California Assembly Bill AB2633 Latest Draft

 BILL NUMBER: AB 2633AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 29, 2012 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Swanson FEBRUARY 24, 2012 An act to  amend Section 200 of   add Section 60860 to  the Education Code, relating to public education. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2633, as amended, Swanson. Public education:  equal rights and opportunities.   high school exit examination.   (1) Existing law requires each pupil completing grade 12 to successfully pass the high school exit examination as a condition of receiving a diploma of graduation or as a condition of graduation from high school. Existing law requires by October 1, 2010, that the State Board of Education, taking into consideration specified findings and recommendations, adopt regulations for alternative means by which eligible pupils with disabilities, as defined, may demonstrate that they have achieved the same level of academic achievement in the content standards required for passage of the high school exit examination.   This bill would require that pupils be verbally notified before taking the high school exit examination that they may request additional time to complete the examination. The bill would require the request to be granted if the pupil making the request has an identified learning disability, including dyslexia. These requirements would impose a state-mandated local program.   (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.   This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.   Existing law establishes the system of public elementary and secondary schools in this state. Existing law states the policy of the State of California to afford all persons in public schools, regardless of their disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other specified characteristic, equal rights and opportunities in the educational institutions of the state and states that the purpose of related existing law is to prohibit acts that are contrary to that policy and to provide remedies therefor.   This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to the statement of the state policy and purpose of the related existing law.  Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no   yes  . State-mandated local program: no   yes  . THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:  SECTION   1.   Section 60860 is added to the   Education Code   , to read:   60860. Before administering the high school exit examination, all pupils shall be verbally notified that they may request additional time to complete the examination. A request so made shall be granted if the pupil making the request has an identified learning disability, including dyslexia.   SEC. 2.   If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.   SECTION 1.  Section 200 of the Education Code is amended to read: 200. It is the policy of the State of California to afford all persons in the public schools, regardless of their disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes set forth in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code, equal rights and opportunities in all of the educational institutions of the state. The purpose of this chapter is to prohibit acts that are contrary to that policy and to provide remedies for the commission of those prohibited acts.