cost to the department.
(6)The annual and projected reimbursement to the contractor pursuant to this section.
(f)The Superintendent shall adopt emergency regulations, as necessary, to implement this section. The adoption of these regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, or general welfare.
(g)The department shall include a provision in all memorandums of understanding with contractors for purposes of providing a high school equivalency test, that if the surplus funds in the Special Deposit Fund Account are depleted, the ongoing costs of a fee waiver for an examinee deemed eligible for a waiver pursuant to this section shall be absorbed by the contractor.
(h)For purposes of this section, a foster youth means any individual who meets or has ever met one of the following criteria:
(1)A child who was the subject of a petition filed pursuant to Section 300 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and removed from his or her home by the juvenile court pursuant to Section 319 or 361 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(2)A child who was the subject of a petition filed pursuant to Section 602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and removed from his or her home by the juvenile court pursuant to Section 727 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(i)This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2019, and, as of January 1, 2020, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2020, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.
SEC. 3.Section 51421.5 of the Education Code, as added by Section 4 of Chapter 384 of the Statutes of 2015, is amended to read:51421.5.(a)If, for purposes of this article, a contractor or testing center charges an examinee its own separate fee, the contractor or testing center shall not charge that fee to an examinee who meets all of the following criteria:
(1)The examinee qualifies as a homeless child or youth, as defined in paragraph (2) of Section 725 of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11434a(2)), or as a foster youth, as defined in subdivision (f).
(2)The examinee has not attained 25 years of age as of the date of the scheduled examination.
(3)For an examinee who qualifies as a homeless child or youth pursuant to paragraph (1), the examinee can verify his or her status as a homeless child or youth. A homeless services provider that has knowledge of the examinees housing status may verify the examinees status for purposes of this paragraph.
(b)For purposes of this section, a homeless services provider includes either of the following:
(1)A homeless services provider listed in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 103577 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2)Any other person or entity that is qualified to verify an individuals housing status, as determined by the department.
(c)Additional state funds shall not be appropriated for purposes of implementing this section.
(d)The Superintendent shall adopt emergency regulations, as necessary, to implement this section. The adoption of these regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, or general welfare.
(e)The department shall include a provision in all memorandums of understanding with contractors for purposes of providing a high school equivalency test, that if the surplus funds in the Special Deposit Fund Account are depleted, the ongoing costs of a fee waiver for an examinee deemed eligible for a waiver pursuant to this section shall be absorbed by the contractor.
(f)For purposes of this section, a foster youth means any individual who meets or has ever met one of the following criteria:
(1)A child who was the subject of a petition filed pursuant to Section 300 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and removed from his or her home by the juvenile court pursuant to Section 319 or 361 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(2)A child who was the subject of a petition filed pursuant to Section 602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and removed from his or her home by the juvenile court pursuant to Section 727 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(g)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2019.
(a)(1)A person 16 years of age or older, or who has been enrolled in the 10th grade for one academic year or longer, or who will complete one academic year of enrollment in the 10th grade at the end of the semester during which the next regular examination will be conducted, may have his or her proficiency in basic skills taught in public high schools verified according to criteria established by the department.
(2)The state board shall award a certificate of proficiency to persons who demonstrate that proficiency. The certificate of proficiency shall be equivalent to a high school diploma, and the department shall keep a permanent record of the issuance of all certificates.
(b)(1)The department shall develop standards of competency in basic skills taught in public high schools and shall provide for the administration of examinations prepared by or with the approval of the department to verify competency. Regular examinations shall be held once in the fall semester and once in the spring semester of every academic year on a date, as determined by the department, that will enable notification of examinees and the schools they attend, if any, of the results thereof not later than two weeks before the date on which that semester ends in a majority of school districts that maintain high schools.
(2)In addition to regular examinations, the department may, at the discretion of the Superintendent, conduct examinations for all eligible persons once during each summer recess and may conduct examinations at any other time that the Superintendent deems necessary to accommodate eligible persons whose religious convictions or physical handicaps prevent their attending one of the regular examinations.
(c)(1)The department may charge a fee for each examination application in an amount sufficient to recover the costs of administering the requirements of this section. However, the fee shall not exceed an amount equal to the cost of test renewal and administration per examination application. All fees levied and collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the State Treasury for remittance to the current support appropriation of the department as reimbursement for costs of administering this section. Any reimbursements collected in excess of actual costs of administration of this section shall be transferred to the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund by order of the Director of Finance.
(2)The department shall not charge the fee to an examinee who meets all of the following criteria:
(A)The examinee qualifies as a homeless child or youth, as defined in paragraph (2) of Section 725 of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11434a(2)), or as a foster youth, as defined in subdivision (h).
(B)The examinee has not attained 25 years of age as of the date of the scheduled examination.
(C)For an examinee who qualifies as a homeless child or youth pursuant to subparagraph (A), the examinee can verify his or her status as a homeless child or youth. A homeless services provider that has knowledge of the examinees housing status may verify the examinees status for purposes of this subparagraph.
(3)For purposes of this subdivision, a homeless services provider includes either of the following:
(A)A homeless services provider listed in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 103577 of the Health and Safety Code.
(B)Any other person or entity that is qualified to verify an individuals housing status, as determined by the department.
(4)The loss of fees pursuant to paragraph (2), if any, shall be deemed to be a cost of administering this section for purposes of paragraph (1).
(d)(1)The state board shall adopt rules and regulations as necessary for implementation of this section.
(2)Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the state board shall adopt emergency regulations, as necessary, to implement the provisions of subdivision (c), as amended by the act that added this paragraph. The adoption of these regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, or general welfare.
(e)The department shall periodically review the effectiveness of the examinations administered pursuant to this section. The costs of this review may be recovered through the fees levied pursuant to subdivision (c).
(f)(1)On or before December 1, 2018, the Superintendent shall submit a report to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(A)The number of homeless youth and foster youth that took a high school proficiency test in each of the 2016, 2017, and 2018 calendar years.
(B)The impact of the opportunity to take a high school proficiency test at no cost on the number and percentage of homeless youth and foster youth taking a high school proficiency test.
(C)The estimated number of homeless youth and foster youth who may take a high school proficiency test in future years.
(D)Recommendations for a permanent funding source to cover the cost of the waived fees.
(E)The annual and projected administrative cost to the department.
(F)The annual and projected reimbursement to contractors pursuant to this section.
(2)The requirement for submitting a report imposed under paragraph (1) is inoperative on January 1, 2020, pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.
(g)Additional state funds shall not be appropriated for purposes of implementing paragraph (2) of subdivision (c).
(h)For purposes of this section, a foster youth means any individual who meets or has ever met one of the following criteria:
(1)A child who was the subject of a petition filed pursuant to Section 300 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and removed from his or her home by the juvenile court pursuant to Section 319 or 361 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(2)A child who was the subject of a petition filed pursuant to Section 602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and removed from his or her home by the juvenile court pursuant to Section 727 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
SEC. 2.Section 51421.5 of the Education Code, as added by Section 3 of Chapter 384 of the Statutes of 2015, is amended to read:51421.5.(a)If, for purposes of this article, a contractor or testing center charges an examinee its own separate fee, the contractor or testing center shall not charge that fee to an examinee who meets all of the following criteria:
(1)The examinee qualifies as a homeless child or youth, as defined in paragraph (2) of Section 725 of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11434a(2)), or as a foster youth, as defined in subdivision (h).
(2)The examinee has not attained 25 years of age as of the date of the scheduled examination.
(3)For an examinee who qualifies as a homeless child or youth pursuant to paragraph (1), the examinee can verify his or her status as a homeless child or youth. A homeless services provider that has knowledge of the examinees housing status may verify the examinees status for purposes of this paragraph.
(b)For purposes of this section, a homeless services provider includes either of the following:
(1)A homeless services provider listed in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 103577 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2)Any other person or entity that is qualified to verify an individuals housing status, as determined by the department.
(c)Additional state funds shall not be appropriated for purposes of implementing this section.
(d)Notwithstanding subdivision (c), the Superintendent may use surplus funds in the Special Deposit Fund Account, established pursuant to Section 51427, to reimburse contractors for the loss of fees, if any, pursuant to this section. A contract executed by the department for the provision of examinations pursuant to Section 51421 or this section shall require that any contracting party accept all examinees, including those entitled to a fee waiver pursuant to this section. For purposes of this subdivision, surplus funds are funds remaining after the costs permitted by subdivision (a) of Section 51421 are paid.
(e)On or before December 1, 2018, the Superintendent shall submit a report to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(1)The number of homeless youth and foster youth that took a high school equivalency test in each of the 2016, 2017, and 2018 calendar years.
(2)The impact of the opportunity to take a high school equivalency test at no cost on the number and percentage of homeless youth and foster youth taking a high school equivalency test.
