| Bill Number Author |
Governor's Veto Message |
|---|---|
AB 49 Washington Date Vetoed: 10/07/01 Libraries |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 49 without my signature. This bill would establish the Youth Mentoring and Safe Communities Grant Program, which would provide grants to local public libraries for specified youth programs during non-school hours. I support mentoring, after-school, conflict resolution, and other programs dedicated to improving the lives of youth in California. For this reason, I have provided substantial state funding in the 2001 Budget Act for various programs in these areas. For example, the 2001 Budget Act includes $23.9 million for mentoring programs designed to assist at-risk youth to become productive members society and reduce juvenile crime, teenage pregnancy, gang association, and the high school dropout rate. In addition, the Budget increased funding for the Carl Washington School Safety and Violence Prevention Act from $71 million to more than $82 million. Moreover, the Budget contains nearly $53 million for the Public Library Foundation, which provides funding for local libraries to use in a wide variety of areas. Consequently, based on the level of funding already available to other programs that provide a wide range of services to California youth, and because the state has experienced a $1.1 billion revenue shortfall in the first three months of this fiscal year, we unfortunately cannot afford to create a new program with $400,000 of additional costs no matter how worthy. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 50 Hertzberg Date Vetoed: 10/10/01 Curriculum/Standards |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 50 without my signature. This bill would extend the Schiff-Bustamante Standards-Based Instructional Materials Program (SBIM), thereby requiring an appropriation of $250 million annually (from 2002-03 through 2005-06) for the purchase of instructional materials in the following core areas: mathematics, language arts, history/social science, and science. The original program provided $1 billion over four years in the four core areas, as specified. Ensuring that students are provided the appropriate instructional materials is one of my highest priorities. My administration has allocated $2.3 billion for books and instructional materials. A good portion of that money has not yet been spent by school districts, in part because instructional materials for reading will not be approved by the State Board until next January. Given the rapid decline of our economy and a budget shortfall of $1.1 billion through the first three months of this fiscal year alone, I have no choice but to oppose additional General Fund spending. Finally, I am committing to review the overall need for instructional materials and work on crafting a thoughtful process for providing funds that is more in line with the scheduled adoptions for the four core academic areas to meet the needs of school districts. For these reasons, I cannot support this bill. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 122 Leslie Date Vetoed: 10/05/01 School Finance |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 122 without my signature. This bill would provide a supplemental apportionment to qualifying school districts for snow removal costs and the costs to maintain snow removal equipment. The supplemental funding would equal 50 percent of the districts costs in excess of $10 per unit of average daily attendance. The 2001 Budget Act already provides funding to school districts for costs associated with removal activities. In addition, a considerable portion of the funding provided to school districts each year is provided without strings attached and can be expended on any purpose deemed important by local officials. The 2001 Budget Act provided over $26.6 billion to K-12 districts for discretionary purposes. Moreover, our economy is rapidly declining with a revenue shortfall of $1.1 billion in the first three months of the fiscal year alone. Therefore, I do not believe that the supplemental funding provided in this measure is warranted, and I must return this bill without my signature. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 148 Zettel Date Vetoed: 10/05/01 Ed Tech |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 148 without my signature. This bill would have required a study to determine the cost and the most cost-effective means of providing Internet access to every middle and junior high school. While I am most supportive of technology in schools, AB 148's study is duplicative of existing and very current information. Last year, I authorized $2 million in the budget for the California Technology Assistance Project to conduct the 2001 School Technology Survey. This very detailed survey was just completed in August and contains much of the information requested in the AB 148 study. Further, the California Technology Assistance Project is currently examining how to connect schools to the Digital California Project as well as developing a Digital California Project instruction manual for schools. These two it ems, alone or in concert, should be able to provide the information the author of AB 148 would like. Moreover, we cannot afford anymore new General Fund spending since our economy is rapidly declining and revenues are running $1.1 billion below budget predictions in the first three months alone. I applaud Assemblywoman Zettlel's intentions and am pleased that she shares my vision for bringing technology to our schools and to our students. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 177 Liu Date Vetoed: 10/13/01 Safe Schools/Violence Prevention |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 177 without my signature. This bill would authorize a school district superintendent or designee to address the academic needs of pupils suspended for more than five days. In addition, the bill would require the superintendent or designee to inform the parent or guardian of the pupil's right to have his/her academic needs addressed along with options available to meet those needs. Lastly, the bill would deem any testimony provided in an expulsion hearing to be privileged information pursuant to Civil Code provisions. While the bill permits school districts to choose to address the academic needs of a student on extended suspension, it requires school districts to inform the parent of the pupil's right to have academic needs addressed. This parental notification requirement, though laudatory, creates a state mandate of several million dollars. Additionally, it is not clear to me that the vast majority of the school districts are not currently providing suspended students with academic material and course work when requested. Further, I strongly support the provisions of the bill that modify the rights of witnesses in expulsion hearings that enhance the ability of expulsion proceedings witnesses to come forward without risk of retaliatory civil suits, and I would consider a bill accomplishing this purpose. However, because AB 177 will result in several million dollars of mandated costs, I cannot support this measure. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 189 Migden Date Vetoed: 10/13/01 STRS/PERS |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 189 without my signature. This bill would provide an enhanced 2 percent at age 55 retirement benefit formula, with a maximum benefit factor of 2.7 percent at age 65, for active and inactive State miscellaneous and State industrial members of the California Public Employees' Retirement System. This bill would result in annual costs of $119 million ($59.5 million General Fund) commencing in 2003-04. Moreover, retirement benefits for State employees are subject to collective bargaining and should be considered together with other compensation items in the collective bargaining process. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 230 Goldberg Date Vetoed: 07/30/01 School District Management Issues |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 230 without my signature. School district governing boards are given the responsibility to determine discipline for their classified employees and are held accountable for their actions. Districts need to retain a wide range of authority in order to fully implement the state's accountability objectives. Responsibilities should not be delegated to an outside arbitrator the local voters can not hold accountable. For these reasons, I am returning AB 230 without my signature. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 231 Nakano Date Vetoed: 10/05/01 Class-size Reduction |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 231 without my signature. This bill would allow the Torrance Unified School District and the Poway Unified School District to enter into a 5-year pilot project to implement a class size reduction (CSR) program to reduce class size in kindergarten and grades 1-5, inclusive. It would also allow the average student to teacher ratio for the pilot project program participants to increase from 20:1 to 23:1. The additional CSR program flexibility provided in this bill allowing the student teacher ratio for the pilot project to increase from 20:1 to 23:1 would conflict with my goal to ensure that classes in participating grades do not exceed 20:1. All evidence to date showsthat class size reduction (20:1) is resulting in higher student achievement. Also, given that some districts have not implemented, or fully implemented, the existing CSR program, I believe it would be more appropriate to continue to focus resources and efforts on the existing program. For these reasons, I am unable to sign the bill. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 272 Pavley Date Vetoed: 10/05/01 Teachers/Teacher Credentialing |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 272 without my signature. Teachers who earn certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards are among the most highly skilled members of their profession and we have compensated them with bonuses of at least $10,000 each. However, I am unwilling to support legislation exempting them from completing 150 hours of professional development activities for the rest of their career. Many Board-certified teachers will likely be called upon to serve as mentors to beginning teachers. So they may properly discharge this important duty, I believe it is important that they annually participate in professional development activities that are aligned to state instructional standards. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 292 Strom-Martin Date Vetoed: 10/07/01 Teachers/Teacher Credentialing |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 292 without my signature. This bill requires that all Professional Development Institutes (PDI), with the exception of the Algebra Academies PDIs, be offered on sites that are widely distributed throughout the state, and are thus not offered solely on university and college campuses. This bill appropriates $130,000 from the General Fund to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to reimburse school districts for the travel costs of the PDI participants. This bill authorizes school districts to apply to the SPI for the reimbursement of the costs of reimbursing the PDI participants. This bill authorizes the PDI participants to apply to their school districts of employment for the reimbursement of accommodation costs if their schools are at least 70 miles from and require over 1 ½ hours travel time to an institute site. While I support widely distributing PDIs across the state, I cannot support an additional $800,000 in General Fund spending at this time. Our economy is rapidly declining and revenues have fallen $1.1 billion below expectation during the first three months of this fiscal year. Moreover, I signed SB 573 last year, which created opportunities for teachers who live far away from institute sites to receive training through on-line courses. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 295 Strom-Martin Date Vetoed: 10/05/01 Accountability |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 295 without my signature. I am dedicated to the goal of improving pupil achievement in California. Our current system of accountability, which is based on the API, is a powerful tool to achieve that goal. I am pleased that test scores have risen three years in a row. I am concerned that the changes to the API, as proposed in this bill, would hinder the ability to use the API score as a measure of academic performance and would therefore hinder the entire system of accountability. Equally important, the bill includes state mandates conservatively in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Given our rapidly declining economy and a budget shortfall of at least $1.1 billion in the first three months alone, we cannot afford additional General Fund spending. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 316 Salinas Date Vetoed: 10/02/01 Parental Involvement |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 316 without my signature. This bill would create a pilot grant program through January 2004 to fund one weekend parental involvement activity in each participating elementary school, subject to funds being appropriated in the Annual Budget Act or other measure, and would require the participating school to submit a self-evaluation to the Department of Education (CDE) by May 1, 2003. This bill would also limit the grant amount to be appropriated for this purpose to $150,000 in any fiscal year and would require the CDE to compile the information and provide it to the Legislature by July 1, 2003. This bill would create a new pilot program, for which no funding is appropriated in the Budget Act of 2001. I am a great proponent of greater parental involvement in educational activities and have signed three bills that provide $15 million to support more parental involvement programs. These funds are in the 2001 Budget. If this pilot program, worthy though it may be, was extended statewide it would require an additional $132 million. Given our rapidly declining economy there are no resou rces to support this program. For these reasons, I cannot support the bill. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 348 Wright Date Vetoed: 10/13/01 Career/TechEd |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 348 without my signature. This bill would make various changes regarding curriculum, model academicstandards, and the attributes of career technical education courses within grades 7 through 12. These changes include revising the process by which the Superintendent of Public Instruction develops and the State Board of Education adopts curriculum standards, requiring development of model curriculum standards by May 1, 2003 for career technical education courses, and requiring CSU, as well as requesting UC, to develop model academic standards and a high school accreditation process related to recognizing career technical education as university preparation. The bill states it is the intent of the Legislature to appropriate funds for this purpose in the 2001-02 Budget Act. I am supportive of improving career technical education, as evidenced by the $5.5 million included in the 2001-02 budget for this purpose. I am also supportive of the concept of having a role for employers and stakeholders in developing the model curriculum standards. However, the funds appropriated in the 2001-02 Budget Act could not be used by the Department of Education to develop the model curriculum because they are only available for allocation to local education agencies. As a consequence, this bill would impose new General Fund costs in the hundreds of thousands of dollars on the Department of Education. I am also concerned that this bill may have the potential for significant local assistance cost pressures by compelling districts to change curriculum to meet new requirements of the postsecondary institutions. Given the rapid decline of our economy and a budget shortfall of $1.1 million through the first three months of this fiscal year alone, I have no choice but to oppose additional General Fund spending. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 367 Migden Date Vetoed: 10/10/01 Physical Education |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 367 without my signature. This bill would require school district governing boards to submit physical performance test results in writing to the parent or guardian of a student in grades 5, 7, and 9; require K-8 schools to double the physical education requirement for 7th and 8th grade students; require the California Department of Education (CDE) to develop curriculum content standards for school district physical education and ensure that districts are in compliance with statutory physical education requirements; and extend the sunset date for CDE's oversight of physical education from January 1, 2002 to January 1, 2007. This bill would impose significant state-mandated costs upon school district governing boards by requiring school districts to report school physical fitness test results, in writing, to each pupil's parent or guardian. This bill's mandated reporting requirement would be reimbursable, resulting in General Fund costs in the millions of dollars. More significantly, the requirement to increase by 50% physical education time would result in additional costs of approximately $300 million annually. Given the rapid decline of our economy and a budget shortfall of $1.1 billion through the first three months of this fiscal year alone, I have no choice but to oppose additional General Fund spending. I agree with the intent of this legislation to encourage a higher level of physical fitness in our state's youth and I support the extension of CDE's oversight of physical education until January 1, 2007. However, I do not believe that increasing reporting requirements of local school districts is the proper way to improve student fitness. I would consider legislation that meets the goal of increasing students' physical fitness without mandating additional requirements on school districts. For these reasons,I cannot support AB 367. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 504 Havice Date Vetoed: 10/14/01 School Facilities |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 504 without my signature. This bill requires that when local school districts and the State Allocation Board develop and approve plans for "cookie cutter" schools that consideration be given to pupil and faculty safety. This consideration would include the placement, design or adequacy of school features, as it pertains to the siting of schools, traffic patterns, ingress and egress of pupils, and security devices, including alarms and other electronic safety devices. I believe existing law places the highest priority on student safety and security starting with The Field Act of 1933. All plans utilizing school bond funds must be approved by the State Architect for compliance with the Field Act along with fire, life and safety issues. The Department of Education reviews school plans for siting issues, traffic patterns, and ingress and egress compliance. The State and local Fire Marshals approve fire safety issues and emergency access issues. The Carl Washington School Safety and Violence Prevention Act provides funds for school communication systems and finally the Department of Toxics must review and approve schools plans relating to toxic and other environmental safety issues. This year, I signed Senate Bill 575 (O'Connell) an important safety measure that requires automatic fire sprinklers in public school classrooms. In addition to laws that insure the safe construction and operation of our schools, California has numerous student safety measures in place such as the School Safety and Violence Prevention Act, the School Law Enforcement Partnership, the Safe School Plan Implementation Grants, the Safe and Drug Free Schools program and the Communities Act Safety Plans for New Schools as well as dozens of state regulations. I am a longstanding advocate of safe design, construction and operation of schools and student security. However, given the rapid decline of our economy and a budget shortfall of $1.1 billion through the first three months of this fiscal year alone, I cannot support additional General Fund spending on a measure that is covered under existing law. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 508 Pavley Date Vetoed: 10/05/01 Categorical Programs |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 508 without my signature. This bill would require that 11th grade high school students that met all requirements for receiving a Governor's Scholars Award based on the 2000 administration of the achievement test authorized by Education Code Section 60640, except for the requirement to take the standards-based math portion of the required achievement test, be provided an award from funds appropriated by Item 0954-101-0001 of the 2001 Budget Act. While I am very sympathetic for students whose schools did not correctly administer the standards-based portion of the STAR exam, I do not believe that all taxpayers should be required to pay for the mistakes of a few school administrators. I recommend that those schools that made mistakes make efforts to resolve them themselves rather than request that taxpayers pay for the cost of their errors. In addition, this bill would create a precedent to provide additional exemptions for other students for other reasons. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 698 Wesson Date Vetoed: 10/14/01 General Government |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 698 without my signature. This bill would create the Office of Immigrant Assistance (OIA) in the Office of the Attorney General. The Attorney General has already created such an office. Therefore, this bill is duplicative. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 745 Cox Date Vetoed: 10/10/01 School Finance |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 745 without my signature. This bill would (1) add an alternate public member to the Commission on State Mandates, (2) limit the Commission from representing itself in court actions, (3) extend the time period by which local government agencies and school districts can file a claim for reimbursement, (4) reduce the time period by which the State Controller's Office can audit a claim, (5) change the way claims are reimbursed through the State Mandates Claims Fund, and (6) change the way claims are removed from the State Mandates Apportionment System. I believe that the existing timeframes for filing reimbursement claims with the state are quite generous and provide sufficient opportunity for local entities to submit reimbursement claims, therefore the changes proposed by this bill are unnecessary. In addition, by restricting the time period for the State Controller's Office to audit claims, this bill exposes the state to higher mandate claim costs. Further, while the state is required to reimburse local entities for costs mandated by the state, it should not be the State's responsibility to monitor the submission of claims by local governments and school districts to ensure claims are filed by the statutory timeframes. Accordingly, I am returning AB 745 without my signature. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 769 Goldberg Date Vetoed: 10/13/01 Career/TechEd |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 69 without my signature. This bill would allow specific governmental entities in Los Angeles County, which are currently Southern California Edison customers, to enter into direct-access electricity contracts with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Last June, approximately two percent of the customer load in the territory served by the three investor-owned utilities (IOUs) were receiving power from direct access providers. The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) recently suspended direct access, but the percentage of load subject to direct access transactions grew to as much as 13 percent or more prior to the suspension. That growth creates a significant and unfair cost burden for those customers who continue to receive power from the IOUs and the Department of Water Resources. This rapid growth in direct access necessitates more concise cost-containment provisions for the remaining IOU customers than those contained in this bill, and those provisions should apply to all direct access contracts. Moreover, this bill does not clearly authorize fees to cover costs that may result when direct access customers return to service with an IOU, which would create new and unanticipated procurement obligations for the IOU. Those new procurement obligations could come about solely because the direct access provider no longer chooses to provide service to its customers because of rising electricity costs, and instead passes that burden on to the IOU and its customers. Any efforts to allow direct access must be equitable for all stakeholders. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 801 Salinas Date Vetoed: 10/04/01 Child Nutrition |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 801 without my signature. This bill requires that all state-owned or state-run institutions to purchase California grown fruit and produce before considering the purchase of produce grown outside of the state. Unfortunately, the 5% preferential allowance contained in the bill could result in significant costs to state and local governments and may also invite retaliatory actions by our domestic trading partners. Given the rapid decline of our economy and a budget shortfall of $1.1 billion through the first three month s of this fiscal year alone, I have no choice but to oppose additional General Fund spending. I believe strongly in the goal of promoting California products. This year, I initiated a 'Buy California' program, agreed to by the Legislature, which appropriated $5 million to encourage consumer nutritional and food awareness and to foster purchases of high-quality California agricultural products. California received an additional $12 million from the federal government to assist this program. Coupled with in-kind contributions from the agricultural industry, I believe this approach is a more effective means of encouraging Californians to increase their consumption and purchase of California produce. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 833 Steinberg Date Vetoed: 10/05/01 Teachers/Teacher Credentialing |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 833 without my signature. Reducing the number of underqualified teachers in low-performing schools is a task upon which I place great importance, and I note that the 2001 Budget Act contains over $160 million for programs to address this issue. Unfortunately, given our rapidly declining economy with a budget shortfall of $1.1 billion for the first three months if the fiscal year, we cannot afford new General Fund spending. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 852 Maldonado Date Vetoed: 10/14/01 Transportation |
