After School Policy

CA Legislative Update

John T. Jones — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 22:04:20 -0400

California's State Legislature constructs legislation that directly shapes policies impacting children, youth and families. It sets priorities for how we will invest our resources to achieve those outcomes. The following section contains information to specific legislation that impacts after-school programs. Visit www.leginfo.ca.gov for more information on bills.

Update from the Policy Committee

John T. Jones — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:46:12 -0400

Here is the rundown on after-school related bills, now that the Governor’s deadline to sign bills has passed.

As expected, the Governor vetoed AB 1526, a measure that would have put the Proposition 49 after-school funding guarantee back on the ballot for voters to reconsider. See the veto message at http://gov.ca.gov/pdf/press/AB1526_CommitteeonBudget_Veto_Message.pdf

The concerns voiced by the after-school community helped ensure this outcome. However, this year's experience teaches us that Proposition 49 can easily come under attack like all other programs, especially during a difficult budget year. It is critical to keep reminding state legislators about the significant value of after-school programs.
The Governor unfortunately also vetoed SB 1674 (Torlakson), which would have clarified that (a) After School Education and Safety (ASES) program grantees may operate on weekends with their base grants; and (b) ASES grantees must accommodate some administrative costs of subcontractors. See the veto message at http://gov.ca.gov/pdf/press/SB1674_Torlakson_Veto_Message.pdf
The Governor did sign into law Assembly Concurrent Resolution 134 (DeSaulnier), which will establish a Legislative Task Force on Summer and Intersession Enrichment.

Legislative Update on AB 1526 from the Network Policy Committee

John T. Jones — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:40:36 -0400

In connection with the budget, the State Legislature passed by a large margin AB 1526, which, if signed into law by the Governor, would put an initiative on the ballot to repeal Proposition 49’s guarantee of after-school funding. Such a measure would give the legislature authority in future budgets to cut, or even eliminate, after-school funding.

This is a stand-alone measure that, while one of several budget “trailer” bills, is not technically linked to any other budget proposals.

Legislative update on Proposition 49 from the Network Policy Committee

John T. Jones — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:50:17 -0400

Budget negotiators appear to be planning to insert the Budget Conference Committee language that would put an initiative on the ballot to give the legislature the authority to cut Proposition 49 funds into Assembly Bill 1526.

As a result, it appears that this proposed initiative is likely to be considered as a stand-alone bill, rather than as part of a broader budget "trailer" bill. This is relatively good news because the Governor can veto a stand-alone bill and would not be put in a position where he'd have to agree to put Prop. 49 on the ballot in order to get other reforms/measures he is seeking.

Telephone Workshop: Policy Update! Including Potential Impact to Prop 49 (ASES)

John T. Jones — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 19:08:41 -0400

On July 28, 2008 Network Policy Committee Co-Chair Brian Lee, Deputy Director of the California offices of Fight Crime Invest In Kids offered a telephone workshop updating participants on the latest in California after school policy. In the workshop Mr.

Potential Changes to Proposition 49 (ASES) Would Allow Legislators to Reduce or Eliminate ASES Funding

John T. Jones — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:04:37 -0400

The State Legislature’s Budget Conference Committee composed of members or the California State Senate and Assembly, adopted language for a budget trailer bill that attempts to repeal the guaranteed funding allocation in Proposition 49, the After School Education and Safety (ASES) program, which currently funds over 3,800 after school programs statewide. This language goes further than originally proposed by either house of the Legislature. It would submit an initiative to the voters that would give the Legislature the authority to substantially reduce after school funding or eliminate the state’s after school programs altogether, although the committee stated this was not the intent of the initiative. If placed on the November Ballot and passed by California voters, the initiative would end the guaranteed continuous appropriation for ASES programs, and funding levels would be set annually by the Legislature. In order to move any further, this measure would have to be part of a budget passed by a two-thirds vote of the full Legislature, and be signed by the Governor, before moving to the ballot. If passed by voters in November, this initiative could impact 2009-2010 after-school funding.

Governors May Budget Revisions

John T. Jones — Thu, 22 May 2008 17:47:58 -0400

The Governor recently released the May revision of the proposed California budget. There was no update regarding After School Education and Safety (ASES) funds in this budget revision. However, it is assumed that the Governor is still actively pursuing an opportunity to put a proposal to the voters to cut $59.6 million, or roughly 10% of ASES funding. At this time no ballot initiatives have been introduced. The last day for a legislative measure to qualify for the November ballot is June 26, 2008.

Proposed New Legislation - AB 2890 (Duvall)

Jeff Davis — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:10:58 -0400

AB 2890: New Proposed Legislation Allows Allocation of ASES Funds to other Categorical Programs

SB 1492 (McClintock) Did not pass Senate Education Committee

Jeff Davis — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 19:00:08 -0400

Senate Bill 1492 (McClintock), a bill seeking to require a state budget surplus with predicted future surplus in order to release After School Education and Safety (ASES) program funding, and sought to give the Legislature authority to set the annual funding level of the ASES program by repealing the portion of proposition 49 that requires voter approval to lower ASES funding was amended on April 14 to drop the stipulations requiring a budget surplus to trigger the appropriation, and focused solely on giving the Legislature the authority to set the annual appropriation level for ASES funding.

