To:        ACSA members

             Interested Parties

 
From:    Adonai Mack
             Legislative Advocate
 
RE:       Special Education Legislation - AB 2717 (Leiber) and AB 2783 (Plescia)
 
 
This legislative session there are several crucial special education bills, one of which could change the landscape for special education in California.  ACSA has joined forces with our education management colleagues and SELPA directors to stop these measures from reaching the Governor's desk.   The bills are AB 2717 (Leiber) and AB 2783 (Plescia).
 
AB 2717 would place the burden of proof in special education hearings solely on the school district.  This would overturn the Supreme Court decision for California school districts and has the potential to dramatically increase costs to school districts.  Further, AB 2717 places an undue burden on school districts by encouraging parents to initiate a due process hearing without any consideration as to the merits of their claim.  Over the past 10 years, special education litigation has exploded and if this legislation becomes law in California, we could see more expensive litigation.  
 
The other measure, AB 2783 requires local education agencies to increase the timeline for assessing and making a determination of special education eligibility for pupils placed in rate classification levels (RCL) 12 through 14 group homes or community treatment facilities.  Specifically, this bill increases the timeline for the determination of special education eligibility from 60 days to 20 working days.
 
These bills have passed the Senate Education Committee and will be heard in Senate Appropriations in the coming weeks. ASCA is working to have both bills held in the Senate Appropriations Committee because of the huge cost to school districts. Please take a moment to draft a letter and/or call your own Senator to encourage their opposition to AB 2717 and AB 2783.  Below is a link to ACSA's letter of opposition for the bill.  Please feel free to use any part of my letter to help in drafting your own correspondence.  I encourage you to do this sooner than later since we are unsure when the bill will be heard.  Remember, all letters should be written to "your State Senator," State Capitol, Sacramento, CA  95814.
 
Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions or need additional information. I can be reached at amack@acsa.org or (916) 329-3821. While we may be successful in getting the bill held in the Appropriations committee,   your help is critical to ensure that members of the Senate Appropriations Committee keep the bill from moving forward. Thank you in advance for your help.
 

AB 2717 (Lieber) Letter of Opposition

AB 2783 (Plescia) Letter of Opposition

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Assembly member Sam Aenestad
Assembly member Roy Ashburn
Assembly member Jim Battin
Assembly member Gilbert Cedillo
Assembly member Ellen Corbett
Assembly member Dave Cox
Assembly member Bob Dutton
Assembly member Dean Florez
Assembly member Sheila Kuehl
Assembly member Jenny Oropeza
Assembly member Mark Ridley-Thomas
Assembly member George Runner
Assembly member Joe Simitian
Assembly member Darrell Steinberg
Assembly member Tom Torlarkson
Assembly member Mark Wyland
Assembly member Leland Yee