(3)The estimated number of homeless youth and foster youth who may take a high school equivalency test in future years.
(4)Recommendations for a permanent funding source to cover the cost of the waived fees.
(5)The annual and projected administrative cost to the department.
(6)The annual and projected reimbursement to the contractor pursuant to this section.
(f)The Superintendent shall adopt emergency regulations, as necessary, to implement this section. The adoption of these regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, or general welfare.
(g)The department shall include a provision in all memorandums of understanding with contractors for purposes of providing a high school equivalency test, that if the surplus funds in the Special Deposit Fund Account are depleted, the ongoing costs of a fee waiver for an examinee deemed eligible for a waiver pursuant to this section shall be absorbed by the contractor.
(h)For purposes of this section, a foster youth means any individual who meets or has ever met one of the following criteria:
(1)A child who was the subject of a petition filed pursuant to Section 300 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and removed from his or her home by the juvenile court pursuant to Section 319 or 361 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(2)A child who was the subject of a petition filed pursuant to Section 602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and removed from his or her home by the juvenile court pursuant to Section 727 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(i)This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2019, and, as of January 1, 2020, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2020, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.
SEC. 3.Section 51421.5 of the Education Code, as added by Section 4 of Chapter 384 of the Statutes of 2015, is amended to read:51421.5.(a)If, for purposes of this article, a contractor or testing center charges an examinee its own separate fee, the contractor or testing center shall not charge that fee to an examinee who meets all of the following criteria:
(1)The examinee qualifies as a homeless child or youth, as defined in paragraph (2) of Section 725 of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11434a(2)), or as a foster youth, as defined in subdivision (f).
(2)The examinee has not attained 25 years of age as of the date of the scheduled examination.
(3)For an examinee who qualifies as a homeless child or youth pursuant to paragraph (1), the examinee can verify his or her status as a homeless child or youth. A homeless services provider that has knowledge of the examinees housing status may verify the examinees status for purposes of this paragraph.
(b)For purposes of this section, a homeless services provider includes either of the following:
(1)A homeless services provider listed in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 103577 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2)Any other person or entity that is qualified to verify an individuals housing status, as determined by the department.
(c)Additional state funds shall not be appropriated for purposes of implementing this section.
(d)The Superintendent shall adopt emergency regulations, as necessary, to implement this section. The adoption of these regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, or general welfare.
(e)The department shall include a provision in all memorandums of understanding with contractors for purposes of providing a high school equivalency test, that if the surplus funds in the Special Deposit Fund Account are depleted, the ongoing costs of a fee waiver for an examinee deemed eligible for a waiver pursuant to this section shall be absorbed by the contractor.
(f)For purposes of this section, a foster youth means any individual who meets or has ever met one of the following criteria:
(1)A child who was the subject of a petition filed pursuant to Section 300 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and removed from his or her home by the juvenile court pursuant to Section 319 or 361 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(2)A child who was the subject of a petition filed pursuant to Section 602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and removed from his or her home by the juvenile court pursuant to Section 727 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(g)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2019.
(a)(1)A person 16 years of age or older, or who has been enrolled in the 10th grade for one academic year or longer, or who will complete one academic year of enrollment in the 10th grade at the end of the semester during which the next regular examination will be conducted, may have his or her proficiency in basic skills taught in public high schools verified according to criteria established by the department.
(2)The state board shall award a certificate of proficiency to persons who demonstrate that proficiency. The certificate of proficiency shall be equivalent to a high school diploma, and the department shall keep a permanent record of the issuance of all certificates.
(b)(1)The department shall develop standards of competency in basic skills taught in public high schools and shall provide for the administration of examinations prepared by or with the approval of the department to verify competency. Regular examinations shall be held once in the fall semester and once in the spring semester of every academic year on a date, as determined by the department, that will enable notification of examinees and the schools they attend, if any, of the results thereof not later than two weeks before the date on which that semester ends in a majority of school districts that maintain high schools.
(2)In addition to regular examinations, the department may, at the discretion of the Superintendent, conduct examinations for all eligible persons once during each summer recess and may conduct examinations at any other time that the Superintendent deems necessary to accommodate eligible persons whose religious convictions or physical handicaps prevent their attending one of the regular examinations.
(c)(1)The department may charge a fee for each examination application in an amount sufficient to recover the costs of administering the requirements of this section. However, the fee shall not exceed an amount equal to the cost of test renewal and administration per examination application. All fees levied and collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the State Treasury for remittance to the current support appropriation of the department as reimbursement for costs of administering this section. Any reimbursements collected in excess of actual costs of administration of this section shall be transferred to the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund by order of the Director of Finance.
(2)The department shall not charge the fee to an examinee who meets all of the following criteria:
(A)The examinee qualifies as a homeless child or youth, as defined in paragraph (2) of Section 725 of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11434a(2)), or as a foster youth, as defined in subdivision (h).
(B)The examinee has not attained 25 years of age as of the date of the scheduled examination.
(C)For an examinee who qualifies as a homeless child or youth pursuant to subparagraph (A), the examinee can verify his or her status as a homeless child or youth. A homeless services provider that has knowledge of the examinees housing status may verify the examinees status for purposes of this subparagraph.
(3)For purposes of this subdivision, a homeless services provider includes either of the following:
(A)A homeless services provider listed in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 103577 of the Health and Safety Code.
(B)Any other person or entity that is qualified to verify an individuals housing status, as determined by the department.
(4)The loss of fees pursuant to paragraph (2), if any, shall be deemed to be a cost of administering this section for purposes of paragraph (1).
(d)(1)The state board shall adopt rules and regulations as are necessary for implementation of this section.
(2)Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the state board shall adopt emergency regulations, as necessary, to implement the provisions of subdivision (c), as amended by the act that added this paragraph. The adoption of these regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, or general welfare.
(e)The department shall periodically review the effectiveness of the examinations administered pursuant to this section. The costs of this review may be recovered through the fees levied pursuant to subdivision (c).
(f)(1)On or before December 1, 2018, the Superintendent shall submit a report to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(A)The number of homeless youth and foster youth that took a high school proficiency test in each of the 2016, 2017, and 2018 calendar years.
(B)The impact of the opportunity to take a high school proficiency test at no cost on the number and percentage of homeless youth and foster youth taking a high school proficiency test.
(C)The estimated number of homeless youth and foster youth who may take a high school proficiency test in future years.
(D)Recommendations for a permanent funding source to cover the cost of the waived fees.
(E)The annual and projected administrative cost to the department.
(F)The annual and projected reimbursement to contractors pursuant to this section.
(2)The requirement for submitting a report imposed under paragraph (1) is inoperative on January 1, 2020, pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.
(g)Additional state funds shall not be appropriated for purposes of implementing paragraph (2) of subdivision (c).
(h)For purposes of this section, a foster youth means any individual who meets or has ever met one of the following criteria:
(1)A child who was the subject of a petition filed pursuant to Section 300 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and removed from his or her home by the juvenile court pursuant to Section 319 or 361 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(2)A child who was the subject of a petition filed pursuant to Section 602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and removed from his or her home by the juvenile court pursuant to Section 727 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
SEC. 2.Section 51421.5 of the Education Code, as added by Section 3 of Chapter 384 of the Statutes of 2015, is amended to read:51421.5.(a)If, for purposes of this article, a contractor or testing center charges an examinee its own separate fee, the contractor or testing center shall not charge that fee to an examinee who meets all of the following criteria:
(1)The examinee qualifies as a homeless child or youth, as defined in paragraph (2) of Section 725 of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11434a(2)), or as a foster youth, as defined in subdivision (h).
(2)The examinee has not attained 25 years of age as of the date of the scheduled examination.
(3)For an examinee who qualifies as a homeless child or youth pursuant to paragraph (1), the examinee can verify his or her status as a homeless child or youth. A homeless services provider that has knowledge of the examinees housing status may verify the examinees status for purposes of this paragraph.
(b)For purposes of this section, a homeless services provider includes either of the following:
(1)A homeless services provider listed in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 103577 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2)Any other person or entity that is qualified to verify an individuals housing status, as determined by the department.
(c)Additional state funds shall not be appropriated for purposes of implementing this section.
(d)Notwithstanding subdivision (c), the Superintendent may use surplus funds in the Special Deposit Fund Account, established pursuant to Section 51427, to reimburse contractors for the loss of fees, if any, pursuant to this section. A contract executed by the department for the provision of examinations pursuant to Section 51421 or this section shall require that any contracting party accept all examinees, including those entitled to a fee waiver pursuant to this section. For purposes of this subdivision, surplus funds are funds remaining after the costs permitted by subdivision (a) of Section 51421 are paid.
(e)On or before December 1, 2018, the Superintendent shall submit a report to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(1)The number of homeless youth and foster youth that took a high school equivalency test in each of the 2016, 2017, and 2018 calendar years.
