BILL NUMBER: AB 2615INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Wood FEBRUARY 19, 2016 An act to amend Section 8483 of the Education Code, relating to after school programs. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2615, as introduced, Wood. After school programs. Existing law establishes the After School Education and Safety Program to serve pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 9, inclusive, at participating public elementary, middle, junior high, and charter schools. The act states that it is the intent of the Legislature that elementary school pupils participate in the full day of the program every day during which pupils participate and that pupils in middle school or junior high school attend a minimum of 9 hours a week and 3 days a week to accomplish program goals. This bill would instead state that it is the intent of the Legislature that elementary school and middle school or junior high school pupils participate in the full day of the program every day during which the pupils participate. 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 8483 of the Education Code is amended to read: 8483. (a) (1) Every after school component of a program established pursuant to this article shall commence immediately upon the conclusion of the regular schoolday, and operate a minimum of 15 hours per week, and at least until 6 p.m. on every regular schoolday. Every after school component of the program shall establish a policy regarding reasonable early daily release of pupils from the program. For those programs or schoolsites operating in a community where the early release policy does not meet the unique needs of that community or school, or both, documented evidence may be submitted to the department for an exception and a request for approval of an alternative plan. (2) It is the intent of the Legislature that elementary school and middle school or junior high school pupils participate in the full day of the program every day during which pupilsparticipate and that pupils in middle school or junior high school attend a minimum of nine hours a week and three days a week to accomplish program goals.participate. (3) In order to develop an age-appropriate after school program for pupils in middle school or junior high school, programs established pursuant to this article may implement a flexible attendance schedule for those pupils. Priority for enrollment of pupils in middle school or junior high school shall be given to pupils who attend daily. (b) The administrators of a program established pursuant to this article have the option of operating during any combination of summer, intersession, or vacation periods for a minimum of three hours per day for the regular school year pursuant to Section 8483.7.