Bill Text: CA AB81 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Chaptered

---

Bill Title: Interscholastic athletics: pupils in foster care.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 9-1)

Status: (Passed) 2009-08-06 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 76, Statutes of 2009. [AB81 Detail]

Download: California-2009-AB81-Chaptered.html

---

BILL NUMBER: AB 81	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  76
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  AUGUST 6, 2009
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  AUGUST 5, 2009
	PASSED THE SENATE  JUNE 24, 2009
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  APRIL 30, 2009
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 14, 2009
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 24, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Audra Strickland
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Adams, DeVore, Gilmore, Jeffries,
Nestande, Price, and Smyth)
   (Coauthors: Senators Cox and Runner)

                        DECEMBER 22, 2008

   An act to amend Section 48850 of the Education Code, relating to
interscholastic athletics.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 81, Audra Strickland. Interscholastic athletics: pupils in
foster care.
   Existing law recognizes that the California Interscholastic
Federation is a voluntary organization that consists of school and
school-related personnel with responsibility for administering
interscholastic athletic activities in secondary schools.
   Existing law expresses the intent of the Legislature to ensure
that all pupils in foster care and those who are homeless, as
defined, have a meaningful opportunity to meet the challenging state
pupil academic achievement standards to which all pupils are held and
that, in fulfilling their responsibilities to these pupils,
educators, county placing agencies, care providers, advocates, and
the juvenile courts shall work together to maintain stable school
placements and to ensure that each pupil is placed in the least
restrictive educational programs, and has access to the academic
resources, services, and extracurricular and enrichment activities
that are available to all pupils.
   This bill would require that a foster child who changes residences
pursuant to a court order or decision of a child welfare worker be
immediately deemed to meet all residency requirements for
participation in interscholastic sports or other extracurricular
activities.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 48850 of the Education Code is amended to read:

   48850.  (a) (1) It is the intent of the Legislature to ensure that
all pupils in foster care and those who are homeless as defined by
the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec.
11301 et seq.) have a meaningful opportunity to meet the challenging
state pupil academic achievement standards to which all pupils are
held. In fulfilling their responsibilities to these pupils,
educators, county placing agencies, care providers, advocates, and
the juvenile courts shall work together to maintain stable school
placements and to ensure that each pupil is placed in the least
restrictive educational programs, and has access to the academic
resources, services, and extracurricular and enrichment activities
that are available to all pupils, including, but not necessarily
limited to, interscholastic sports administered by the California
Interscholastic Federation. In all instances, educational and school
placement decisions must be based on the best interests of the child.

   (2) A foster child who changes residences pursuant to a court
order or decision of a child welfare worker shall be immediately
deemed to meet all residency requirements for participation in
interscholastic sports or other extracurricular activities.
   (b) Every county office of education shall make available to
agencies that place children in licensed children's institutions
information on educational options for children residing in licensed
children's institutions within the jurisdiction of the county office
of education for use by the placing agencies in assisting parents and
foster children to choose educational placements.
   (c) For purposes of individuals with exceptional needs residing in
licensed children's institutions, making a copy of the annual
service plan, prepared pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 56205,
available to those special education local plan areas that have
revised their local plans pursuant to Section 56836.03 shall meet the
requirements of subdivision (b).