(2)The impact of the opportunity to take a high school equivalency test at no cost on the number and percentage of homeless youth and foster youth taking a high school equivalency test.
(3)The estimated number of homeless youth and foster youth who may take a high school equivalency test in future years.
(4)Recommendations for a permanent funding source to cover the cost of the waived fees.
(5)The annual and projected administrative cost to the department.
(6)The annual and projected reimbursement to the contractor pursuant to this section.
(f)The Superintendent shall adopt emergency regulations, as necessary, to implement this section. The adoption of these regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, or general welfare.
(g)The department shall include a provision in all memorandums of understanding with contractors for purposes of providing a high school equivalency test, that if the surplus funds in the Special Deposit Fund Account are depleted, the ongoing costs of a fee waiver for an examinee deemed eligible for a waiver pursuant to this section shall be absorbed by the contractor.
(h)For purposes of this section, a foster youth means any individual who meets or has ever met one of the following criteria:
(1)A child who was the subject of a petition filed pursuant to Section 300 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and removed from his or her home by the juvenile court pursuant to Section 319 or 361 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(2)A child who was the subject of a petition filed pursuant to Section 602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and removed from his or her home by the juvenile court pursuant to Section 727 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(i)This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2019, and, as of January 1, 2020, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2020, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.
SEC. 3.Section 51421.5 of the Education Code, as added by Section 4 of Chapter 384 of the Statutes of 2015, is amended to read:51421.5.(a)If, for purposes of this article, a contractor or testing center charges an examinee its own separate fee, the contractor or testing center shall not charge that fee to an examinee who meets all of the following criteria:
(1)The examinee qualifies as a homeless child or youth, as defined in paragraph (2) of Section 725 of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11434a(2)), or as a foster youth, as defined in subdivision (f).
(2)The examinee has not attained 25 years of age as of the date of the scheduled examination.
(3)For an examinee who qualifies as a homeless child or youth pursuant to paragraph (1), the examinee can verify his or her status as a homeless child or youth. A homeless services provider that has knowledge of the examinees housing status may verify the examinees status for purposes of this paragraph.
(b)For purposes of this section, a homeless services provider includes either of the following:
(1)A homeless services provider listed in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 103577 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2)Any other person or entity that is qualified to verify an individuals housing status, as determined by the department.
(c)Additional state funds shall not be appropriated for purposes of implementing this section.
(d)The Superintendent shall adopt emergency regulations, as necessary, to implement this section. The adoption of these regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, or general welfare.
(e)The department shall include a provision in all memorandums of understanding with contractors for purposes of providing a high school equivalency test, that if the surplus funds in the Special Deposit Fund Account are depleted, the ongoing costs of a fee waiver for an examinee deemed eligible for a waiver pursuant to this section shall be absorbed by the contractor.
(f)For purposes of this section, a foster youth means any individual who meets or has ever met one of the following criteria:
(1)A child who was the subject of a petition filed pursuant to Section 300 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and removed from his or her home by the juvenile court pursuant to Section 319 or 361 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(2)A child who was the subject of a petition filed pursuant to Section 602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and removed from his or her home by the juvenile court pursuant to Section 727 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(g)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2019.
(a)(1)A person 16 years of age or older, or who has been enrolled in the 10th grade for one academic year or longer, or who will complete one academic year of enrollment in the 10th grade at the end of the semester during which the next regular examination will be conducted, may have his or her proficiency in basic skills taught in public high schools verified according to criteria established by the department.
(2)The state board shall award a certificate of proficiency to persons who demonstrate that proficiency. The certificate of proficiency shall be equivalent to a high school diploma, and the department shall keep a permanent record of the issuance of all certificates.
(b)(1)The department shall develop standards of competency in basic skills taught in public high schools and shall provide for the administration of examinations prepared by or with the approval of the department to verify competency. Regular examinations shall be held once in the fall semester and once in the spring semester of every academic year on a date, as determined by the department, that will enable notification of examinees and the schools they attend, if any, of the results thereof not later than two weeks before the date on which that semester ends in a majority of school districts that maintain high schools.
(2)In addition to regular examinations, the department may, at the discretion of the Superintendent, conduct examinations for all eligible persons once during each summer recess and may conduct examinations at any other time that the Superintendent deems necessary to accommodate eligible persons whose religious convictions or physical handicaps prevent their attending one of the regular examinations.
(c)(1)The department may charge a fee for each examination application in an amount sufficient to recover the costs of administering the requirements of this section. However, the fee shall not exceed an amount equal to the cost of test renewal and administration per examination application. All fees levied and collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the State Treasury for remittance to the current support appropriation of the department as reimbursement for costs of administering this section. Any reimbursements collected in excess of actual costs of administration of this section shall be transferred to the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund by order of the Director of Finance.
(2)The department shall not charge the fee to an examinee who meets all of the following criteria:
(A)The examinee qualifies as a homeless child or youth, as defined in paragraph (2) of Section 725 of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11434a(2)), or as a foster youth or former foster youth. youth, as defined in subdivision (h).
(B)The examinee has not attained 25 years of age as of the date of the scheduled examination.
(C)For an examinee who qualifies as a homeless child or youth pursuant to subparagraph (A), the examinee can verify his or her status as a homeless child or youth. A homeless services provider that has knowledge of the examinees housing status may verify the examinees status for purposes of this subparagraph.
(3)For purposes of this subdivision, a homeless services provider includes either of the following:
(A)A homeless services provider listed in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 103577 of the Health and Safety Code.
(B)Any other person or entity that is qualified to verify an individuals housing status, as determined by the department.
(4)The loss of fees pursuant to paragraph (2), if any, shall be deemed to be a cost of administering this section for purposes of paragraph (1).
(d)(1)The state board shall adopt rules and regulations as are necessary for implementation of this section.
(2)Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the state board shall adopt emergency regulations, as necessary, to implement the provisions of subdivision (c), as amended by the act that added this paragraph. The adoption of these regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, or general welfare.
(e)The department shall periodically review the effectiveness of the examinations administered pursuant to this section. The costs of this review may be recovered through the fees levied pursuant to subdivision (c).
(f)(1)On or before December 1, 2018, the Superintendent shall submit a report to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(A)The number of homeless youth, foster youth, and former youth and foster youth that took a high school proficiency test in each of the 2016, 2017, and 2018 calendar years.
(B)The impact of the opportunity to take a high school proficiency test at no cost on the number and percentage of homeless youth, foster youth, and former youth and foster youth taking a high school proficiency test.
(C)The estimated number of homeless youth, foster youth, and former youth and foster youth who may take a high school proficiency test in future years.
(D)Recommendations for a permanent funding source to cover the cost of the waived fees.
(E)The annual and projected administrative cost to the department.
(F)The annual and projected reimbursement to contractors pursuant to this section.
(2)The requirement for submitting a report imposed under paragraph (1) is inoperative on January 1, 2020, pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.
(g)Additional state funds shall not be appropriated for purposes of implementing paragraph (2) of subdivision (c).
(h)For purposes of this section, a foster youth means any individual who meets or has ever met one of the following criteria:
(1)A child who was the subject of a petition filed pursuant to Section 300 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and removed from his or her home by the juvenile court pursuant to Section 319 or 361 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(2)A child who was the subject of a petition filed pursuant to Section 602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and removed from his or her home by the juvenile court pursuant to Section 727 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
SEC. 2.Section 51421.5 of the Education Code, as added by Section 3 of Chapter 384 of the Statutes of 2015, is amended to read:51421.5.(a)If, for purposes of this article, a contractor or testing center charges an examinee its own separate fee, the contractor or testing center shall not charge that fee to an examinee who meets all of the following criteria:
(1)The examinee qualifies as a homeless child or youth, as defined in paragraph (2) of Section 725 of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11434a(2)), or as a foster youth or former foster youth. youth, as defined in subdivision (h).
(2)The examinee has not attained 25 years of age as of the date of the scheduled examination.
(3)For an examinee who qualifies as a homeless child or youth pursuant to paragraph (1), the examinee can verify his or her status as a homeless child or youth. A homeless services provider that has knowledge of the examinees housing status may verify the examinees status for purposes of this paragraph.
(b)For purposes of this section, a homeless services provider includes either of the following:
(1)A homeless services provider listed in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 103577 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2)Any other person or entity that is qualified to verify an individuals housing status, as determined by the department.
(c)Additional state funds shall not be appropriated for purposes of implementing this section.
(d)Notwithstanding subdivision (c), the Superintendent may use surplus funds in the Special Deposit Fund Account, established pursuant to Section 51427, to reimburse contractors for the loss of fees, if any, pursuant to this section. A contract executed by the department for the provision of examinations pursuant to Section 51421 or this section shall require that any contracting party accept all examinees, including those entitled to a fee waiver pursuant to this section. For purposes of this subdivision, surplus funds are funds remaining after the costs permitted by subdivision (a) of Section 51421 are paid.