To Members of the California Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 852 without my signature. This bill would impose specific passenger restraint standards to school pupil activity buses (SPABs). Similar standards are already required for school buses. However, the school bus standards are intended to reflect the findings of a study being completed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This study focuses on the installation of restraint systems and the safety of school bus passengers, not SPABs. I signed SB 568 (Morrow) which delays implementation of A 15 (Gallegos) pending completion of the NHTSA study. Thus, this legislation is also premature. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 855 Dutra Date Vetoed: 10/14/01 Special Education |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 855 without my signature. This bill would require that State teacher salaries be established based upon local school district teacher salaries. By mandating that State salaries be based upon salaries established by local school districts, the fiscal controls currently exercised by the Legislature and the Governor would be removed. I have instructed DPA to make an offer to increase the salaries of teachers at the schools for the deaf and blind and to any others DPA may deem appropriate. Thus, this legislation is not necessary. Moreover, the matter of determining State teacher pay is best determined through the normal collective bargaining process. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 916 Keeley Date Vetoed: 10/14/01 Pregnant/Parenting Teens |
To the Members of the California Legislature: I am returning Assembly Bill 916 without my signature. This bill would expand the scope of currently mandated AIDS prevention instruction to include instruction in the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), thereby increasing the cost of an existing state-mandated program. On the merits, I agree with greater inclusion of STI prevention information in the course curriculum. However, the vast majority of voluntary sex education instruction offered by school districts in the state already includes information on STIs. Imposing specific requirements for instruction would create a state-mandated program of $3.1 million General Fund and require the state to pay even if a school district is already voluntarily providing such instruction. Given the rapid decline of our economy and a budget shortfall of $1.1 billion through the first three months of this fiscal year alone, I have no choice but to oppose additional General Fund spending. For these reasons, I cannot sign this bill. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 932 Migden Date Vetoed: 10/14/01 Safe Schools/Violence Prevention |
To the Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill No. 932 without my signature. This bill would establish the Youth Leadership Through Education and Crime Prevention Pilot Program. The program would provide greater opportunities for young people from disadvantaged circumstances to meet their potential while working in collaboration with law enforcement to reduce youth crime, violence, and drug use. Although I fully support the goals of this program, given the rapid decline of our economy and a budget shortfall of $1.1 billion through the first three months of this fiscal year alone, I have no choice but to oppose additional General Fund spending. I believe this program can be implemented through the use of federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) funds. Therefore, I am returning this bill without my signature and directing the Employment Development Department to work with the author to use the Governor's Workforce Investment Act Discretionary funds to develop proposals to address the purpose of this measure. Additionally, I have also provided $121 million in the 2001 Budget Act for juvenile crime prevention programs that can be used for future funding of these programs. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 1030 Pacheco, Rod Date Vetoed: 09/24/01 Child Health |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 1030 without my signature. This bill would appropriate $140,000 and require the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI), in consultation with the Department of Health Services, to contract with a non-profit organization to onduct a study that would examine the lack of pupil school locker pace, the weight of students' textbooks, and possible alternatives o students carrying heavy backpacks. The study would also examine ce correlation between students' use of heavy backpacks and spinal amage, and the SPI would be required to report the study's findings o the Legislature by January 1, 2003. While I am concerned with potential student health problems, there does not appear to be any documentation of long term problems caused by the use of backpacks. Medical experts advise that the incidence of any back, neck and shoulder pain can be minimized through use of a well padded, adjustable back pack worn correctly to distribute the weight evenly. It is more appropriate that parents and local communities determine whether this is an issue of concern and work with local school districts for solutions. For these reasons, I cannot sign this bill. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 1061 Dickerson Date Vetoed: 10/02/01 Child Health |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 1061 without my signature. This bill authorizes school personnel to assist students with non-prescription medication, provided written permission from the student's parent or guardian is on file. The language in this bill, however, could be interpreted to impose reimbursable state-mandated requirements on schools which could reach $40 million annually. I would consider signing a similar bill if its provisions were clearly permissive in nature rather than mandatory. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 1073 Wesson Date Vetoed: 10/14/01 Adult Education |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 1073 without my signature. This bill would allow Adult Education in Correctional Facilities programs to increase their Average Daily Attendance (ADA) by up to 5.0 percent above the current statutory increase of 2.5 percent from 2002-03 to 2005-06, inclusive, if the increase is a result of an increase in the number of courses in the prevention of domestic violence and substance abuse. Programs that receive this proposed increase would be required to maintain, for three years, records on inmate enrollment in these courses and completion rates. I support the Adult Education in Correctional Facilities Program and the services they provide to help reduce recidivism. This bill would triple the statutory growth in funding from 2.5 to 7.5 percent. Given our declining economy and the loss of $1.1 billion in revenues in the first 3 months of the fiscal year alone, we cannot commit to such an increase. In fact, I recently asked all of my departments outside of law enforcement to prepare budget cuts of 15 percent. Finally, if these classes have demonstrated their effectiveness in reducing recidivism, I would expect correctional facilities to provide these classes on a priority basis from within existing resources. For these reasons, I cannot support this measure. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 1110 Pescetti Date Vetoed: 10/14/01 Employment Issues |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 1110 without my signature. This bill would extend the time period from 15 to 30 days during which a State employee absent without approved leave (AWOL) can file a request for reinstatement, provide that an AWOL State employee subsequently reinstated would receive back pay and benefits from the date of appeal to the date of reinstatement, and expand the authority of the Department of Personnel Administration to set aside an AWOL separation based on fraud, discrimination, or bad faith. This bill would result in interminable costs to the State as result of awarding a reinstated employee back pay and benefits from the date of appeal to the date of reinstatement. Additionally, this bill would encourage appeals by separated employees and extend to them benefits not provided employees, who report to work, absent an excused period leave. Finally, this bill is unnecessary since the existing 15 day period affords AWOL State employees sufficient opportunity to request reinstatement. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 1132 Canciamilla Date Vetoed: 10/13/01 Charter Schools |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 1132 without my signature. This bill would clarify the conditions under which a charter school can claim supplemental instruction funding and make other changes relative to charter school funding. This bill would also codify elimination of the deficit factor for revenue limits. This bill's provisions concerning supplemental instruction funding for charter schools are an abrupt change from the current system of funding. These provisions lack accountability and present a real opportunity for fraud or abuse. Other provisions of this bill, while desirable, do not outweigh these risks. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 1191 Longville Date Vetoed: 10/09/01 Special Education |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 1191 without my signature. While this bill would provide for a process to resolve disputes between agencies regarding responsibility for payment of required services for developmentally disabled children ages 0-6, it would indirectly create new costs for greater participation by publicly funded agencies in the service planning process. Given the rapid decline of our economy and a budget shortfall of $1.1 billion through the first three months of this fiscal year alone, I have no choice but to oppose additional General F und spending of at least $7 million annually. However, I am directing the Health and Human Services Agency to bring the affected State agencies together to prepare a dispute resolution proposal that will not create pressure on the General Fund. