Budget Update

The State Level

The Legislature and the Governor broke another record this year. This year’s budget impasse is the longest in history. As it turns out, the second week of October and a budget deal seems imminent.

The Budget Conference Committee is meeting today to finalize the last negotiations put forth by the Big 5. It is assumed that an announcement will be made later today or tomorrow about a final deal and that the Governor will sign the bill by week’s end.

No one seems to be excited about this year’s budget deal, and in fact, additional reductions were offered in an effort to close the $19 Billion budget deficit. These reductions, include a $48 million reduction to child care (although we have yet to see what those reductions are).

The Governor did sign and veto child care legislation. Below is a summary of those bills:

A summary of the bills that resulted in action by the Governor:

Approved by Governor with Chapter Number:

AB 222 (Adams) (Chapter 431) – As of January 1, 2011, would require Trustline registry of persons 18 years and older providing care or supervision in an ancillary child care center (i.e. athletic club, business for children of clients or customers). Fees consistent with the cost of processing the applications and maintaining the Trustline registry would be imposed.

AB 434 (Block) (Chapter 229) – Would allow the After School Education and Safety (ASES) Program site supervisor to be included under the direct service costs as long s 85 percent of their time is spent at the program site. Approved by the Governor on September 23, 2010.

AB 2084 (Brownley) (Chapter 593) – Would require licensed child care facilities to follow guidelines relating to serving beverages. When milk is served to children two years of age and older, is to be one percent or nonfat, would limit juice servings, and prohibit serving beverages with sweetener additives. Certain exemptions with physician notice would apply and amendments would not apply to beverages provided by a parent or legal guardian for their child.

AB 2178 (Torlackson) (Chapter 462) – Would allow local education agencies (LEAs) to share pupil data with their contracted ASES Programs and 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CLCs). Data in the aggregate to include information on school attendance, standardized test scores, high school exit exam scores, English language development test placement or reclassification score, and California Health Survey results.

SB 798 (DeSaulnier) (Chapter 479) – With respect to 21st Century CLCs, would require the reallocation of excess funds in a fiscal year as follows: 35 percent to centers serving high school students; 50 percent to centers serving elementary and middle school students; and 15 percent to summer programs serving elementary and middle school students. Priority would go to programs with expiring grants if the programs have satisfactorily met their projected student outcomes.


SB 1116 (Huff) (Chapter 286) – Would define heritage schools that offer foreign language education for children from 4 years, 9 months to 18 years old for purposes of requiring fingerprinting and background checks on staff, attendance at health and safety training of director, and notifying parents if school does not hold a child care license. Approved by the Governor on September 23, 2010.

SB 1381 (Simitian) (Chapter 705) – Will change the required birthday for kindergarten and 1st grade entry to November 1 for the 2012-13 school year, October 1 for the 2013-14 school year and September 1 for the 2014-15 school year and thereafter. Children whose admission to a traditional kindergarten would be delayed would be admitted to a transitional kindergarten program maintained by the school district. Children enrolled in the transitional kindergarten program will be computed in the average daily attendance of the school district. The district will be limited to counting the child’s attendance for up to two years in kindergarten or two years of transitional kindergarten combined.

SCR 47 (DeSaulnier) (Chapter 78) – States legislative intent to increase funding for State-contracted child care and development centers and preschool programs eligible for the Standard Reimbursement Rate (SRR) as the resources become available to pay adequate staff salaries and benefits, support program quality, and keep programs open to serve low-income children and their families. Filed by Secretary of State on August 1, 2010.

Vetoed by the Governor with his veto message:
 
AB 1876 (Torlackson) – Would have allowed ASES Programs to operate on weekends, paid from the program’s maximum grant or supplemental grant. The Governor’s veto message stated, in part, “The need is so great for these valuable after school programs that there is still not enough funding to meet the long waiting list of schools and students seeking to have an after school program. As a result, with so many program applications pending on the waiting list to start offering services during the regular school week, I do not believe it is prudent to expand to weekend hours at this time. For these reasons, I am unable to sign this bill.”


AB 2478 (Mendoza) – Any person entering school property or its adjacent who is disruptive with the intent to threaten the immediate public safety of any student arriving, attending or leaving any preschool, kindergarten or grades 1 to 8 will be guilty of a public offense. The Governor’s veto message stated, ““I believe it is important to ensure the physical safety of all students, but the protection provisions of this bill do not include students in grades 9 through 12. I am also concerned that the provisions of this bill would likely be ineffective, limited to situations where the person charged with interfering with the peaceful conduct of a school would have to have the specific intent to physically harm students rather than causing a disruption that causes physical harm. Since this bill is too narrowly drawn and otherwise duplicates existing law governing the crime of making criminal threats, I am unable to sign this measure.”