SB685 — SB 685 is announced as the only bill on the agenda, identified as having been amended in the Assembly to replace its contents, and noted as being heard for the first time in its current form under Senate Rule 29.10(d). Witnesses are limited to two minutes, the roll is called, a quorum is established, and Senator Cortese is invited to begin.
SB685 — The author presents SB 685 as a response to Hoffman v. California Department of Education and explains that the bill was crafted with the California Department of Education to align with the Ninth Circuit decision while allowing sectarian schools to provide special education services under state requirements. The witness from the California Department of Education then explains that the bill addresses a small population of high-need students, preserves existing safeguards such as credentialing, fingerprinting, and reporting, and maintains secular education requirements within the contract structure. Committee discussion focuses on whether the bill changes the practical relationship between religious schools, parents, LEAs, and state contracts, with supporters describing it as a narrow fix and one member announcing opposition because the language arrived too late to review fully.
Dave Cortese — Senator Cortese is thanked for bringing the bill and is associated with the committee discussion of the bill's late amendments, the court decision prompting the gut amend, and the request for an aye vote. The committee then moves to concurrence on the Assembly amendments and takes a roll call vote, with the bill ultimately put on call.