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 1213 Liu Date Vetoed: 10/13/01 Transportation |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 1213 without my signature. This bill would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to establish a Pupil Transportation Task Force to define requirements for a new pupil transportation funding formula that would optimize the distribution and use of funds for pupil transportation services by school districts. This bill would also divert funding from the Home-to-School Transportation program to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, thus reducing the amount of funding available for local districts to spend on local transportation needs. Additionally, the diversion of the $140,000 violates the intent of Proposition 98 since it would use local assistance funds to pay for a state operations program that is not instructional in nature. For these reasons, I am unable to support this measure. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 1341 Wiggins Date Vetoed: 10/13/01 Career/TechEd |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 1341 without my signature. This bill would require the State Department of Education (SDE) to collect information regarding academic or career-related curricula from all high schools in California and make that information available on the Department of Education website. While I am supportive of the idea of a website describing the best Practices for integrated career-related curricula, schools could work voluntarily with the SDE to host such information. The data collection requirements established this bill would result in a significant State-reimbursable mandate of over $20 million Proposition 98 General Fund. Additionally, existing law requires schools to make available to parents, every year, a prospectus including the curriculum, title, description, and instructional aim of every course offered by the school. Given the rapid decline of our economy and a budget shortfall of $1.1 billion through the first three months of this fiscal year along, I have no choice but to oppose additional General Fund spending. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 1431 Horton Date Vetoed: 10/10/01 Teachers/Teacher Credentialing |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 1431 without my signature. This bill would appropriate $305,000 General Fund to establish a minimum of three district-based programs to provide professional development services to substitute teachers assigned to low-performing schools. The role of substitute teachers in public education is important. However, I believe it is essential that State resources be concentrated on providing professional development services to permanent instructional staff, many of whom have not yet had an opportunity to participate in existing professional development programs. Until this goal is achieved, I do not believe it would be prudent to implement new professional development programs that are geared only toward substitute teachers. Additionally, by requiring the Los Angeles Unified School District to participate in this program, this bill would create a reimbursable State mandate, resulting in significant General Fund costs of another one million. Finally, given our rapidly declining economy with state revenues falling $1.1 billion below expectations in the first three months of this fiscal year alone, I am unable to sign this bill. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 1536 Cardenas Date Vetoed: 10/14/01 Safe Schools/Violence Prevention |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 1536 without my signature. This bill would appropriate $750,000 from the General Fund to create a truancy court pilot project in Los Angeles County. Also, the Judicial Council estimates fifteen new positions and another $1.5 million to administer the programs. Given the rapid decline of our economy and a budget shortfall of $1.1 billion through the first three months of this fiscal year alone, I have no choice but to oppose additional General Fund spending. It is possible however this program could be funded in part from the $121 million in Juvenile Justice Prevention funds. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 1554 Hertzberg Date Vetoed: 10/13/01 Employment Issues |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 1554 without my signature. This bill, an urgency measure, would provide State employees with an employer-paid health benefits contribution establishment by the 100/90 Formula, which uses a weighted average of the four health plans with the highest enrollment to determine the employer's maximum monthly contribution for health benefits. This bill would result in increased costs to the State of $66.2 million ($33.1 million General Fund) for State employees in 2001-02 and ($98.4 million General Fund) for State employees in 2002-03 and annually thereafter. This bill would circumvent the collective bargaining process for represented employees and would supersede the Department of Personnel Administration's authority to determine the State's maximum monthly contribution for health benefits for State employees excluded from the collective bargaining process. All compensation issues should be resolved through the collective bargaining process, not through piecemeal legislation. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 1617 Washington Date Vetoed: 10/10/01 Counseling /Guidance |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 1617 without my signature. This bill would expand the Tenth Grade Counseling Program to include County Offices of Education, would increase the program's per-student reimbursements, and would require that the program's counseling sessions include discussions of the High School Exit Exam. While I support the provision of information and academic counseling to high school students as they work towards graduation, I am concerned that this bill would more than double the ongoing General Fund cost of the Tenth Grade Counseling Program and result in increased costs of $11 million annually. Given our rapidly declining economy, with state revenues falling $1.1 billion below expectations in the first three months of this fiscal year alone, I cannot support this measure. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 1626 Pescetti Date Vetoed: 10/03/01 Safe Schools/Violence Prevention |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 1626 without my signature. This bill would appropriate $400,000 from the General Fund to the Office of Attorney General to fund two existing sites for the 'California Safe Alternatives and Violence Education Pilot Program' (Project S.A.V.E.). This is an excellent program. In ordinary times, I would sign it in a New York minute. Given the rapid decline of our economy, and a budget shortfall of $1.1 billion through the first three months of this fiscal year alone, I have no choice but to oppose additional General Fund spending, even for a program as meritorious as this one. I would note, however, that the Budget contains $121 million for Juvenile Justice programs, including $4 million which was allocated to Sacramento, alone. For these reasons, I cannot support AB 1626. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
AB 1635 Vargas Date Vetoed: 08/20/01 CDE Admin/Governance |
To Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 1635 without my signature. Under current law, employees have the right to inspect their own personnel records. This bill would permit employees to obtain a copy of those records, and would authorize employers to charge either a maximum copying fee of ten cents per page or an amount specified in an applicable collective bargaining agreement. While it would modify existing law governing personnel records, this bill contains no provisions to protect the privacy of other individuals who may be identified in the personnel records. Without measures that ensure the privacy of those individuals and the confidentiality of a company's legitimate proprietary information, the potential for harm of this measure outweighs the possible benefits. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
SB 25 Alarcon Date Vetoed: 10/13/01 Career/TechEd |
To Members of the California State Senate: I am returning Senate Bill 25 without my signature. The working men and women of California and our economy would benefit from a more coordinated effort by the various state departments charged with ensuring a well-trained, healthy, safe and prosperous workforce. I believe that the Department of Industrial Relations and the Employment Development Department could provide better service by being combined within a single entity. More review, however is necessary to determine what other components of the state, if any, should be organized in this fashion. I have asked my Director of the Department of Industrial Relations to work with the appropriate people and to make a recommendation to me by the end of the year. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
