Pupil instruction: health education: organ and tissue donation.

(1) Existing law requires the Curriculum Development and Supplemental Materials Commission to recommend curriculum frameworks for adoption by the State Board of Education in accordance with regulations. Existing law defines "curriculum framework" as an outline of the components of a given course of study designed to provide state direction to school districts in the provision of instructional programs. This bill would require the commission and the state board to ensure that the health framework adopted in the course of the next submission cycle, as specified, includes the subject of organ procurement and tissue donation in the instruction to be provided to pupils in grades 9 and 10. (2) The Comprehensive Health Education Act of 1977 requires the State Department of Education to prepare and distribute to school districts guidelines for the preparation of comprehensive health education plans, and, in cooperation with county offices of education that desire to participate, to assist school districts in developing comprehensive health education plans and programs. This bill, commencing with the 2012–13 school year, would require school districts to provide pupils who are enrolled in health classes during grade 9 or 10 at least 15 minutes of instruction on organ procurement and tissue donation designed to develop a knowledge of the potentially lifesaving results achieved through organ and tissue transplantation. By requiring school districts to provide organ procurement and tissue donation instruction, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.