California Assembly Bill AB2252 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 2252AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 5, 2010 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Torrico FEBRUARY 18, 2010  An act relating to child care and development services.   An act to add Section 8238.7 to the Education Code, relating to child care and development services, and making an appropriation therefor.  LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2252, as amended, Torrico.  Universal preschool.   California state preschool programs: funding.  Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to administer all California state preschool programs, including, but not limited to, part-day and full-day age and developmentally appropriate programs for 3- and 4-year-old children who meet certain eligibility requirements. This bill  would express the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to provide a universal preschool program that would be available for 3- and 4-year-old children, to be funded through the imposition of an inheritance tax   , commencing with the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012, would continuously appropriate to the Superintendent from the General Fund an amount sufficient to enroll all 3- and 4-year-old children of families who meet eligibility requirements and who   request enrollment. The bill would also specify the intent of the Legislature to impose a tax for purposes of fully funding California state preschool programs  .  To the extent that the funds appropriated by this provision are allocated to a school district or a community college district, those funds would be applied toward the minimum funding requirements for school districts and community college districts imposed by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution.  Vote: majority. Appropriation:  no   yes  . Fiscal committee:  no   yes  . State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:  SECTION 1.   Section 8238.7 is added to the   Education Code   , to read:   8238.7. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, commencing with the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012, and for each fiscal year thereafter, there shall be continuously appropriated to the Superintendent from the General Fund an amount sufficient to enroll all three- and four-year-old children of families who meet the eligibility requirements specified in this article, and who request enrollment. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature to impose a tax for purposes of fully funding all California state preschool programs in accordance with this section. (c) To the extent that the funds appropriated pursuant to this section are allocated to a school district or a community college district, those funds would be applied toward the minimum funding requirements for school districts and community college districts imposed by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution.   SECTION 1.   It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to provide a universal preschool program that would be available for three- and four-year-old children, to be funded through the imposition of an inheritance tax.