California Senate Bill SB682 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: SB 682AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 28, 2009 INTRODUCED BY Senator Padilla  (   Coauthors:   Senators   Alquist,   Florez,   Romero,   and Wyland   )  FEBRUARY 27, 2009 An act to add Section 52377.5 to the Education Code, relating to individuals with exceptional needs. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 682, as amended, Padilla. Individuals with exceptional needs:  employment   academic and occupational  training  : pilot program  . Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to establish the capacity to provide transition services such as employment and academic training, strategic planning, interagency coordination, and parent training for a broad range of individuals with exceptional needs, including autism spectrum disorders and other disabilities.  This bill would authorize each county office of education to create an educational program to provide employment-related services to individuals with autism spectrum disorders and other disabilities or special needs. The bill would require that each program include an advisory board, and would authorize each program to perform specified functions, including collaborating with a multipurpose community designed to offer housing, employment, and recreational opportunities.   This bill, contingent upon the availability of federal funds for this purpose, would establish a pilot program for the purposes of providing combined academic and occupational training to secondary school pupils with autism spectrum disorders and other special needs. The bill would state the Legislature's intent that this pilot program model existing career technical education programs, as specified.  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 52377.5 is added to the Education Code, to read:  52377.5. Each county office of education may create an educational program to provide employment-related services to individuals with autism spectrum disorders and other disabilities or special needs. A program established pursuant to this section shall include an advisory board and may do any or all of the following: (a) Include mentoring and internship programs with a focus on employment training and opportunities. (b) Provide participants with both the work skills necessary to exhibit competence on the job and career technical training necessary for securing employment. (c) Collaborate with a multipurpose community designed to offer housing, employment, and recreational opportunities.   52377.5.  To the extent that federal funds are made available for this purpose, there is hereby established a pilot program for the purposes of providing combined academic and occupational training to secondary school pupils with autism spectrum disorders and other special needs. It is the intent of the Legislature that this pilot program model existing career technical education programs, including, but not limited to, partnership academies and regional occupational programs or centers, that may be tailored to meet the unique needs of pupils with autism spectrum disorders and other special needs.