SB 30 Chesbro Date Vetoed: 10/16/01 Special Education |
To Members of the California State Senate: I am returning Senate Bill 30 without my signature. This bill would require the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) to establish a Realignment Review Task Force (RRTF) to examine the relationship between the State and counties in the delivery of mental health, health, social services and related programs. The RRTF would be required to submit a report, outlining options for improving the ability of counties to improve these services, and potential funding sources, to the Legislature before April 1, 2003. This bill, while well-intentioned, is largely duplicative of a study completed by the Office of the Legislative Analyst earlier this year. Realignment, for all its complexities, has provided a stable and fairly predictable funding source for public health and indigent health programs at the local level. I have also just signed Assembly Bill 328 (Salinas) which requires the Department of Mental Health to collect data on the current structure and status of community mental health financing. I will use both reports to consider any future changes to realignment. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
SB 71 Burton Date Vetoed: 10/15/01 Employment Issues |
To Members of the California State Senate: I am returning Senate Bill 71 without my signature. I believe strongly that it is time to increase the level of compensation benefits offered to injured workers. It is also time to make significant improvements to the system so it better serves both the injured workers and all Californians. A comprehensive bill to improve the system should have four goals: 1) Providing a significant benefit increase for injured workers; 2) Promoting early and sustained return to work within the person's medical and work restrictions; 3) Implementing effective medical cost containment measures while assuring the quality of care provided; and 4) Targeting benefit dollars to achieve the best outcomes for injured workers. I am concerned about the net economic impact of SB 71 and AB 1176 in these shaky economic times since I do not believe the two bills taken together adequately address the final three goals listed above. Since there is a general agreement about the need to increase benefits for injured workers, I believe that if we work together, the legislature, my staff and the interested parties can craft a comprehensive bill reaching all four goals before the 2002 legislative session begins. For the above reasons, I must veto this bill. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
SB 101 Brulte Date Vetoed: 10/16/01 Pregnant/Parenting Teens |
To Members of the California State Senate: I am returning Senate Bill 101 without my signature. This bill would appropriate $1 million from the General Fund to the California Department of Social Services to implement a media campaign that would inform persons, likely to abandon their newborn infants, about other options available to them under recently enacted legislation known as 'Safe Arms for Newborns'. While I am highly supportive of the intent of this bill, it would result in the expenditure of General Fund dollars that were not included in the Budget Act of 2001. Since the enactment of 'Safe Arms' the Department of Social Services (CDSS) has been working with local agencies, as well with State agency partners, to increase public awareness about the provisions of the law. I am directing the Department of Social Services to pursue further collaborative efforts with the Department of Health Services, the Department of Education, and the Office of the Attorney General to develop an outreach plan that would address this issue in a cost-effective manner. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
SB 132 Burton Date Vetoed: 10/13/01 STRS/PERS |
To Members of the California State Senate: I am returning Senate Bill 132 without my signature. This bill would increase the minimum monthly retirement allowance provided to State members of the California Public Employee Retirement System and their optional settlement beneficiaries and survivors, effective July 1, 2002. The benefit would go to members retired prior to January 1, 2001, at age 50 or older, with at least sixteen years of credited State service. I am sympathetic to providing equitable treatment to retired State employees who had a long career in State government, they deserve to be protected from inflation. Last year I stated that I would consider twenty years of service credit to match the criteria for members of the State Teacher's Retirement System. This bill would benefit people who retire after only sixteen years of service and as young as age 50. Further the cost is more than we can justify under the current budget. Finally, it is not wise to take on substantial new spending since our economy is rapidly declining and state revenues have dropped $1.1 billion in the first three months alone. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
SB 147 Bowen Date Vetoed: 10/16/01 Employment Issues |
To Members of the California State Senate: I am returning Senate Bill 147 without my signature. This bill would require employers, by March 1, 2002, to execute signed or electronically verifiable agreements between an employer and employees regarding the right of the employer to monitor the e-mail traffic and computer files of employees. If such agreements are not provided, the bill prohibits employers from monitoring business computers by employees to guard against inappropriate business or personal uses. As I previously have, when considering this issue, I start from the common-sense presumption that employees in today's wired economy understand that computers provided for business purposes are company property and that their use may be monitored and controlled. Under current law, employers are potentially liable if the employer's agents or employees use the employer's computers for improper purposes, such as sexual harassment, defamation and the like. It therefore follows that any employer has a legitimate need to monitor, either on a spot basis or at regular intervals, such company property, including e-mail traffic and computer files stored on either employer-owned hard drives, diskettes or CD ROMs. This bill places unnecessary and complicating obligations on employers and may likely to lead to litigation by affected employees over whether the required notice was provided and whether it was read and understood by the employee. I support reasonable privacy protections for employees in the workplace and my Administration proposed amendments which would carry out the intent of the bill without imposing undue regulatory burdens and potential legal exposure to businesses for doing what any emp loyee should assume is the employer's right when they accept employment. Senator Bowen rejected the proposed amendments. Thus, I must veto the bill a third time. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
SB 193 Soto Date Vetoed: 10/13/01 STRS/PERS |
To Members of the California State Senate: I am returning Senate Bill 193 without my signature. This bill would provide a Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) to local safety members of CalPERS covered employers as well as law enforcement members of county retirement systems subject to the County Employees' Retirement Law of 1937. This bill would create a DROP having significant costs to local government retirement programs. I would be open to considering a truly cost neutral program for local government. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
SB 194 Soto Date Vetoed: 10/14/01 STRS/PERS |
To Members of the California State Senate: I am returning Senate Bill 194 without my signature. This bill would provide the two pre-retirement death benefits to school members of the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) that mirror those provided to State employees. I have supported and signed legislation providing classified school employees substantial benefit improvements in recent years. These include the 2% at age 55 retirement formula based on highest 12 months of earnings; increase of the death benefit to survivors of retired employees to $2000; and removal of the earnings offset used in computing the individual's retirement allowance. The long-term cost of these enhancements has been estimated to be $2.936 million. The cost of this bill adds an additional $157 million to this amount. Although it was anticipated that most if not all, of the cost for these benefits would be funded by the excess retirement assets that had accrued in the CalPERS retirement fund, the downturn in the investment markets has reduced the value of the retirement system assets and will necessitate increased retirement contributions by school districts. Economic projections for the State for this and the next fiscal years, and the continued drop in investment value, are likely to result in the State having to increase funding for the schools to pay for the retirement benefits that have already been approved. I believe that it would be fiscally imprudent to add to financial burden to the State by adding this benefit. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