SB 1674 (Torlakson) Passed Senate and Assembly Education Comm, Passed Assembly Appropriations- Vetoed by the Governor

Jeff Davis — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 19:12:46 -0500

This bill has passed on the Senate Floor, passed the Assembly Education Committee and has been placed in suspense by the Assembly Appropriations Committee due to perceived cost pressures of the teacher pipeline project in subsequent years following the pilot year. The bill will be reviewed again in August, 2008. If passed this bill will:

Expand opportunities for after school program staff to access the existing Paraprofessional Teacher Training Program; - Had to be eliminated due to perceived budget impacts.
Clarify that ASES grantees using supplemental grants may use grant funds to operate on weekends in addition to inter- session, summer, and vacation periods with students who participate during the regular day program;
Ensure that subcontractors of ASES grantees receive a reasonable amount of administrative funds to administer after school programs.

Set a minimum grant amount for small schools with 60 students or less with 2/3 of the students attending the after school program in order to ensure that small programs receive enough grant funding to employ the staff necessary to run the program (This provision had to be released due to cost pressures in the current budget climate and will be pursued by Senator Toralkson in a different budget climate)

SBX 3 2 Allows the State to Capture Unencumbered ASES Funds

Jeff Davis — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 19:04:43 -0500

In an effort to address California’s budget deficit the California State Legislature recently passed SBX 3 2 (meaning the bill was passed in the third extraordinary session of the Legislature) to allow unencumbered 2006/07 ASES funds to be retained by the state. Currently new ASES programs that have requested extensions from the CDE by December 31, 2007 have until March 31, 2008 to expend these funds. New programs not meeting attendance targets this year will not be affected by this legislation, however meeting attendance targets will be required in subsequent years.

President’s Proposed Budget Suggests Major Changes to 21st CCLC Program

John T. Jones — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:06:25 -0500

The President recently released his 2009 budget request that proposes to fund the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Program at $800 million for nationwide after school programs. This is a reduction from the Congress proposed $1.08 billion budget for the program, while The No Child Left Behind act originally authorized 2.5 billion be released annually for the program.

SB 854 (Ashburn)

John T. Jones — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 20:11:17 -0400

On 10/05/2005 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB 854 which included language affecting the federally funded 21st Century Community Learning Center grant program. The bill increases the reimbursement rate from $5 per student per day to $7.50 and increases per-site caps and district grant levels. The changes guarantee programs the 15% of funding reserved for administrative costs, irrespective of student attendance.

AB 1685 Increases Before School Daily Rate and Expands Range of Providers

John T. Jones — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 19:09:30 -0400

On June 28, 2007 Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 1685 into law. The bill amended last year’s after-school bill SB638 by allowing current before school grant awards to be increased commensurate with the daily rate increases previously authorized by SB638 for ASES (After School and Education and Safety) funded programs. The bill also expands the range of providers that can report on program outcomes for ASES grantees by changing the word “after school teacher” to “after school staff.” To view the history and text of the bill as it was chaptered go to http://www.leginfo.ca.gov, click on bill information and type in AB 1685.

SB 638 (Torlakson)

John T. Jones — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 20:09:19 -0400

On 09/21/2006 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB 638 releasing $550 million for the state's After School Education and Safety (ASES) program. This new legislation allows for easier access to Proposition 49 funds and raises the daily per child rate from $5 to $7.50, raises grant caps, allows for direct grants instead of reimbursement system, and reduces the 50 percent grant match to 33.3 percent.
Click here to view this bill.

Proposition 49: The After School Education and Safety (ASES) Program

Jeff Davis — Tue, 22 May 2007 19:11:51 -0400

In November of 2002, California Voters passed proposition 49, the After School Education and Safety, or ASES program which mandated that $550 million dollars each year be made available for Kindergarten through 9th grade after-school programs. These funds would be released only after the state achieved a financial trigger making the release of these funds feasible. These funds began being released in 2006/07 and are administered through the California Department of Education (CDE). For more information, click on the following link: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ba/as/

Find Your Representatives

John T. Jones — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:19:10 -0400

Find your congressional and state representatives, statewide office holders and candidates for the next election. Search by Last Name or Zip Code

http://www.votesmart.org/index.htm

Safestate: CA Attorney General's Crime and Violence Prevention Center

Jeff Davis — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 12:13:15 -0400

Safestate school safety page contains information, training opportunities, and resources for violence prevention and safe schools.

www.safestate.org/index.cfm?navId=15

California State Senate

John T. Jones — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 23:11:16 -0400

Connect to Senators, Legislation and committees. Locate your district and access the CA legislative portal.

www.sen.ca.gov

California State Assembly

John T. Jones — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 23:10:55 -0400

View current legislation, assembly rosters, find your district, and comment on bills.