More than three hundred measures have been introduced this legislative session including measures addressing universal health care, banning the use of trans fats, enhancing benefits for National Guard/Veterans, addressing flood protection and water delivery, and where one can smoke to name only a few of the measures. While another two thousand measures are likely to be introduced in the next month, many members have attempted to stake out ownership on subject matters or problems that they want to solve this session. Below is a very quick and brief summary of some of the measures introduced so far this session.

Universal Health Care

Of the measures so far introduced this session, a significant number deal with health care and how to provide for those Californians that traditionally are not insured. Most of these measures are only placeholders for authors that want to be part of the ultimate solution, and some only focus on one part of the problem. While it may seem that every author and every other measure introduced addresses this problem, the big 3 are The Governor’s Health Care proposal, Senate Pro Tem Don Perata’s SB 48, and Speaker Fabian Nunez’s AB 8, which presently states the intent of the legislature that all Californian’s should have access to affordable insurance, is probably one of the more likely measures to be used for an eventual legislative deal.

Bond/Labor Compliance

Speaker of the California Assembly Fabian Nunez has introduced AB 100, legislation that would place the Kindergarten-University Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 2008 (worth $9 billion, with CSU receiving $690,000,000) before the voters in 2008.

Two other bonds have been introduced for improved water delivery. Senator Joe Simitian has introduced SB 27, which would put on the ballot a $5 billion bond for water deliverance and environmental improvements. Senator Dave Cogdill also introduced legislation that would provide almost $4 billion for improved water storage capabilities.

Last legislative session two measures were introduced to enact labor compliance for the recently enacted Kindergarten-University Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 2006. Both of those measures advanced out of the Assembly and then failed to move in the Senate. This session, Senate President Pro Tem Senator Don Perata has introduced SB 18, which would enact labor compliance for the voter approved bond.

A-G Curriculum

It is anticipated that members of the legislature will want to alter the A-G Curriculum in some fashion. Some members of the Latino caucus are likely interested in making the A-G standard a requirement for all high school students to graduate. Also, it is expected that Senator Mark Wyland, the newly appointed Vice Chair of Senate Education, will again seek a category within A-G for career technical education courses.

Career Technical Education

Career technical education, or “career tech” measures introduced so far this year include Assembly Member Jean Fuller’s AB 32, which would create a work certification training option for high school students who have passed the high school exit examination, allowing them to train for a specific job specific skill. Senator Mark Wyland has introduced two career tech measures this year. SB 13 would require that any school district that applies for monies from the recently passed K-12 higher education bond state to state in their application whether or not part of the funding sought would be used for career technical education. Mr. Wyland has also proposed legislation to require that California create a Career Technical Education Vision Council which would develop a workforce preparation and strategic plan by December 31, 2008.

Finally, Senator Jack Scott has authored SB 52, the Administration’s proposal on career technical education, which changes the name of the preliminary "vocational education teaching credential" to the "career technical education teaching credential" and to require the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to offer preliminary career technical education teaching credentials based on the 15 industry sectors identified in the California career technical education model curriculum standards adopted by the State Board.

Teacher Preparation

To date, a spot measure by a freshman member and a reintroduction of a measure from last year by Senator Torlakson are the only measures in print on teacher preparation. Two other measures have been introduced that would seek to provide a training course for California’s principals and would also propose an increase in the number of trained librarians at school libraries.

Newly elected member Jose Solorio has introduced AB 37, which expresses legislative intent to provide public school teachers with professional development opportunities in order to improve the instruction of English learners.

Last legislative session Senator Tom Torlakson introduced his SB 1124 and subsequently his SB 842 which proposed numerous initiatives to improve the recruitment, training and retention of teachers in California's schools. This year Senator Torlakson has divided the matter into separate measures SB 43 and SB 44. SB 43 would provide up to $20,000 in incentives to a teacher who participates in the Governor’s Teaching Fellowships Program, which the CSU currently administers, and teach at a low performing school. SB 44 would create the California Teacher Cadet Program, allowing high school students, which would allow high school students the opportunity to be exposed to the curriculum and criteria needed to become a teacher.

Additional K-12 Training

AB 68, by Assembly Member Merv Dymally, seeks to have a full-time certificated librarian for every school library in California. Assembly Member Mike Feuer has introduced AB 96 which currently expresses the intent of the Legislature to devote increased resources to leadership training for current school principals and future principals in California, especially in relationship to low-performing schools.

Trans Fat

Five measures have been introduced so far to either completely or partially ban the use of artificial trans fats in food. Two of the five measures are focused at schools and their food services programs while the other three mirror Senator Gloria Romero’s SB 40, which would prohibit any food containing artificial trans fats from being stored, distributed, or served. Most of these measures would exempt from this prohibition food sold or served in a manufacturer’s original sealed package.

Veterans/National Guard

Each year members of the legislature introduce various measures that reward or incentivize service in the military or the National Guard. This year three measures have been introduced that may have an affect on CSU campuses, it’s employees and its students.

Assembly Member Karen Bass has introduced AB 138 which will allow certain veterans to park their vehicle without charge, in a state or local authority parking facility, a parking space in a time restricted zone of one hour or more, or a metered parking space. Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod has introduced SB 14 which again proposes to allow members of the California National Guard to become members of Public Employees' Retirement System. Finally, Assembly Member Sam Blakesee has authored AB 111 which would extend the National Guard Assumption Program of Loans for Education, by three years with a new end date of July 1, 2010, and a repeal date of January 1, 2011.

Flood Protection

In light of Hurricane Katrina and the increased attention to Sacramento and Northern California’s exposure to levee failure, numerous measure have been introduced to address this potential hazard including Assembly Member Doug La Malfa’s Assembly Bill 41 which requires the recent flood bond initiative to be spent on increasing California’s surface water containment, or dams.