SENIOR ASSEMBLY PROPOSAL NO. 9

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER SOWMA

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AP 9: PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR OLDER ADULTS.

UNDER EXISTING LAW, SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE AUTHORIZED TO ESTABLISH ADULT SCHOOLS AND CLASSES FOR ADULTS. EXISTING LAW REQUIRES AN ADULT BLOCK ENTITLEMENT, PAID FROM APPROPRIATIONS TO THE STATE SCHOOL FUND, TO BE DEPOSITED IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS’ ADULT EDUCATION FUNDS. EXISTING LAW AUTHORIZES SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS TO OFFER VARIOUS ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS, INCLUDING ADULT PROGRAMS FOR OLDER ADULTS, FOR APPORTIONMENT PURPOSES FROM THE ADULT EDUCATION FUND.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO FUND PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR ACTIVE SENIORS AS A COMPONENT OF ADULT EDUCATION AND PROHIBIT SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM TERMINATING THOSE PROGRAMS AS A RESULT OF REDUCTIONS IN STATE FUNDING.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

AP 9: RELATING TO PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR OLDER ADULTS

WHEREAS, A SCHOOL DISTRICTS RECEIVE FUNDING FOR ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS, INCLUDING PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR ACTIVE SENIORS; AND

WHEREAS, SENIORS ENROLLED IN ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT ARE PROVIDED BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS PAY PART OF THE EXPENSE OF THESE PROGRAMS THROUGH ENROLLMENT FEES; AND

WHEREAS, ATTENDING PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASSES HELPS SENIORS TO IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH AND PREVENTS INJURIES; AND

WHEREAS, AS THE RESULT OF STATE BUDGET CUTS AFFECTING SCHOOL DISTRICTS, SOME DISTRICTS HAVE REDUCED FUNDING FOR ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS, PARTICULARLY PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN WHICH SENIORS ARE ENROLLED; AND

WHEREAS, REDUCED FUNDING FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR SENIORS WILL CAUSE ADDITIONAL COSTS IN THE LONG-TERM BECAUSE SENIORS’ HEALTH WILL DETERIORATE AND ADDITIONAL MEDICAL CARE WILL BE NECESSARY; AND

WHEREAS, FUNDS DESIGNATED FOR ADULT EDUCATION SHOULD BE USED BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS ONLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND THESE PROGRAMS SHOULD CONTINUE TO INCLUDE PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR ACTIVE SENIORS; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY AND THE SENIOR SENATE, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2009 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS BE REQUIRED TO FUND PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR ACTIVE SENIORS AS A COMPONENT OF ADULT EDUCATION AND THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS BE PROHIBITED FROM TERMINATING THOSE PROGRAMS AS A RESULT OF REDUCTIONS IN STATE FUNDING; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

RN 09 16581

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