(e)On or before December 1, 2018, the Superintendent shall submit a report to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(A)
(1)The number of homeless youth, foster youth, and former youth and foster youth that took a high school equivalency test in each of the 2016, 2017, and 2018 calendar years.
(B)
(2)The impact of the opportunity to take a high school equivalency test at no cost on the number and percentage of homeless youth, foster youth, and former youth and foster youth taking a high school equivalency test.
(C)
(3)The estimated number of homeless youth, foster youth, and former youth and foster youth who may take a high school equivalency test in future years.
(D)
(4)Recommendations for a permanent funding source to cover the cost of the waived fees.
(E)
(5)The annual and projected administrative cost to the department.
(F)
(6)The annual and projected reimbursement to the contractor pursuant to this section.
(f)The Superintendent shall adopt emergency regulations, as necessary, to implement this section. The adoption of these regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, or general welfare.
(g)The department shall include a provision in all memorandums of understanding with contractors for purposes of providing a high school equivalency test, that if the surplus funds in the Special Deposit Fund Account are depleted, the ongoing costs of a fee waiver for an examinee deemed eligible for a waiver pursuant to this section shall be absorbed by the contractor.
(h)For purposes of this section, a foster youth means any individual who meets or has ever met one of the following criteria:
(1)A child who was the subject of a petition filed pursuant to Section 300 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and removed from his or her home by the juvenile court pursuant to Section 319 or 361 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(2)A child who was the subject of a petition filed pursuant to Section 602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and removed from his or her home by the juvenile court pursuant to Section 727 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(h)
(i)This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2019, and, as of January 1, 2020, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2020, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.
SEC. 3.Section 51421.5 of the Education Code, as added by Section 4 of Chapter 384 of the Statutes of 2015, is amended to read:51421.5.(a)If, for purposes of this article, a contractor or testing center charges an examinee its own separate fee, the contractor or testing center shall not charge that fee to an examinee who meets all of the following criteria:
(1)The examinee qualifies as a homeless child or youth, as defined in paragraph (2) of Section 725 of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11434a(2)), or as a foster youth or former foster youth. youth, as defined in subdivision (f).
(2)The examinee has not attained 25 years of age as of the date of the scheduled examination.
(3)For an examinee who qualifies as a homeless child or youth pursuant to paragraph (1), the examinee can verify his or her status as a homeless child or youth. A homeless services provider that has knowledge of the examinees housing status may verify the examinees status for purposes of this paragraph.
(b)For purposes of this section, a homeless services provider includes either of the following:
(1)A homeless services provider listed in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 103577 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2)Any other person or entity that is qualified to verify an individuals housing status, as determined by the department.
(c)Additional state funds shall not be appropriated for purposes of implementing this section.
(d)The Superintendent shall adopt emergency regulations, as necessary, to implement this section. The adoption of these regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, or general welfare.
(e)The department shall include a provision in all memorandums of understanding with contractors for purposes of providing a high school equivalency test, that if the surplus funds in the Special Deposit Fund Account are depleted, the ongoing costs of a fee waiver for an examinee deemed eligible for a waiver pursuant to this section shall be absorbed by the contractor.
(f)For purposes of this section, a foster youth means any individual who meets or has ever met one of the following criteria:
(1)A child who was the subject of a petition filed pursuant to Section 300 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and removed from his or her home by the juvenile court pursuant to Section 319 or 361 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(2)A child who was the subject of a petition filed pursuant to Section 602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and removed from his or her home by the juvenile court pursuant to Section 727 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(f)
(g)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2019.
(a)(1)A person 16 years of age or older, or who has been enrolled in the 10th grade for one academic year or longer, or who will complete one academic year of enrollment in the 10th grade at the end of the semester during which the next regular examination will be conducted, may have his or her proficiency in basic skills taught in public high schools verified according to criteria established by the State Department of Education. department.
(2)The state board shall award a certificate of proficiency to persons who demonstrate that proficiency. The certificate of proficiency shall be equivalent to a high school diploma, and the department shall keep a permanent record of the issuance of all certificates.
(b)(1)The department shall develop standards of competency in basic skills taught in public high schools and shall provide for the administration of examinations prepared by or with the approval of the department to verify competency. Regular examinations shall be held once in the fall semester and once in the spring semester of every academic year on a date, as determined by the department, that will enable notification of examinees and the schools they attend, if any, of the results thereof not later than two weeks prior to before the date on which that semester ends in a majority of school districts that maintain high schools.
(2)In addition to regular examinations, the department may, at the discretion of the Superintendent, conduct examinations for all eligible persons once during each summer recess and may conduct examinations at any other time that the Superintendent deems necessary to accommodate eligible persons whose religious convictions or physical handicaps prevent their attending one of the regular examinations.
(c)(1)The department may charge a fee for each examination application in an amount sufficient to recover the costs of administering the requirements of this section. However, the fee shall not exceed an amount equal to the cost of test renewal and administration per examination application. All fees levied and collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the State Treasury for remittance to the current support appropriation of the department as reimbursement for costs of administering this section. Any reimbursements collected in excess of actual costs of administration of this section shall be transferred to the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund by order of the Director of Finance.
(2)The department shall not charge the fee to an examinee who meets all of the following criteria:
(A)The examinee qualifies as a homeless child or youth, as defined in paragraph (2) of Section 725 of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11434a(2)). 11434a(2)), or as a foster youth or former foster youth.
(B)The examinee has not attained 25 years of age as of the date of the scheduled examination.
(C)The For an examinee who qualifies as a homeless child or youth pursuant to subparagraph (A), the examinee can verify his or her status as a homeless child or youth. A homeless services provider that has knowledge of the examinees housing status may verify the examinees status for purposes of this subparagraph.
(3)For purposes of this subdivision, a homeless services provider includes either of the following:
(A)A homeless services provider listed in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 103577 of the Health and Safety Code.
(B)Any other person or entity that is qualified to verify an individuals housing status, as determined by the department.
(4)The loss of fees pursuant to paragraph (2), if any, shall be deemed to be a cost of administering this section for purposes of paragraph (1).
(d)(1)The state board shall adopt rules and regulations as are necessary for implementation of this section.
(2)Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the state board shall adopt emergency regulations, as necessary, to implement the provisions of subdivision (c), as amended by the act that added this paragraph. The adoption of these regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, or general welfare.
(e)The department shall periodically review the effectiveness of the examinations administered pursuant to this section. The costs of this review may be recovered through the fees levied pursuant to subdivision (c).
(f)(1)On or before December 1, 2018, the Superintendent shall submit a report to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(A)The number of homeless youth, foster youth, and former foster youth that took a high school proficiency test in each of the 2016, 2017, and 2018 calendar years.
(B)The impact of the opportunity to take a high school proficiency test at no cost on the number and percentage of homeless youth, foster youth, and former foster youth taking a high school proficiency test.
(C)The estimated number of homeless youth, foster youth, and former foster youth who may take a high school proficiency test in future years.
(D)Recommendations for a permanent funding source to cover the cost of the waived fees.
(E)The annual and projected administrative cost to the department.
(F)The annual and projected reimbursement to contractors pursuant to this section.
(2)The requirement for submitting a report imposed under paragraph (1) is inoperative on January 1, 2020, pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.
(g)Additional state funds shall not be appropriated for purposes of implementing paragraph (2) of subdivision (c).
SEC. 2.Section 51421.5 of the Education Code, as added by Section 3 of Chapter 384 of the Statutes of 2015, is amended to read:51421.5.(a)If, for purposes of this article, a contractor or testing center charges an examinee its own separate fee, the contractor or testing center shall not charge that fee to an examinee who meets all of the following criteria:
(1)The examinee qualifies as a homeless child or youth, as defined in paragraph (2) of Section 725 of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11434a(2)). 11434a(2)), or as a foster youth or former foster youth.
(2)The examinee has not attained 25 years of age as of the date of the scheduled examination.
(3)The For an examinee who qualifies as a homeless child or youth pursuant to paragraph (1), the examinee can verify his or her status as a homeless child or youth. A homeless services provider that has knowledge of the examinees housing status may verify the examinees status for purposes of this paragraph.
(b)For purposes of this section, a homeless services provider includes either of the following:
(1)A homeless services provider listed in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 103577 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2)Any other person or entity that is qualified to verify an individuals housing status, as determined by the department.
(c)Additional state funds shall not be appropriated for purposes of implementing this section.
(d)Notwithstanding subdivision (c), the Superintendent may use surplus funds in the Special Deposit Fund Account, established pursuant to Section 51427, to reimburse contractors for the loss of fees, if any, pursuant to this section. A contract executed by the department for the provision of examinations pursuant to Section 51421 or this section shall require that any contracting party accept all examinees, including those entitled to a fee waiver pursuant to this section. For purposes of this subdivision, surplus funds are funds remaining after the costs permitted by subdivision (a) of Section 51421 are paid.
