BILL NUMBER: AB 916INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member O'Donnell FEBRUARY 26, 2015 An act relating to career technical education, and making an appropriation therefor. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 916, as introduced, O'Donnell. Career technical education: student organizations: funding. Existing law provides funding for various career technical education programs, including regional occupational centers and programs, specialized secondary programs, partnership academies, and agricultural career technical education programs. This bill would appropriate the sum of $1,170,000 from the General Fund to the State Department of Education for the purposes of allocating funds in support of career technical education student organizations, as specified. The bill would also express various findings and declarations of the Legislature relating to career technical education. Funds appropriated by this bill would be applied toward the minimum funding requirements for school districts and community college districts imposed by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution. Vote: majority. Appropriation: yes. Fiscal committee: 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) Career Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) have long been recognized for their contribution in developing leadership skills and other "soft skill" competencies to pupils involved in high-quality career technical education programs and courses. (b) The programs and activities of CTSOs play an integral part in the effective delivery of career technical education programs and courses, and motivate many pupils to further develop their leadership potential. (c) Funding for the programs and activities of CTSOs were cut from the annual Budget Act during the recent budget crisis, resulting in a tremendous loss of opportunities for pupils enrolled in career technical education programs and courses. (d) CTSOs chartered in California include Cal-Health Occupation Student Association (Cal-HOSA) for health career pupils; the California Future Farmers of America (California FFA) for pupils studying agriculture and its related careers; the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) for pupils enrolled in business courses; Future Homemakers of America - Home Economics Related Occupations (FHA-HERO) for pupils interested in home economics related occupations; Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) for pupils engaged in marketing programs; and SkillsUSA for pupils interested in transportation, arts, media, entertainment, engineering, and construction. (e) High school graduates of CTSOs serve as industry leaders on boards, commissions, in elected offices, and as executive officers in businesses both in California and worldwide. (f) Student leadership is an important part of every career technical education program. CTSOs, and the opportunities they provide, separate career technical education programs and courses from the typical experiences pupils receive. SEC. 2. (a) The sum of one million one hundred seventy thousand dollars ($1,170,000) is appropriated from the General Fund to the State Department of Education, to be allocate in support of career technical education student organizations for purposes of supporting youth leadership development programs and activities, training teachers who advise these student organizations, maintaining affiliation with national career technical education organizations, and supplying support services necessary to carry out these activities.(b) For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, the funds appropriated pursuant to this section shall be deemed to be "General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts," as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202 of the Education Code, for the 2015-16 fiscal year, and included within the "total allocations to school districts and community college districts from General Fund proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIII B," as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202 of the Education Code, for the 2015-16 fiscal year.