CARS+ the Organization for Special Educators

CARS+ Legislative Director:

Last Updated: 7/28/2010

Because of the severe budget problems in California, we are seeing a decrease in the number of bills that affect special education students and programs. The following bills are ones that CARS+ is following.

If you are interested in any of these bills go to www.leginfo.ca.gov for more information. If you want to follow the bill, make sure you subscribe to it after reviewing it. If you subscribe to a bill, regular updates will be sent to you via email anytime there is a change in the status of the bill.

If you have specific comments you want to discuss with the CARS+ Legislative Committee, please visit our website at www.carsplus.org. Send comments to Dee Torrington President-Elect/Legislative Director.

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CARS+ supported the following bills:

Special education

ACR99 Buchanan - Recognizing Day of the Special Educator

This Assembly Concurrent Resolution would proclaim December 3, 2010 as the Day of the Special Educator. It would urge Californians to recognize the dedication and hard work of special educators in teaching pupils with unique needs.

CARS+ is the sponsor of the ACR99!

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AJR31 Buchanan - Fully Funding IDEA

This Assembly Joint Resolution recognizes the current shortfall in funding available from the federal government for special education programs. It asks that the federal government bridge the funding gap between the 40% commitment and the actual level of funding provided each year.

There are a number of bills that address funding for special education pending in Congress. The purpose of the resolution is to convey the Legislature's commitment to these bills and any other Congressional actions that would lead to full funding of special education.

CARS+ is in support of this resolution.

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AB1802 Hall - Diabetes: insulin injections

This bill would allow parents of a student with diabetes to designate one or more school employees to administer insulin when a credentialed school nurse or other health care professional is not immediately available at the school.

CARS+ voted to oppose AB1802 because allows schools to enlist personnel with no medical expertise to administer a potentially dangerous medication.

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AB1051 Huff - Emergency medical assistance: diastat

This bill would allow parents of a student with seizures from epilepsy to designate one or more school employees to administer diastat (rectal medication) when a credentialed school nurse or other licensed nurse is not immediately available at the school.

CARS+ voted to oppose AB1051 because it allows schools to enlist personnel with no medical expertise to administer a potentially dangerous medication.

At this time SB1051 is being held "under submission". This means the bill is dead unless Senate leadership decides to allow it to be heard in committee again. This is not likely.

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AB2454 Torlakson - Pupil health

This bill would require the governing board of a school district to employee at least one school nurse, registered nurse, or licensed vocational nurse for every 750 students. Schools with more than 750 students would not be required to employ more than one nurse.

CARS+ voted to support AB2454.

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AB 1841 Buchanan - Special Ed. Parental Consent

This bill would make changes to state special education statutes to conform with federal regulations of IDEA. Specifically AB1841states that if a parent/guardian submits a written revocation of services at any time subsequent to the initial provision of special education, the services would be discontinued and the public agency would not need to file a request for due process. However, the public agency would need to give written notice before ceasing special education and related services. However, they would not need to hold an IEP meeting or develop an IEP to end services.

AB1841 also states that the public agency would not be required to amend a child's education records to remove any reference to the child's receipt of special education and related services.

CARS+ is working with the author of this bill to clarify the timeline for discontinuing services.

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AB2160 Bass - Teacher credentialing: Instruction to Pupils with Autism

The bill would extend the operative date of what was intended to be a short-term solution to allow mild/moderate credential holders to legally teach students with autism as long as they met the criteria established by AB2302. The new date would be October 1, 2013. This extension would give teachers additional time to acquire the appropriate preparation for this added authorization.

CARS+ is in support of this bill.

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Assessment

SB930 Ducheny - Pupil Assessment for ELL students

This bill would expand the number of English learners who are required to be tested on their knowledge of state standards in their primary language to those who have been enrolled in school for less than 3 years rather than the existing 12 months. SB930 would also require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to establish an advisory committee to make recommendations on how to include primary language assessments and accommodations in the state's successor assessments. This bill would also require primary language assessment data to be included in the Academic Performance Index (API) and Academic Yearly Progress (AYP).

CARS+ is in support of this bill.

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Professional Development

SB956 Romero - Retraining off and out-of-the field teachers

This bill would require $5 million dollars appropriated from federal Workforce Investment Act funds to be made available to local education agencies to train teachers who have been laid off or who are teaching out of field to become qualified to teach science, math, or industrial and technology education. It would also reimburse them for the cost of the examination and any fees charged by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing once they have successfully passed the exam.

CARS+ has not taken a position on this bill.

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	CAHSEE exemption extended for another year. The Hot Topics page has information on autism authorization. CARS+ has an official Facebook page.