(e)On or before December 1, 2018, the Superintendent shall submit a report to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(A)The number of homeless youth, foster youth, and former foster youth that took a high school equivalency test in each of the 2016, 2017, and 2018 calendar years.
(B)The impact of the opportunity to take a high school equivalency test at no cost on the number and percentage of homeless youth, foster youth, and former foster youth taking a high school equivalency test.
(C)The estimated number of homeless youth, foster youth, and former foster youth who may take a high school equivalency test in future years.
(D)Recommendations for a permanent funding source to cover the cost of the waived fees.
(E)The annual and projected administrative cost to the department.
(F)The annual and projected reimbursement to the contractor pursuant to this section.
(f)The Superintendent shall adopt emergency regulations, as necessary, to implement this section. The adoption of these regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, or general welfare.
(g)The department shall include a provision in all memorandums of understanding with contractors for purposes of providing a high school equivalency test, that if the surplus funds in the Special Deposit Fund Account are depleted, the ongoing costs of a fee waiver for an examinee deemed eligible for a waiver pursuant to this section shall be absorbed by the contractor.
(h)This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2019, and, as of January 1, 2020, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2020, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.
SEC. 3.Section 51421.5 of the Education Code, as added by Section 4 of Chapter 384 of the Statutes of 2015, is amended to read:51421.5.(a)If, for purposes of this article, a contractor or testing center charges an examinee its own separate fee, the contractor or testing center shall not charge that fee to an examinee who meets all of the following criteria:
(1)The examinee qualifies as a homeless child or youth, as defined in paragraph (2) of Section 725 of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11434a(2)). 11434a(2)), or as a foster youth or former foster youth.
(2)The examinee has not attained 25 years of age as of the date of the scheduled examination.
(3)The For an examinee who qualifies as a homeless child or youth pursuant to paragraph (1), the examinee can verify his or her status as a homeless child or youth. A homeless services provider that has knowledge of the examinees housing status may verify the examinees status for purposes of this paragraph.
(b)For purposes of this section, a homeless services provider includes either of the following:
(1)A homeless services provider listed in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 103577 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2)Any other person or entity that is qualified to verify an individuals housing status, as determined by the department.
(c)Additional state funds shall not be appropriated for purposes of implementing this section.
(d)The Superintendent shall adopt emergency regulations, as necessary, to implement this section. The adoption of these regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, or general welfare.
(e)The department shall include a provision in all memorandums of understanding with contractors for purposes of providing a high school equivalency test, that if the surplus funds in the Special Deposit Fund Account are depleted, the ongoing costs of a fee waiver for an examinee deemed eligible for a waiver pursuant to this section shall be absorbed by the contractor.
(f)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2019.
SECTION 1.It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation relating to kindergarten to grade 14 education in this state.
It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation relating to kindergarten to grade 14 education in this state.
|
Date
|
Status
|
|---|---|
| Jun 6, 2016 | In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. |
| Sep 9, 2016 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2:30 p.m. |
| Aug 30, 2016 | Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 80. Noes 0. Page 6447.). |
| Aug 30, 2016 | Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. |
| Aug 26, 2016 | In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. May be considered on or after August 28 pursuant to Assembly Rule 77. |
| Aug 18, 2016 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 38. Noes 0.). |
| Aug 18, 2016 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 5113.). |
| Aug 18, 2016 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. |
| Aug 15, 2016 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| Aug 11, 2016 | From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 11). |
| Aug 1, 2016 | In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| Jun 22, 2016 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (June 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Jun 9, 2016 | Referred to Com. on ED. |
| Jun 9, 2016 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on ED. |
| Feb 19, 2016 | Introduced. To print. |
| Jun 2, 2016 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 80. Noes 0.) |
| Jun 2, 2016 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 80. Noes 0. Page 5182.) |
| Jun 2, 2016 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. |
| May 31, 2016 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| May 27, 2016 | Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading. |
| May 27, 2016 | From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 20. Noes 0.) (May 27). |
| May 11, 2016 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| Apr 21, 2016 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 20). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Mar 28, 2016 | Re-referred to Com. on ED. |
| Mar 18, 2016 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on ED. Read second time and amended. |
| Mar 17, 2016 | Referred to Com. on ED. |
| Feb 22, 2016 | Read first time. |
| Feb 21, 2016 | From printer. May be heard in committee March 22. |
|
Date
|
Description
|
Location
|
Votes
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 30, 2016 | AB 2656 O'DONNELL Concurrence in Senate Amendments | Assembly Floor |
Passed |
|
| Aug 18, 2016 | Assembly 3rd Reading AB2656 O'Donnell By McGuire | Senate Floor |
Passed |
|
| Aug 11, 2016 | Do pass | Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
|
| Aug 1, 2016 | Placed on suspense file | Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
|
| Jun 22, 2016 | Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar | Senate Standing Committee on Education |
Passed |
|
| Jun 2, 2016 | AB 2656 O'DONNELL Assembly Third Reading | Assembly Floor |
Passed |
|
| May 27, 2016 | Do pass as amended. | Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
|
| Apr 20, 2016 | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar | Assembly Standing Committee on Education |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
|
Organization
|
Position
|
Date
|
|---|---|---|
| ASPIRANET | ** Support | Aug 18, 2016 |
| Association Of California School Administrators | ** Support | Aug 18, 2016 |
| California Coalition For Youth | ** Support | Aug 18, 2016 |
| California Teachers Association | ** Support | Aug 18, 2016 |
| National Center for Youth Law | ** Support | Aug 18, 2016 |
| School Employers Association Of California | ** Support | Aug 18, 2016 |
| u None received. | ** Against | Aug 18, 2016 |
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
CSA1 Bill Id:AB 2656
Author:(O'Donnell)
As Amended Ver:June 9, 2016
Majority vote
ASSEMBLY: | 80-0 | (June 2, 2016) | SENATE: | 38-0 | (August 18, 2016) |
Original Committee Reference: ED.
SUMMARY: Provides that a foster youth who has not attained the age of 25 shall not be assessed a fee to take a high school proficiency or high school equivalency exam. Specifically, this bill:
- Prohibits the California Department of Education (CDE) from charging a fee for the high school proficiency exam to an examinee who is a foster youth who is younger than 25 years of age.
- Prohibits a scoring contractor or testing center from charging a fee for the high school equivalency exam to an examinee who is a foster youth who is younger than 25 years of age.
The Senate amendments add Assembly Members Chang, Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, Gipson, Linder, and Maienschein as coauthors.
EXISTING LAW:
- Requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to award a "certificate of proficiency" to persons who demonstrate proficiency in basic skills taught in public high schools.
- Authorizes the CDE to charge a fee to cover the cost of administering the proficiency exam.
- Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to issue a California high school equivalency certificate to a person who passes a SBE-approved equivalency exam and meets specified residency and age requirements.
- Prohibits fees for the equivalency or proficiency tests from being assessed to homeless youth.
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee:
- Unknown special fund costs, likely minor, to subsidize fees for foster youth and former foster youth who choose to take any of the high school equivalency tests or the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE).
It is difficult to predict the number of foster youth that will take these tests. There are approximately 60,000 foster youth in California. The author estimates there are approximately 4,000 foster youth between the ages of 15-24 that do not receive a high school diploma. Approximately 0.15% of eligible homeless students took these tests last year. Assuming a similar percentage of foster youth take these tests, the state would incur costs of approximately $980 for the equivalency exams and $770 for the CHSPE.
- Special fund costs to the CDE of approximately $260,000 to provide assistance and support to the foster youth community, verify foster youth eligibility, adjust testing contracts and report participation rates.
COMMENTS:
Background. The California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE) and High School Equivalency Tests are offered as alternatives to a high school diploma. The CHSPE is available to pupils 16 and over, and measures basic skills in English language arts and math. A Certificate of Proficiency is accepted by federal agencies for purposes of employment, and all persons and institutions subject to California law that require a high school diploma are required to accept the certificate as satisfying the requirement. The fee is $110 for those who register by the deadline, $135 for late registration, and $160 for emergency registration. The CDE reports that there were 4,594 CHSPE test takers in 2013-14, with a pass rate of about 47%. Those who fail the test can retake it.
The SBE has approved three high school equivalency tests for use in California: the General Educational Development Test (GED), published by the GED Testing Service, which is owned by Pearson, a for-profit company; the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET), published by the Educational Testing Service, a private not-for profit company; and the Test Assessing Secondary Completion, published by CTB/McGraw-Hill, a for-profit company. The fees vary from test to test and from one test center to another, but are more than $100. For example, the Los Angeles testing center for the HiSET charges $150.
