Bill Text: CA AB1939 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Pupil attendance: county and local school attendance review boards: pupil consultation.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-06-14 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 13, Statutes of 2024. [AB1939 Detail]
Download: California-2023-AB1939-Chaptered.html
Assembly Bill
No. 1939
CHAPTER 13
An act to amend Section 48321 of the Education Code, relating to pupil attendance.
[
Approved by
Governor
June 14, 2024.
Filed with
Secretary of State
June 14, 2024.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1939, Maienschein.
Pupil attendance: county and local school attendance review boards: pupil consultation.
Existing law authorizes the establishment of county school attendance review boards and local school attendance review boards, and, if established,
requires
those boards to be composed of at least a parent and 12 representatives of specified entities and community groups, as provided.
This bill would require each county school attendance review board and each local school attendance review board to, at least annually, consult with specified pupils for the purpose of soliciting input that will assist board members in gaining a better understanding of, and proposing interventions for, pupil attendance challenges and behavioral challenges.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NOBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 48321 of the Education Code is amended to read:48321.
(a) (1) A county school attendance review board may be established in each county. The county school attendance review board may accept referrals or requests for hearing services from one or more school districts within its jurisdiction pursuant to subdivision (f). A county school attendance review board may be operated through a consortium or partnership of a county with one or more school districts or between two or more counties.(2) A county school attendance review board, if established, shall include, but need not be limited to, all of the following:
(A) A parent.
(B) A representative of school districts.
(C) A representative of the county probation department.
(D) A representative of the county welfare department.
(E) A representative of the county superintendent of schools.
(F) A representative of law enforcement agencies.
(G) A representative of community-based youth service centers.
(H) A representative of school guidance personnel.
(I) A representative of child welfare and attendance personnel.
(J) A representative of school or county health care personnel.
(K) A representative of school, county, or community mental health personnel.
(L) A representative of the county district attorney’s office. If more than one county is represented in a county school attendance review board, a representative from each county’s district attorney’s office may be included.
(M) A representative of the county public defender’s office. If more than one county is represented in a county school attendance review board, a representative from each county’s public defender’s office may be included.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (2), for purposes of conducting hearings, the chairperson of the county school attendance review board is authorized to determine the members needed at a hearing, based on the needs of the pupil, in order to address attendance or behavioral problems.
(4) The school district representatives on the county school attendance review board shall be nominated by the governing boards of school districts and shall be appointed by the county superintendent of schools. All other persons and group representatives shall be appointed by the county board of education.
(5) (A) If a county school attendance review board exists, the county superintendent of schools shall, at the beginning of
each school year, convene a meeting of the county school attendance review board for purposes of adopting plans to promote interagency and community cooperation and to reduce the duplication of services provided to youth who have serious school attendance and behavior problems.
(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), for purposes of conducting hearings, a county school attendance review board may meet as needed.
(b) (1) Local school attendance review boards may include, but need not be limited to, all of the following:
(A) A parent.
(B) A representative of school districts.
(C) A representative of the county probation department.
(D) A representative of the county welfare department.
(E) A representative of the county superintendent of schools.
(F) A representative of law enforcement agencies.
(G) A representative of community-based youth service centers.
(H) A representative of school guidance personnel.
(I) A representative of child welfare and attendance personnel.
(J) A representative of school or county health care personnel.
(K) A representative of school, county, or community mental health personnel.
(L) A representative of the county district attorney’s office. If more than one county is represented in a local school attendance review board, a representative from each county’s district attorney’s office may be included.
(M) A representative of the county public defender’s office. If more than one county is represented in a county school attendance review board, a representative from each county’s public defender’s office may be included.
(2) Other persons or group representatives shall be appointed by the county board of education.
(c) A county school attendance review board may elect, pursuant to regulations adopted pursuant to Section 48324, one member as chairperson with responsibility for coordinating services of the county school attendance review board.
(d) A county school attendance review board may provide for
the establishment of local school attendance review boards in any number as shall be necessary to carry out the intent of this article.
(e) In any county in which there is no county school attendance review board the governing board of a school district may elect to establish a local school attendance review board, which shall operate in the same manner and have the same authority as a county school attendance review board.
(f) A county school attendance review board may provide guidance to local school attendance review boards.
(g) Each county school attendance review board and each local school attendance review board shall, at least annually, consult
with pupils who reflect the diversity of all the schools that are served by the board for the purpose of soliciting input that will assist board members in gaining a better understanding of, and proposing interventions for, pupil attendance challenges and behavioral challenges.
(h) If the county school attendance review board determines that the needs of pupils, as defined in this article, can best be served by a single board, the county school attendance review board may then serve as the school attendance review board for all pupils in the county, or, upon the request of any school district in the
county, the county school attendance review board may serve as the school attendance review board for pupils of that school district.
(i) This article is not intended to prohibit an agreement on the part of counties to provide these services on a regional basis.