SB 286 Soto Date Vetoed: 10/16/01 Safe Schools/Violence Prevention |
To Members of the California State Senate: I am returning Senate Bill 286 without my signature. This bill would require the State Department of Education, in consultation with the State Department of Health Services, the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to conduct a study and report to the Legislature by May 1, 2002, on the use of hazardous substances as part of educational instruction. This bill could result in $250,000 in General Fund costs to contract for the required study and report to the Legislature. This bill is unnecessary, as existing law allows the governing board of any school district to request the consultation services from the California Occupational Safety and Health Consultation Service to ensure hazardous materials are properly being used and stored safely in school laboratories. Existing law also prohibits K-6 school districts from purchasing any art or craft material with toxic substances causing chronic illness. For school districts with students in grades 7-12, any part or craft materials with toxic substances must meet specified labeling standards. For these reasons, I am unable to sign this bill. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
SB 320 Alarcon Date Vetoed: 10/15/01 Safe Schools/Violence Prevention |
To Members of the California State Senate: I am returning Senate Bill 320 without my signature. This bill would require the school district superintendent or designee to make available or to arrange for a suspended pupil to receive all class assignments, tests and examinations for the classes in which the pupil is enrolled. Further, this bill would also authorize a school district governing board to include disaggregated data for those students suspended and/or expelled in the accountability report card for each school in the district. This bill, though well intentioned, removes a districts' authority to determine locally how to meet the academic needs of suspended students, thereby imposing a reimbursable state mandate of several million dollars. School districts and boards currently have discretion over the suspension and expulsion process, and I believe, act in the best interests of these students and the broader school environment by returning them to the classroom when deemed appropriate. Additionally, I would note that under current law, schools are already free to report student data concerning suspensions and expulsions in the school accountability report card if they so choose. For these reasons, I cannot support this bill. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
SB 380 Murray Date Vetoed: 10/16/01 CalWORKS |
To Members of the California State Senate: I am returning Senate Bill 380 without my signature. This bill would permit CalWORKs recipients in a self-initiated program to apply one hour of study for each hour of classroom instruction toward their CalWORKs work participation requirement, up to a maximum of six hours per week. While well-intentioned, this bill reduces the work requirement for students who are already receiving CalWORKs services. For this reason, I cannot support this bill. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
SB 404 Polanco Date Vetoed: 10/14/01 Adult Education |
To the Members of the California Senate: I am returning Senate Bill 404 without my signature. This bill would establish within the Department of Corrections (CDC) a Correctional Educational Board (Board). The Board would be required to adopt and enforce all rules and regulations for the management and operation of educational programs within CDC, including operating procedures and the goals of correctional education. This measure, which is nearly identical to Senate Bill 1845 which I vetoed last year, would result in major General Fund costs that have not been included in the 2001 Budget Act. Given the rapid decline of our economy and a budget shortfall of $1.1 billion through the first three months of this fiscal year alone, I have no choice but to oppose additional General Fund spending. Additionally, this bill would remove management control of educational programs at the institutions. The bill also prohibits the redistribution of funds appropriated for correctional education programs for other purposes without the approval of two-thirds of the Board. Effectively, this bill would impair CDC's ability to manage its resources. Should there be a need to redirect the efforts of existing correctional education programs, the executive branch may implement such changes without legislation. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
SB 420 Johnson Date Vetoed: 08/20/01 Curriculum/Standards |
To Members of the California State Senate: I am returning Senate Bill 420 without my signature. This bill would require the State Board of Education (SBE) to conduct an annual statewide penmanship competition for all pupils, and encourage school districts to prepare pupils to enter the competition. While SB 420 would promote a meritorious goal, it would shift focus away from our primary goal of insuring that students meet the state's high academic content standards. This proposal would result in significant ongoing costs, which are not funded by this bill or the recently enacted 2001-02 budget. Moreover, the measure lacks specific detail regarding the proposed competition, such as how participants would be grouped, judged and recognized. Lastly, SB 420 may inadvertently result in the imposition of a state-mandated local program by directing the SBE to encourage school districts to prepare their pupils for the competition. The increased service demands for instructors, class time, and instructional materials to teach pupils the penmanship styles being tested would result in undetermined costs to school districts. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
SB 514 Machado Date Vetoed: 10/04/01 School District Management Issues |
To Members of the California State Senate: I am returning Senate Bill 514 without my signature. This bill would require that in any proposed school district reorganization, which includes a transfer or withdrawal of 25 percent or more of the district's average daily attendance (ADA), the vote to approve the reorganization must occur in the entire school district, not just in the territory to be transferred or withdrawn. Furthermore, the bill's application would extend retroactively to any reorganization initiated on or after January 1, 2001. Current law provides for a series of reviews to ensure that the interests of education are best served in proposed district reorganizations. As part of this review process, the State Board of Education (SBE) has discretion to determine the boundaries within which an election must be held for any reorganization. This bill would also unnecessarily restrict the authority of the SBE despite a lack of evidence that the SBE has failed to define an entire district as the area of election when appropriate. Moreover, this bill would modify the existing review process and impose unnecessary requirements on the SBE to emphasize ADA figures over other important factors in their review of proposed district reorganizations. Given the complexity of proposed district reorganizations, the comprehensive review process currently provided for is the appropriate mechanism to determine their outcome. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
SB 515 Alpert Date Vetoed: 10/10/01 Child Health |
To Members of the California State Senate: I am returning Senate Bill 515 without my signature. This bill would establish the Youth Development Act and create the California Council on Youth Development, consisting the specified representatives of State officials and departments and youth members. This Council would be required to perform specified activities related to youth in California. While I support the general goals of coordinating services to youth in California, I am vetoing this bill because it would require specified State agencies to contribute funding from their base budgets to support implementation of this bill. Such a redirection could result in the loss of funding to programs and purposes approved through the annual Budget Act at a time when the economy is rapidly declining and state revenues are down $1.1 billion in the first three months of this fiscal year. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
SB 554 Vasconcellos Date Vetoed: 10/15/01 Community Service/Service Learning |
To Members of the California State Senate: I am returning Senate Bill 554 without my signature. This bill would require the California Postsecondary Education Commission to develop a Master Plan for Service Learning, and would establish a Statewide Service Learning Center within the proposed Governor's Office on Service and Volunteerism. It would also expand the Student Academic Partnership Program from grades K-6 to K-12. This bill would appropriate $148,350 to comply with the service learning provisions. It would also result in pressure to provide permanent funds for the Center. This bill would also create pressure to provide at least $4 million Proposition 98 General Fund to backfill one-time federal funding under Goals 2000 currently provided for grades 7-12 under the Student Academic Partnership Program. In 1999, I sent a written request to the U.C., C.S.U. and community colleges to encourage public service as part of their curricula. In part because of my request, all segments of higher education operate programs that encourage community service and incorporate active learning opportunities, such as service learning, into student courses. Therefore, this program is unnecessary. For these reasons and given the rapid decline of our economy and a budget shortfall of $1.1 billion through the first three months of this fiscal year alone, I have no choice but to oppose additional General Fund spending. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
