California Senate Bill SB621 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: SB 621AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 13, 2009 INTRODUCED BY Senator Florez FEBRUARY 27, 2009  An act relating to disabled persons.   An act to amend Section 51226 of the Education Code, relating to career technical education.  LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 621, as amended, Florez.  Disabled persons: employment.   Career technical education: individuals with exceptional needs.   Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction, on a cyclical basis, to coordinate the development of model curriculum standards for the prescribed course of study and of a career technical education course of study necessary to assist school districts with complying with their obligation to offer qualified pupils a course of study that provides an opportunity for pupils to attain entry-level employment skills in business or industry upon graduation from high school.   This bill would require the Superintendent, in coordinating the development of model curriculum standards for a career technical education course of study, to include model curriculum standards appropriate for individuals with exceptional needs.   Existing law establishes the Department of Rehabilitation in the Health and Welfare Agency and identifies as one of its goals employment and economic self-sufficiency of individuals with disabilities. Under existing law, the department is provided all necessary authority to cooperate with the federal government in matters relating to individuals with disabilities and their vocational rehabilitation and independent living.   This bill would express the Legislature's intent to seek federal funding to promote and implement employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities in areas related to renewable energy, environmental safety, and conservation.  Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no   yes  . State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:  SECTION 1.   Section 51226 of the   Education Code   is amended to read:  51226. The Superintendent  of Public Instruction  shall coordinate the development, on a cyclical basis, of model curriculum standards for the course of study required by Section 51225.3 and for a career technical education course of study necessary to assist school districts with complying with subdivision (b) of Section 51228.  In coordinating the development of model curriculum standards for a career technical education course of study, the Superintendent shall include model curriculum standards appropriate for individuals with exceptional needs.  The  superintendent   Superintendent  shall set forth these standards in terms of a wide range of specific competencies, including higher level skills, in each academic subject area. The  superintendent   Superintendent  shall review currently available textbooks in conjunction with the curriculum standards. The  superintendent   Superintendent  shall seek the advice of classroom teachers, school administrators, parents, postsecondary educators, and representatives of business and industry in developing these curriculum standards. The superintendent shall recommend policies to the State Board of Education   state board  for consideration and adoption by the board. The  State Board of Education   state board  shall adopt these policies no later than January 1, 1985. However, neither the  superintendent  Superintendent  nor the  state  board shall adopt rules or regulations for course content or methods of instruction. The  superintendent   Superintendent  shall, to the extent applicable, incorporate the integration of career technical and academic education into the development of curriculum standards for career technical education courses. The standards for a career technical education course of study shall be adopted no later than June 1, 2005.  SECTION 1.   It is the intent of the Legislature to seek federal funding to promote and implement employment opportunities for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and pervasive developmental disorder, as well as for individuals with other disabilities and special needs, in areas related to renewable energy, environmental safety, conservation, and other areas relating to creating a more livable and environmentally sustainable community.