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	Current Legislation... CARS+ Legislative Director: Last Updated: 7/28/2010 Because of the severe budget problems in California, we are seeing a decrease in the number of bills that affect special education students and programs. The following bills are ones that CARS+ is following. If you are interested in any of these bills go to www.leginfo.ca.gov for more information. If you want to follow the bill, make sure you subscribe to it after reviewing it. If you subscribe to a bill, regular updates will be sent to you via email anytime there is a change in the status of the bill. If you have specific comments you want to discuss with the CARS+ Legislative Committee, please visit our website at www.carsplus.org. Send comments to Dee Torrington President-Elect/Legislative Director. ↑ Top ↑ CARS+ supported the following bills: Special education ACR99 Buchanan - Recognizing Day of the Special Educator This Assembly Concurrent Resolution would proclaim December 3, 2010 as the Day of the Special Educator. It would urge Californians to recognize the dedication and hard work of special educators in teaching pupils with unique needs. CARS+ is the sponsor of the ACR99! ↑ Top ↑ AJR31 Buchanan - Fully Funding IDEA This Assembly Joint Resolution recognizes the current shortfall in funding available from the federal government for special education programs. It asks that the federal government bridge the funding gap between the 40% commitment and the actual level of funding provided each year. There are a number of bills that address funding for special education pending in Congress. The purpose of the resolution is to convey the Legislature's commitment to these bills and any other Congressional actions that would lead to full funding of special education. CARS+ is in support of this resolution. ↑ Top ↑ AB1802 Hall - Diabetes: insulin injections This bill would allow parents of a student with diabetes to designate one or more school employees to administer insulin when a credentialed school nurse or other health care professional is not immediately available at the school. CARS+ voted to oppose AB1802 because allows schools to enlist personnel with no medical expertise to administer a potentially dangerous medication. ↑ Top ↑ AB1051 Huff - Emergency medical assistance: diastat This bill would allow parents of a student with seizures from epilepsy to designate one or more school employees to administer diastat (rectal medication) when a credentialed school nurse or other licensed nurse is not immediately available at the school. CARS+ voted to oppose AB1051 because it allows schools to enlist personnel with no medical expertise to administer a potentially dangerous medication. At this time SB1051 is being held "under submission". This means the bill is dead unless Senate leadership decides to allow it to be heard in committee again. This is not likely. ↑ Top ↑ AB2454 Torlakson - Pupil health This bill would require the governing board of a school district to employee at least one school nurse, registered nurse, or licensed vocational nurse for every 750 students. Schools with more than 750 students would not be required to employ more than one nurse. CARS+ voted to support AB2454. ↑ Top ↑ AB 1841 Buchanan - Special Ed. Parental Consent This bill would make changes to state special education statutes to conform with federal regulations of IDEA. Specifically AB1841states that if a parent/guardian submits a written revocation of services at any time subsequent to the initial provision of special education, the services would be discontinued and the public agency would not need to file a request for due process. However, the public agency would need to give written notice before ceasing special education and related services. However, they would not need to hold an IEP meeting or develop an IEP to end services. AB1841 also states that the public agency would not be required to amend a child's education records to remove any reference to the child's receipt of special education and related services. CARS+ is working with the author of this bill to clarify the timeline for discontinuing services. ↑ Top ↑ AB2160 Bass - Teacher credentialing: Instruction to Pupils with Autism The bill would extend the operative date of what was intended to be a short-term solution to allow mild/moderate credential holders to legally teach students with autism as long as they met the criteria established by AB2302. The new date would be October 1, 2013. This extension would give teachers additional time to acquire the appropriate preparation for this added authorization. CARS+ is in support of this bill. ↑ Top ↑ Assessment SB930 Ducheny - Pupil Assessment for ELL students This bill would expand the number of English learners who are required to be tested on their knowledge of state standards in their primary language to those who have been enrolled in school for less than 3 years rather than the existing 12 months. SB930 would also require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to establish an advisory committee to make recommendations on how to include primary language assessments and accommodations in the state's successor assessments. This bill would also require primary language assessment data to be included in the Academic Performance Index (API) and Academic Yearly Progress (AYP). CARS+ is in support of this bill. ↑ Top ↑ Professional Development SB956 Romero - Retraining off and out-of-the field teachers This bill would require $5 million dollars appropriated from federal Workforce Investment Act funds to be made available to local education agencies to train teachers who have been laid off or who are teaching out of field to become qualified to teach science, math, or industrial and technology education. It would also reimburse them for the cost of the examination and any fees charged by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing once they have successfully passed the exam. CARS+ has not taken a position on this bill. ↑ Top ↑