BILL NUMBER: AB 736INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Huber FEBRUARY 26, 2009 An act to amend Section 52890 of the Education Code, relating to school-based programs. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 736, as introduced, Huber. School-based programs: school-based motivation and maintenance program plans. Existing law requires school districts and schools that submit a school-based motivation and maintenance program plan pursuant to specified provisions of law to include a description of the manner in which they will utilize outreach consultants. Existing law sets forth requirements for these outreach consultants, including a requirement that they possess a Dropout Prevention Specialist Certificate from a campus of the California State University or that they enroll in a Dropout Prevention Specialist Certificate program within 90 days of the date of hire, unless the outreach consultant was employed on or before January 1, 2004. This bill would additionally require that an outreach consultant who enrolls in a Dropout Prevention Specialist Certificate program complete that program within 9 months of hire. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 52890 of the Education Code is amended to read: 52890. Each school district and school that submits a school-based motivation and maintenance program plan pursuant to former Article 7 (commencing with Section 54720) of Chapter 9 of Part 29, as that article read on January 1, 2004, shall include in the plan a description of the manner in which it will utilize outreach consultants. For purposes of this article, each outreach consultant, at a minimum, shall do all of the following: (a) Possess a Dropout Prevention Specialist Certificate from a campus of the California State University, or enroll in a Dropout Prevention Specialist Certificate program within 90 days of the date of hire and complete that program within nine months of hire , except that outreach consultants employed on or before January 1, 2004, are exempt from this requirement. (b) Demonstrate knowledge of local alternative educational programs and employ those programs to respond to the differential needs and unique learning styles of pupils. (c) Demonstrate knowledge of local community agencies and community programs to recruit those agencies and programs to assist in the physical or psychological remediation of pupils. (d) Utilize local school programs, options, and opportunities to assist pupils in locating, securing, or retaining employment. (e) Utilize techniques that enhance interpersonal communication, self-understanding, self-disclosure, and depth-level sharing. (f) Employ appropriate methods to create circumstances necessary so that change is permitted and encouraged in individuals, programs, and institutions. (g) Be responsible for supervising, instructing, conducting negotiations with, and advising pupils and adults.