Purpose. According to the author, foster youth and former foster youth face issues and circumstances that make graduating from high school challenging or even impossible. Only 50% of foster youth in the United States receive a high school diploma. Only 10% of foster youth will attend college and of that 10% only 3% will graduate. The CHSPE and high school equivalency tests are two alternate paths to postsecondary education and the opportunities and benefits that education provides. However the fees for these exams create a nearly impossible barrier for foster and former foster youth to overcome. This bill prohibits a fee from being charged to foster, and former foster youth, making this an accessible option for these youth.
Related legislation. SB 252 (Leno), Chapter 384, Statutes of 2015, prohibits the assessment of fees to homeless youth.
Analysis Prepared by: Rick Pratt / ED. / (916) 319-2087 FN: 0004286
Office of Senate Floor Analyses (916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) 327-4478 | AB |
THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 2656
:
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: 9-0, 6/22/16
AYES: Liu, Block, Hancock, Huff, Leyva, Mendoza, Monning, Pan, Vidak
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 7-0, 8/11/16
AYES: Lara, Bates, Beall, Hill, McGuire, Mendoza, Nielsen
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 80-0, 6/2/16 - See last page for vote
DIGEST: This bill extends to foster youth the fee waivers for the California High School Proficiency Exam and the high school equivalency exam that are currently provided to students who are homeless.
Existing law:
Fee waivers
- Prohibits the California Department of Education (CDE) from charging the fee for the high school proficiency exam and the high school equivalency tests to a homeless child or youth under the age of 25 years who can verify his or her status as a homeless child or youth.
- Prohibits a scoring contractor or testing center for the general educational development test from charging the fee to a homeless child or youth who is under age 25 years and can verify his or her status as a homeless child or youth.
- Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to submit a report, by December 1, 2018, to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature that includes specified information relative to these fee waivers.
High school proficiency exam
- Requires the following people to be permitted to have his or her proficiency in basic skills verified according to criteria established by the CDE:
- Any person who is at least 16 years of age.
- Any person who has been enrolled in grade 10 for one academic year or longer.
- Any person who will complete one academic year of enrollment in grade 10 at the end of the semester during which the next regular examination will be conducted.
- Requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to award a “certificate of proficiency” to people who achieve a passing score on the proficiency exam. The certificate of proficiency is equivalent to a high school diploma. (Education Code § 48412)
The CDE has designated the California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE) as the test by which students may verify proficiency in basic skills. The Sacramento County Office of Education administers the CHSPE program under contract with the CDE.
High school equivalency tests
- Requires the SPI to issue a California high school equivalency certificate and an official score report to any person who has not completed high school and who meets all of the following requirements:
- Is a resident of California or is a member of the armed services assigned to duty in California.
- Has taken all or a portion of a general educational development test approved by the SBE and administered by a test center approved by the CDE, with a score determined by the SBE to be equal to the standard of performance expected from high school graduates.
- Meets one of the following:
- Is at least 18 years of age.
- Would have graduated from high school had he or she remained in school and followed the usual course of study toward graduation.
- Is at least 17 years of age, has accumulated fewer than 100 units of high school credit, and is confined to a state or county correctional agency.
- Is at least 17 years of age, has accumulated fewer than 100 units of high school credit prior to enrollment in a dropout recovery high school, and has successfully completed the program offered by a dropout recovery high school that provides the student with all of the following:
- Instruction aligned to state academic content standards.
- The opportunity to complete the requirements for a high school diploma.
- At least one year of instruction or instruction followed by services related to the academic program.
- Provides that a California high school equivalency certificate is deemed to be a high school diploma for the purpose of meeting the requirements of employment by all state and local public agencies in California. (EC § 51420 and § 51425)
The SBE has approved the use of three high school equivalency tests:
- The General Educational Development Test (GED).
- The High School Equivalency Test (HiSET).
- The Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC).
This bill extends to foster youth the fee waivers for the CHSPE and the high school equivalency exam that are currently provided to students who are homeless. Specifically, this bill:
- Prohibits the CDE from charging the fee for the CHSPE to an examinee who is a foster youth who is under the age of 25 years.
- Prohibits a contractor or testing center from charging a fee to an examinee who is a foster youth who is under the age of 25 years.
- Expands the scope of the currently required report regarding information relative to these fee waivers
- Defines “foster youth” as any individual who is, or has ever been, the subject of a petition before the juvenile court and was removed from his or her home by the court.
Comments
Parity. The fee waivers proposed by this bill are currently provided to individuals who are homeless and who are under the age of 25 years. This bill extends fee waivers to foster youth.
Contract and Memorandum of Understanding. The CDE is currently in contract with the Sacramento County Office of Education for the administration of the CHSPE. This contract will expire on June 30, 2016; the CDE issued a Request for Proposals in 2015 for a contract to begin July 1, 2016. According to the CDE, it is not possible to amend the new contract at this point; CDE would need to adopt regulations to waive test fees pursuant to this bill.
The CDE has Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with three vendors for the high school equivalency tests: two were renewed and effective January 1, 2016, and one expires on December 31, 2016. According to the CDE, it is possible to amend the MOUs, but CDE would first need to adopt regulations to waive test fees pursuant to this bill.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Fiscal Com.: Local:
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:
- The CDE anticipates costs of $335,000 in the first year and $343,000 in ongoing support to modify regulations for each test, renegotiate four contracts that administer the test, and develop data tracking mechanisms. Additional resources may be necessary to complete the report on fee waivers for these tests due December 1, 2018. (Special Deposit Fund Account)
- Unknown revenue loss due to waived exam fees for foster youth. Assuming 200 foster youth students take either exam, revenue loss would be in the low tens of thousands. (Special Deposit Fund Account)
- The Special Deposit Fund Account surplus is an unlikely sustainable funding source for the long term. Once it is depleted, costs would have to be covered by either by testing contractors or by other test-takers, thereby also creating a General Fund cost pressure.
Aspiranet
Association of California School Administrators
California Coalition for Youth
California Teachers Association
National Center for Youth Law
School Employers Association of California
OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/12/16)
None received
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 80-0, 6/2/16
AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Travis Allen, Arambula, Atkins, Baker, Bigelow, Bloom, Bonilla, Bonta, Brough, Brown, Burke, Calderon, Campos, Chang, Chau, Chávez, Chiu, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Dababneh, Dahle, Daly, Dodd, Eggman, Frazier, Beth Gaines, Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gatto, Gipson, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gordon, Gray, Grove, Hadley, Harper, Roger Hernández, Holden, Irwin, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Kim, Lackey, Levine, Linder, Lopez, Low, Maienschein, Mathis, Mayes, McCarty, Medina, Melendez, Mullin, Nazarian, Obernolte, O'Donnell, Olsen, Patterson, Quirk, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wilk, Williams, Wood, Rendon
8/15/16 20:30:03
**** END ****
SENATE COMMITTEE ON
Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular Session
AB 2656 (O'Donnell) - Pupils: diploma alternatives: fee waiver: foster youth
Version: | Policy Vote: |
Urgency: | Mandate: |
Hearing Date: | Consultant: |
This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.
Bill Summary:
This bill extends to foster youth the fee waivers for the California High School Proficiency Exam and the high school equivalency exam that are currently provided to students who are homeless.
Fiscal Impact:
- The California Department of Education (CDE) anticipates costs of $335,000 in the first year and $343,000 in ongoing support to modify regulations for each test, renegotiate four contracts that administer the test, and develop data tracking mechanisms. Additional resources may be necessary to complete the report on fee waivers for these tests due December 1, 2018. (Special fund*)
- Unknown revenue loss due to waived exam fees for foster youth. Assuming 200 foster youth students take either exam, revenue loss would be in the low tens of thousands. (Special fund*)
- Staff notes that the Special Deposit Fund Account surplus is an unlikely sustainable funding source for the long term. Once it is depleted, costs would have to be covered by either by testing contractors or by other test-takers, thereby also creating a General Fund cost pressure.
* Special Deposit Fund Account
Background:
CDE has designated the California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE) as the test by which students may verify proficiency in high school basic skills. Generally, students that can take the test must be at least 16 years old. Some students take the test and leave high school early to work or attend college. The State Board of Education awards a “certificate of proficiency” to people who achieve a passing score on the proficiency exam. The certificate of proficiency is equivalent to a high school diploma.
The State Board of Education has approved the use of three high school equivalency tests for students 18 years old and older, and 17 years old in some instances, for the purpose of receiving a California High School Equivalency Certificate. These tests include: (1) the General Educational Development Test (GED); the High School Equivalency Test; and (3) the Test Assessing Secondary Completion. Current law provides that a California high school equivalency certificate is deemed to be a high school diploma for the purpose of meeting the requirements of employment by all state and local public agencies in California. (Education Code § 51420 and § 51425)
Existing law prohibits the CDE from charging the fee for the high school proficiency exam and the high school equivalency tests to a homeless child or youth under the age of 25 years who can verify his or her status as a homeless child or youth. Existing law authorizes the CDE to charge a fee for each application to take the high school proficiency exam in an amount sufficient to recover the costs of administering the test. Current law provides that the loss of fees due to waiving examination fees for homeless youth, is deemed to be a cost of administering this test for purposes of determining the costs of administering the test.
