< BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Yee

FEBRUARY 20, 2003

An act to add Article 21.3 (commencing with Section 70007) to
Chapter 2 of Part 42 of the Education Code, relating to student
financial aid.



LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1010, as introduced, Yee. Student financial aid: loan
forgiveness for teachers of blind and visually impaired pupils.
Existing law establishes the Governor's Teaching Fellowships
Program under the administration of the Chancellor's Office of the
California State University and provides, beginning in the 2001-02
fiscal year, for 1,000 nonrenewable graduate teaching fellowships to
be awarded annually in the amount of $20,000 each. Commencing with
the 2002-03 fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter, the number
of fellowships awarded is determined pursuant to an appropriation in
the annual Budget Act.
This bill would establish the Loan Forgiveness for Teachers of
Blind and Visually Impaired Pupils Program under the administration
of the Chancellor of the California State University. Under the
program, commencing with the 2004-05 fiscal year, 20 loans of $5,000
each would be awarded to program participants and, commencing with
the 2005-06 academic year, 40 loans of $5,000 each would be awarded
to program participants.
The bill would require a program participant to agree to teach
blind or visually impaired pupils in a California public elementary
or secondary school on a full-time basis for at least 4 school years.
Under the bill, a program participant would have 4 years, upon
completion of his or her preparation program, to meet that
obligation. A program participant who meets the service obligation
would not be required to repay the loan he or she has received under
the bill. The bill would further require that a program participant
agree to repay the state $1,250 annually for each year the program
participant fails to complete either the teacher preparation program
or the required teaching service, up to full repayment of $5,000.
The bill would require the chancellor to adopt any rules and
regulations he or she deems necessary for the administration of the
bill and the recovery of funds that he or she determines are owed to
the state.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares both of the
following:
(1) There is currently a 90 percent illiteracy rate among blind
and visually impaired children in California.
(2) Education for blind and visually impaired children in this
state is in a crisis mode, and action must be taken on this issue.
(b) It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature to enact a
loan forgiveness program to encourage Californians to fulfill one of
the state's critical needs by preparing themselves for, and serving
in, careers as teachers for blind and visually impaired pupils in the
state's public elementary and secondary schools.
SEC. 2. Article 21.3 (commencing with Section 70007) is added to
Chapter 2 of Part 42 of the Education Code, to read:

Article 21.3. Loan Forgiveness for Teachers of Blind and
Visually Impaired Pupils

70007. (a) (1) The Loan Forgiveness for Teachers of Blind and
Visually Impaired Pupils Program is hereby established, to be
administered by the Chancellor of the California State University.
Under the program, loans shall be made to eligible college and
university students who agree to teach blind or visually impaired
pupils in a California public elementary or secondary school on a
full-time basis for at least four school years.
(2) The chancellor shall collaborate with the University of
California, the California Community Colleges, the Association of
Independent California Colleges and Universities, the State
Department of Education, and the Commission on Teacher Credentialing
to ensure that access to the loan forgiveness program is available to
students in a variety of teaching preparation programs.
(b) (1) For the 2004-05 academic year, 20 loans of five thousand
dollars ($5,000) each shall be awarded to program participants.
Commencing with the 2005-06 academic year, 40 loans of five thousand
dollars ($5,000) each shall be awarded to program participants.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the number of loans made under
the program in any fiscal year is subject to adjustment in light of
the funding made available to the program in the annual Budget Act.
(c) A program participant may use his or her loan amount to defer
tuition for a teacher certification program at any accredited
postsecondary institution in California while enrolled in that
program.
(d) As used in this article:
(1) "Chancellor" means the Chancellor of the California State
University.
(2) "Program" means the Loan Forgiveness for Teachers of Blind and
Visually Impaired Pupils program established pursuant to this
article.
(3) "Public elementary and secondary school" includes, but is not
limited to, the California School for the Blind established pursuant
to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 59100) of Part 32.
70007.3. The chancellor shall accomplish all of the following:
(a) Development of an application process that establishes a
merit-based loan forgiveness program for undergraduate students who
agree to teach blind or visually impaired students at a California
public elementary or secondary school on a full-time basis for at
least four school years.
(b) Establishment of a broad and effective outreach effort to
promote the availability and the merits of the loan forgiveness
program.
(c) Conducting the selection process for applicants to the
program.
(d) Collaboration with the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to
develop and implement a system for monitoring program participants
through the completion of their four-year teaching obligation.
(e) Determination of the criteria for selecting teaching
fellowship candidates. These criteria shall include, at a minimum,
all of the following:
(1) Previous academic and employment record.
(2) A demonstrated commitment to serve blind or visually impaired
pupils.
(3) Faculty and employer evaluations.
(4) Interviews.
(5) Letters of recommendation.
70007.5. (a) A program participant shall agree to teach blind or
visually impaired pupils in a California public elementary or
secondary school on a full-time basis for at least four years, and
shall have four years, upon completion of his or her preparation
program, to meet that obligation. A program participant who meets
the obligation for teaching service does not have to repay the loan
he or she has received under this article.
(b) Except as provided pursuant to subdivision (d), a program
participant shall agree to repay the state one thousand two hundred
fifty dollars ($1,250) annually for each year the program participant
fails to complete either the teacher preparation program or the
required teaching service, up to full repayment of five thousand
dollars ($5,000).
(c) The nonperformance of a program participant's commitment to
teach blind or visually impaired pupils in a California public
elementary or secondary school on a full-time basis for at least four
years shall be certified by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing
to the chancellor's office.
(d) Any exceptions to the requirement for repayment shall be
defined by the chancellor.
70007.7. The chancellor shall adopt any rules and regulations
that he or she deems necessary for the administration of this article
and the recovery of funds that he or she determines are owed to the
state.

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