California Assembly Bill AB1618 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 1618AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 29, 2012 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Galgiani FEBRUARY 8, 2012 An act to  amend Section 1790 of the Education Code, relating to technical education.   add Section 66013.4 to the Education Code, relating to the University of California.  LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1618, as amended, Galgiani.  Technical education.   University of California academic majors: high-speed rail transportation.   Existing law, the Donahoe Higher Education Act, sets forth the missions and functions of the 3 segments comprising the state's public postsecondary education system. Among those segments is the University of California, administered by the Regents of the University of California. Provisions of the act apply to the University of California only to the extent that the regents act, by resolution, to make the provisions applicable.   This bill would request the regents to direct the Academic Senate of the University of California to develop an academic major program or programs related to high-speed rail transportation for implementation commencing with the 2013-14 academic year. The bill also would make specified findings and declarations relating to high-speed rail.   Existing law declares the intent of the Legislature to encourage the establishment of technical, agricultural, and natural resource conservation schools in those areas of the state where they are needed in order to reduce the number of school dropouts, combat juvenile delinquency, and to provide more skilled and trained workers.   This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to these provisions.  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.   The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:   (a) The construction of the proposed high-speed rail project will be a very significant event in the history of this state and in the history of the central valley in particular.   (b) California has led the nation in many facets of American life, and will soon again be a national leader with its development of high-speed rail.   (c) High-speed rail will help to reduce air pollution and California's dependence on foreign oil.   (d) Academic majors relating to high-speed rail will help to generate jobs in parts of the state where unemployment is highest.   (e) Engineering, economics, architecture, and public administration are among the academic disciplines where high-speed-rail-related studies could make important contributions to the communities that will be served by high-speed rail transportation.   SEC. 2.   Section 66013.4 is added to the   Education Code   , to read:   66013.4. The Regents of the University of California are requested to direct the Academic Senate of the University of California to develop an academic major program or programs related to high-speed rail transportation for implementation commencing with the 2013-14 academic year.   SECTION 1.   Section 1790 of the Education Code is amended to read: 1790. (a) The Legislature finds and declares: (1) that young people who have dropped out of high school, thereby failing to receive a minimum education, are faced with limited opportunities and employment barriers because of their lack of training and skills; (2) that these young people comprise a disproportionately large segment of the unemployed or unemployables in this state; (3) that these young people are disproportionately involved in juvenile delinquency and youth offenses; (4) that these young people comprise a disproportionate share of those on the welfare rolls; (5) that there is an increasing shortage of the skilled and trained workers needed because of rapid technological change; (6) that many of these young people by aptitude are not suited for purely academic studies; (7) that many of these young people would benefit from technical, agricultural, and natural resource conservation training so as to become independent, productive workers; and (8) that technical, agricultural, and natural resource conservation training would provide skilled workers needed by our rapidly developing technology. (b) It is the intent and purpose of the Legislature to encourage the establishment of technical, agricultural, and natural resource conservation schools in those areas of the state where they are needed in order to reduce the number of school dropouts, combat juvenile delinquency, and to provide more skilled and trained workers. This article shall be liberally construed to carry out these intents and purposes.