Existing law requires that if a contractor or testing center charges an examinee its own separate fee for the high school equivalency exam, the contractor or testing center is prohibited from charging the fee to a homeless youth. Existing law also allows the CDE to use surplus funds in the Special Deposit Fund Account to reimburse contractors for the loss of fees, if any. Once the surplus is depleted, the contractors are required to absorb the ongoing costs of the fee waiver.
Proposed Law:
This bill prohibits the CDE from charging a fee for the high school proficiency examination or the high school equivalency examination to a foster youth who is under the age of 25, as defined. This bill also adds foster youth to the report that CDE is required to complete by December 1, 2018, that includes specified information regarding the exam fee waivers. This bill defines a foster youth as any individual who is, or has ever been, the subject of a petition before the juvenile court and was removed from his or her home by the court. This definition, in effect, covers former foster youth as well.
Staff Comments:
The fee waivers proposed by this bill are currently provided to individuals who are homeless and who are under the age of 25 years. This bill extends fee waivers to foster youth. The fee to take the California High School Proficiency Exam is $110. The fee for the high school equivalency tests varies, as determined by each test vendor and test center; this fee is generally $120-$200. This bill does not eliminate or waive the $20 fee charged by CDE for the cost of awarding certificates, issuing score reports, and maintaining records, and providing follow-up services related to the completion of the test.
According to a report by WestEd done in 2013, The Invisible Achievement Gap, there were 394,715 students age 17 or younger enrolled in grade 12 in fall 2009, of which 2,674 were students in foster care. Of the 12th graders in foster care, 58 percent graduated high school. A portion of the remaining 1,123 foster youth students that did not graduate high school may, before they turn 25 years old, choose to take either the high school proficiency or equivalency test. The estimated number of foster youth that have not graduated high school and are older than 17 years old, who would increase the number of foster youth eligible for exam fee waivers, is unknown. Assuming 200 students take either test at an average test fee of $135, revenue loss would be about $27,000. The forgone fees for the exams could absorbed by the Special Deposit Fund Account in the short term until the surplus is depleted. Once it is depleted, costs would have to be covered by either by testing contractors or by other test-takers, thereby also creating a General Fund cost pressure.
-- END --
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Senator Carol Liu, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: AB 2656
Author: | |||
Version: | June 9, 2016 Hearing Date: June 22, 2016 | ||
Urgency: | No | Fiscal: | Yes |
Consultant: | Lynn Lorber | ||
Subject: Pupils: diploma alternatives: fee waiver: foster youth
SUMMARY
This bill extends to foster youth the fee waivers for the California High School Proficiency Exam and the high school equivalency exam that are currently provided to students who are homeless.
BACKGROUND
Fee waivers
Existing law:
- Prohibits the California Department of Education (CDE) from charging the fee for the high school proficiency exam and the high school equivalency tests to a homeless child or youth under the age of 25 years who can verify his or her status as a homeless child or youth.
- Prohibits a scoring contractor or testing center for the general educational development test from charging the fee to a homeless child or youth who is under age 25 years and can verify his or her status as a homeless child or youth.
- Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to submit a report, by December 1, 2018, to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature that includes specified information relative to these fee waivers.
High school proficiency exam
Existing law requires:
- The following people to be permitted to have his or her proficiency in basic skills verified according to criteria established by the CDE:
- Any person who is at least 16 years of age.
- Any person who has been enrolled in grade 10 for one academic year or longer.
- Any person who will complete one academic year of enrollment in grade 10 at the end of the semester during which the next regular examination will be conducted.
- The State Board of Education to award a “certificate of proficiency” to people who achieve a passing score on the proficiency exam. The certificate of proficiency is equivalent to a high school diploma.
(Education Code § 48412)
The California Department of Education (CDE) has designated the California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE) as the test by which students may verify proficiency in basic skills. The Sacramento County Office of Education administers the CHSPE program under contract with the CDE.
High school equivalency tests
Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to issue a California high school equivalency certificate and an official score report to any person who has not completed high school and who meets all of the following requirements:
- Is a resident of California or is a member of the armed services assigned to duty in California.
- Has taken all or a portion of a general educational development test approved by the State Board of Education (SBE) and administered by a test center approved by the California Department of Education, with a score determined by the SBE to be equal to the standard of performance expected from high school graduates.
- Meets one of the following:
- Is at least 18 years of age.
- Would have graduated from high school had he or she remained in school and followed the usual course of study toward graduation.
- Is at least 17 years of age, has accumulated fewer than 100 units of high school credit, and is confined to a state or county correctional agency.
- Is at least 17 years of age, has accumulated fewer than 100 units of high school credit prior to enrollment in a dropout recovery high school, and has successfully completed the program offered by a dropout recovery high school that provides the student with all of the following:
- Instruction aligned to state academic content standards.
- The opportunity to complete the requirements for a high school diploma.
- At least one year of instruction or instruction followed by services related to the academic program.
Existing law provides that a California high school equivalency certificate is deemed to be a high school diploma for the purpose of meeting the requirements of employment by all state and local public agencies in California. (EC § 51420 and § 51425)
The State Board of Education has approved the use of three high school equivalency tests:
- The General Educational Development Test (GED).
- The High School Equivalency Test (HiSET).
- The Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC).
ANALYSIS
This bill extends to foster youth the fee waivers for the California High School Proficiency Exam and the high school equivalency exam that are currently provided to students who are homeless. Specifically, this bill:
- Prohibits the California Department of Education (CDE) from charging the fee for the California High School Proficiency Exam to an examinee who is a foster youth who is under the age of 25 years.
- Prohibits a contractor or testing center from charging a fee to an examinee who is a foster youth who is under the age of 25 years.
- Expands the scope of the currently required report regarding information relative to these fee waivers
- Defines “foster youth” as any individual who is, or has ever been, the subject of a petition before the juvenile court and was removed from his or her home by the court.
STAFF COMMENTS
- Need for the bill. According to the author, “Foster youth and former foster youth face issues and circumstances that make graduating from high school challenging or even impossible. Only 50% of foster youth in the United States receive a high school diploma. Only 10% of foster youth will attend college and of that 10%, only 3% will graduate. The high school proficiency exam and high school equivalency tests are two alternative paths to postsecondary education and the opportunities and benefits that education provides. However, the fees for these exams create a nearly impossible barrier for foster and former foster youth to overcome.”
- Parity. The fee waivers proposed by this bill are currently provided to individuals who are homeless and who are under the age of 25 years. This bill extends fee waivers to foster youth.
- Contract and Memorandum of Understanding. The California Department of Education (CDE) is currently in contract with the Sacramento County Office of Education for the administration of the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE). This contract will expire on June 30, 2016; the CDE issued a Request for Proposals in 2015 for a contract to begin July 1, 2016. According to the CDE, it is not possible to amend the new contract at this point; CDE would need to adopt regulations to waive test fees pursuant to this bill.
The CDE has Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with three vendors for the high school equivalency tests: two were renewed and effective January 1, 2016, and one expires on December 31, 2016. According to the CDE, it is possible to amend the MOUs, but CDE would first need to adopt regulations to waive test fees pursuant to this bill. - Fiscal impact. The fee to take the California High School Proficiency Exam is $110. The fee for the high school equivalency tests varies, as determined by each test vendor and test center; this fee is generally $120-$200. This bill does not eliminate or waive the $20 fee charged by the California Department of Education for the cost of awarding certificates, issuing score reports, and maintaining records, and the cost of providing all follow-up services related to the completion of the test. This bill is silent with regards to who covers the costs of these exams. Presumably, the State will cover the costs, although it’s possible that fees for the exams could be increased and therefore costs would be covered by other test-takers.
According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, this bill imposes:- Unknown special fund costs, likely minor, to subsidize fees for foster youth and former foster youth who choose to take any of the high school equivalency tests or the CHSPE. It is difficult to predict the number of foster youth that will take these tests. There are approximately 60,000 foster youth in California. The author estimates there are approximately 4,000 foster youth between the ages of 15-24 that do not receive a high school diploma. Approximately 0.15% of eligible homeless students took these tests last year. Assuming a similar percentage of foster youth take these tests, the state would incur costs of approximately $980 for the equivalency exams and $770 for the CHSPE.
- Special fund costs to the California Department of Education of approximately $260,000 to provide assistance and support to the foster youth community, verify foster youth eligibility, adjust testing contracts and report participation rates.
