Our CFT-sponsored legislation successfully passed out of policy committees before the May 12 deadline for bills introduced in their house of origin to be heard. The union’s proposal before the Joint Legislative Audit Committee also succeeded. In addition, CFT is lobbying several priority bills and continues to monitor legislation that would be harmful to educators, our students and communities. You can find regular legislative updates here.

CFT-SPONSORED BILLS

Prohibit new teachers from paying for BTSA
AB 410 (Cervantes, D-Corona) would prohibit districts from charging new teachers for their participation in the mandatory Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment program. >Passed Assembly Education Committee 6-1 on March 15 and placed on Assembly Appropriations Committee suspense file.

Prohibit for-profit charter schools
AB 406 (McCarty, D-Sacramento) would prohibit a charter school petitioner or a charter school submitting a renewal, from operating as, or being operated by, a for-profit corporation. >Passed Assembly Education 5-2 on May 10 and moved to Assembly floor. 

Paid leave for pregnancy and convalescence
AB 568 (Gonzalez-Fletcher, D-San Diego) would require school and community college districts to provide a minimum of six weeks of paid leave for certificated and classified employees due to pregnancy or convalescence following childbirth. >Passed Assembly Higher Education Committee1-1-1 on April 18, Assembly Education 5-0 on May 10, and moved to Assembly floor.

Enhance school safety planning committees
AB 1029 (Weber, D-San Diego) would add a community schools coordinator, a restorative justice practitioner, and/or a mental health professional to a school’s safety planning committee, and require the safety plan to be aligned with school climate priority and the Local Control Accountability Plan. >Passed Assembly Education 6-0-1 on April 5 and subsequently placed on Assembly Appropriations suspense file.

Ensuring adequate technology
Technology Audit Request (Pan, D-Sacramento) asks the auditor general to sample community college districts to determine if long-term strategic planning is occurring for the replacement and upgrade of instructional technology and accompanying employee training. >Approved March 29 with a 13-1 vote.
 

PRIORITY BILLS

California Community College Promise Program
AB 19 (Santiago, D-Los Angeles) would provide one year of tuition-free education for all first-time students taking 12 or more units. >Passed Assembly Higher Education 9-3-1 on March 28 and placed on Assembly Appropriations suspense file.

Assistance with school employee housing
AB 45 (Thurmond, D-Richmond) would create a $100 million program to provide school districts with financial assistance to develop employee housing. >Passed Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee 7-0 on April 5 and Assembly Education 5-2 on April 19. Referred to Assembly Appropriations.

More pathways for community college students
SB 68 (Lara, D-Bell Gardens) would allow two years at a community college to count toward a student’s AB 540 eligibility, and in lieu of a high school diploma, allow completion of an associate degree or satisfaction of minimum requirements to qualify for transfer to UC or CSU, in-state tuition and financial aid. >Passed Senate Education Committee 6-0-1 on March 22, and placed on the Senate Appropriations Committee suspense file on April 17.

Allow noon duty aides to be in classified service
AB 670 (Thurmond) would remove the exemption that disallows noon duty aides and playground supervisors from being counted as classified employees. >Passed Assembly Education 5-2 on April 19 and referred to Assembly Appropriations. (See page 16)

The Healthy California Act
AB 562 (Lara) would benefit all California residents by providing universal single payer healthcare coverage and a healthcare cost control system. >Passed Senate Health Committee 5-2-2 on April 26 and referred to Senate Appropriations.

— By the CFT Legislative Staff