Elementary and secondary education: omnibus bill.

(1) Existing law requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to, among other duties, establish standards for the issuance and renewal of credentials, certificates, and permits. Existing law prohibits a person who does not possess a valid credential issued by the State Board of Education, as provided, from being elected or appointed to office as county superintendent of schools. Existing law requires all county superintendents of schools to possess a valid certification document authorizing administrative services. This bill would instead prohibit a person who does not possess a valid credential issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing from being elected or appointed to office as county superintendent of schools and would require all county superintendents of schools to instead possess a valid administrative credential issued by the commission, as provided. (2) Existing law, the California Community Care Facilities Act, provides for the licensing and regulation of community care facilities by the State Department of Social Services, including various residential care facilities for children who require out-of-home placement under certain circumstances. Existing law declares the policy of the state to facilitate the proper placement of every child in residential care facilities where the placement is in the best interests of the child. Existing law authorizes children with varying designations and varying needs, including nonminor dependents, as defined, to be placed in the same facility, licensed foster family home, or with a foster family agency, as provided. This bill would explicitly authorize community care facilities, licensed foster family homes, and foster family agencies to include nonminors who are individuals with exceptional needs, as defined, within the group of children with varying designations and varying needs that may be placed in the applicable facility, home, or agency, as provided. Under the Community Care Facilities Act, references to a "child" include nonminor dependents and nonminor former dependents or wards. This bill would, for purposes of the Community Care Facilities Act, explicitly state that references to a "child" include nonminors who are individuals with exceptional needs.