SB 743 Murray Date Vetoed: 10/15/01 Teachers/Teacher Credentialing |
To Members of the California State Senate: I am returning Senate Bill 743 without my signature. This bill would require, by June 30, 2002, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, in consultation with a broadly representative and diverse advisory committee, to develop a plan for school districts to address the disproportionate number of teachers serving on emergency permits in low-performing schools. I am very concerned about the number of teachers serving on emergency permits, especially in low-performing schools. However, current law provides a state plan to replace the emergency permit system through the Pre-internship Teaching Program. Therefore, the requirement proposed by this bill to develop a state plan is redundant. Furthermore, over the last three years I have initiated many incentives for teachers with emergency permits to obtain clear credentials and attract and retain qualified teachers to teach in low-performing schools. The programs include:
These incentives have not been in place long enough to adequately evaluate their impact on increasing the number of certified teachers. Therefore, the proposal put forth by this bill is also premature. For these reasons, I am returning SB 743 without my signature. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
SB 963 Vincent Date Vetoed: 10/14/01 Safe Schools/Violence Prevention |
To Members of the California State Senate: I am returning Senate Bill 963 without my signature. This bill would authorize social workers and probation officers to access student records for purpose of casework planning and monitoring wards and probationers. This bill could cost the State up to $2.3 million annually in increased state-mandated reimbursable costs. However, many counties already share relevant information with probation officers including student academic performance and disciplinary problems, if any. I would encourage all counties to adopt this practice. Given the rapid decline of our economy and a budget shortfall of $1.1. billion in the first three months of this fiscal year alone, I have no choice but to oppose additional General Fund spending. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
SB 999 Torlakson Date Vetoed: 10/12/01 Transportation |
To Members of the California State Senate: I am returning Senate Bill 999 without my signature. This bill, an urgency measure, would allow all school districts that did not receive a home-to-school transportation allowance in the 2000-01 fiscal year, but were operating home-to-school transportation programs, and applied for the allowance, to receive an allowance for the 2001-02 fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter. By allowing any district not currently participating in Home-To-School Transportation the option to join and receive state funding based on criteria to be established by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, this bill could result in future General Fund Cost pressures in excess of $5 million annually, plus growth and cost-of-living increases. Further, Home-To-School Transportation is not a mandated program – districts choose to participate. School districts are already provided discretionary funding which can be allocated to their Home-To-School Transportation programs. Finally, given our rapidly declining economy with state revenues falling $1.1 billion below expectations in the first three months of this fiscal year alone, I am unable to sign this bill to expand program participation. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
SB 1016 Karnette Date Vetoed: 10/16/01 Curriculum/Standards |
To Members of the California State Senate: I am returning Senate Bill 1016 without my signature. This bill would delete references in the Education Code to the term foreign language and instead, substitute the term world language. While I appreciate the intent of the bill to eliminate any negative connotations, this bill is not necessary. The term foreign language is used and acknowledged throughout the nation. The term was never meant to be derogatory in nature. I am also concerned about the additional cost to taxpayers for publishers to conform textbooks and local governments to change numerous laws to conform to this change in law. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
SB 1041 Ortiz Date Vetoed: 10/15/01 Statewide Budget Issues |
To Members of the California State Senate: I am returning Senate Bill 1041 without my signature. This bill would establish, within the Department of Developmental Services, the Donated Dental Services Program (DDSP). The DDSP would increase access to dental services for the disabled and the elderly by facilitating the delivery of volunteer dental services. Currently, the Medi-Cal program is spending over $752.8 million ($366.2 million General Fund) for dental services for over 5.8 million eligibles including those with disabilities and seniors. In addition, the 2001 Budget Act increased the Expanded Access to Primary Care clinic program by $10 million General Fund (47 percent) for total funding of $31.2 million. This increase was provided in recognition of the importance of providing health care services, including dental services, to vulnerabl e populations statewide. The 2001 Budget Act demonstrates my commitment to providing dental services to needy Californians. This bill, however, makes an additional General Fund appropriation to a program which has traditionally been supported by foundation grants and special funds. Given the rapid decline of our economy and a budget shortfall of $1.1 billion through the first three months of this fiscal year alone, I have no choice but to oppose additional General Fund spending. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
SB 1051 McPherson Date Vetoed: 10/15/01 Career/TechEd |
To Members of the California State Senate: I am returning Senate Bill 1051 without my signature. This bill required the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to develop a career/technical education curriculum framework by June 1, 2004, and required local districts with high schools to provide a course of study that integrates academic and career skills in all disciplines that prepares students for graduation, career entry, college-level studies, and adult life. The bill would also appropriate $5 million to expand the existing School-to-Career Initiative (Proposition 98) within the Office of the Secretary of Education (OSE), This bill would result in General Fund costs of $600,000 to develop the prescribed curriculum and up to $400,000 for each additional curriculum framework. Furthermore, this bill creates a reimbursable state mandated program with costs in the millions of dollars to require local governing boards of any school district with a high school to change courses of study to conform with the prescribed curriculum. The bill also appropriates $5 million General Fund to the School-to-Career program. Due to the rapid decline of our economy and a budget shortfall of $1.1 billion through the first three months of this fiscal year alone, I have no choice but to oppose additional General Fund spending. However, as I am supportive of the School-to-Career program, I am directing the Health and Human Services Agency to look for alternative funding to expand the program. For these reasons, I cannot support this measure. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
SB 1118 Margett Date Vetoed: 10/12/01 Higher Education |
To Members of the California State Senate: I am returning Senate Bill 1118 without my signature. By requiring school districts to include an informational pamphlet in the annual parent notification letter, this bill would create a reimbursable State mandate, which would result in significant State costs. The information that would be included in the pamphlet currently is available from pamphlets disseminated by the state's universities and by the California Education Roundtable. In addition, information is available via the Internet at a website administered by the segments of higher education or at the schoolsite. I am supportive of efforts to provide parents with information about educational opportunities and requirements. However, given our rapidly declining economy with state revenues falling $1.1 billion below expectations in the first three months of this fiscal year alone, I cannot support this measure given its costs which could exceed $1 million. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS |
2001 Vetoed K-12 Education Legislation
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