- Unknown special fund costs, likely minor, to subsidize fees for foster youth and former foster youth who choose to take any of the high school equivalency tests or the CHSPE. It is difficult to predict the number of foster youth that will take these tests. There are approximately 60,000 foster youth in California. The author estimates there are approximately 4,000 foster youth between the ages of 15-24 that do not receive a high school diploma. Approximately 0.15% of eligible homeless students took these tests last year. Assuming a similar percentage of foster youth take these tests, the state would incur costs of approximately $980 for the equivalency exams and $770 for the CHSPE.
SUPPORT
Aspiranet
Association of California School Administrators
California Coalition for Youth
California Teachers Association
National Center for Youth Law
School Employers Association of California
OPPOSITION
None received.
-- END --
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
ATR Bill Id:AB 2656
Author:(O'Donnell)
As Amended Ver:May 27, 2016
Majority vote
Committee | Votes | Ayes | Noes |
Education | 7-0 | O'Donnell, Olsen, Kim, McCarty, Santiago, Thurmond, Weber | |
Appropriations | 20-0 | Gonzalez, Bigelow, Bloom, Bonilla, Bonta, Calderon, Chang, Daly, Eggman, Gallagher, Eduardo Garcia, Roger Hernández, Holden, Jones, Obernolte, Quirk, Santiago, Wagner, Weber, Wood |
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SUMMARY: Provides that a foster youth who has not attained the age of 25 shall not be assessed a fee to take a high school proficiency or high school equivalency exam. Specifically, this bill:
- Prohibits the California Department of Education (CDE) from charging a fee for the high school proficiency exam to an examinee who is a foster youth or former foster youth who is younger than 25 years of age.
- Prohibits a scoring contractor or testing center from charging a fee for the high school equivalency exam to an examinee who is a foster youth or former foster youth who is younger than 25 years of age.
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee:
- Unknown special fund costs, likely minor, to subsidize fees for foster youth and former foster youth who choose to take any of the high school equivalency tests or the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE).
It is difficult to predict the number of foster youth that will take these tests. There are approximately 60,000 foster youth in California. The author estimates there are approximately 4,000 foster youth between the ages of 15-24 that do not receive a high school diploma. Approximately 0.15% of eligible homeless students took these tests last year. Assuming a similar percentage of foster youth take these tests, the state would incur costs of approximately $980 for the equivalency exams and $770 for the CHSPE.
- Special fund costs to the CDE of approximately $260,000 to provide assistance and support to the foster youth community, verify foster youth eligibility, adjust testing contracts and report participation rates.
COMMENTS:
Background. The CHSPE and High School Equivalency Tests are offered as alternatives to a high school diploma. The CHSPE is available to pupils 16 and over, and measures basic skills in English language arts and math. A Certificate of Proficiency is accepted by federal agencies for purposes of employment, and all persons and institutions subject to California law that require a high school diploma are required to accept the certificate as satisfying the requirement. The fee is $110 for those who register by the deadline, $135 for late registration, and $160 for emergency registration. The CDE reports that there were 4,594 CHSPE test takers in 2013-14, with a pass rate of about 47%. Those who fail the test can retake it.
The State Board of Education has approved three high school equivalency tests for use in California: the General Educational Development Test (GED), published by the GED Testing Service, which is owned by Pearson, a for-profit company; the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET), published by the Educational Testing Service, a private not-for profit company; and the Test Assessing Secondary Completion, published by CTB/McGraw-Hill, a for-profit company. The fees vary from test to test and from one test center to another, but are more than $100. For example, the Los Angeles testing center for the HiSET charges $150.
Related legislation. SB 252 (Leno), Chapter 384, Statutes of 2015, prohibits the assessment of fees to homeless youth.
Analysis Prepared by: Rick Pratt / ED. / (916) 319-2087 FN: 0003245
Date of Hearing: May 11, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 2656
Author:(O'Donnell) – As Amended Ver:March 18, 2016
Policy Committee: | Education | Vote: | 7 - 0 |
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill prohibits the California Department of Education (CDE) from charging foster youth a fee to take the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE) and prohibits any contractor or testing center from charging foster youth a fee to take any high school equivalency test (also known as the GED). This is consistent with the policy under existing law for homeless youth.
FISCAL EFFECT:
- Unknown special fund costs, likely minor, to subsidize fees for foster youth and former foster youth who choose to take any of the high school equivalency tests or CHSPE.
It is difficult to predict the number of foster youth that will take these tests. There are approximately 60,000 foster youth in California. The author estimates there are approximately 4,000 foster youth between the ages of 15-24 that do not receive a high school diploma. Approximately 0.15% of eligible homeless students took these tests last year. Assuming a similar percentage of foster youth take these tests, the state would incur costs of approximately $980 for the equivalency exams and $770 for the CHSPE.
- Special fund costs to the CDE of approximately $260,000 to provide assistance and support to the foster youth community, verify foster youth eligibility, adjust testing contracts and report participation rates.
COMMENTS:
- Purpose. According to the author, foster youth and former foster youth face issues and circumstances that make graduating from high school challenging or even impossible. Only 50% of foster youth in the United States receive a high school diploma. Only 10% of foster youth will attend college and of that 10% only 3% will graduate. The CHSPE and high school equivalency tests are two alternate paths to postsecondary education and the opportunities and benefits that education provides. However the fees for these exams create a nearly impossible barrier for foster and former foster youth to overcome. This bill prohibits a fee from being charged to foster, and former foster youth, making this an accessible option for these youth.
- Background. The CHSPE and High School Equivalency Tests are offered as alternatives to a high school diploma. The fee to take the CHSPE is $110, $135 for late registration, and $160 for emergency registration. The State Board of Education has approved three different high school equivalency tests for use in California: the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET), the General Education Development (GED) and the Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC). Fees for the equivalency tests can vary from from one test center to another but average around $140 to $150 per exam.
- Prior legislation. SB 252 (Leno), Chapter 384, Statutes of 2015, prohibited the assessment of fees for homeless youth. The legislation specified no additional state funds could be appropriated for purposes of implementing the requirements of the bill. SB 252 did, however; authorize the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to use surplus funds from the special deposit account established for the high school equivalency tests to reimburse contractors for any loss of fees. Funds in the special deposit account cannot be used for costs associated with the CHSPE. CDE estimates the fund had a surplus of approximately $1.3 million. According to a budget request this year, annual costs associated with subsidizing homeless youth are estimated to be around $100,000.
Analysis Prepared by: Misty Feusahrens / APPR. / (916) 319-2081
Date of Hearing: April 20, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Patrick O'Donnell, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 2656 (
Author:O'Donnell) – As Amended Ver:March 18, 2016
SUBJECT: Pupils: diploma alternatives: fee waiver: foster youth
SUMMARY: Provides that a foster youth or former foster youth who has not attained the age of 25 shall not be assessed a fee to take a high school proficiency or high school equivalency exam. Specifically, this bill:
- Prohibits the California Department of Education (CDE) from charging a fee for the high school proficiency exam to an examinee who is a foster youth or former foster youth who is younger than 25 years of age.
- Prohibits a scoring contractor or testing center from charging a fee for the high school equivalency exam to an examinee who is a foster youth or former foster youth who is younger than 25 years of age.
EXISTING LAW:
- Requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to award a "certificate of proficiency" to persons who demonstrate proficiency in basic skills taught in public high schools.
- Authorizes the CDE to charge a fee to cover the cost of administering the proficiency exam.
- Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to issue a California high school equivalency certificate to a person who passes a SBE-approved equivalency exam and meets specified residency and age requirements.
- Prohibits fees for the equivalency or proficiency tests from being assessed to homeless youth.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown
COMMENTS:
Background. The California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE) and High School Equivalency Tests are offered as alternatives to a high school diploma. The CHSPE is available to pupils 16 and over, and measures basic skills in English language arts and math. A Certificate of Proficiency is accepted by federal agencies for purposes of employment, and all persons and institutions subject to California law that require a high school diploma are required to accept the certificate as satisfying the requirement. The fee is $110 for those who register by the deadline, $135 for late registration, and $160 for emergency registration. The CDE reports that there were 4,594 CHSPE test takers in 2013-14, with a pass rate of about 47%. Those who fail the test can retake it.
The SBE has approved three high school equivalency tests for use in California: the General Educational Development Test (GED), published by the GED Testing Service, which is owned by Pearson, a for-profit company; the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET), published by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), a private not-for profit company; and the Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC), published by CTB/McGraw-Hill, a for-profit company. The fees vary from test to test and from one test center to another, but are more than $100. For example, the Los Angeles testing center for the HiSET charges $150.
Related legislation. SB 252 (Leno), Chapter 384, Statutes of 2015, prohibits the assessment of fees to homeless youth.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
American Civil Liberties Union
John Burton Foundation
Opposition
None received
Analysis Prepared by: Rick Pratt / ED. / (916) 319-2087
Discussed in Hearing
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Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):
