Asm. Joe Coto

This measure would recognize March 2, 2010, as "Read Across America Day."

Existing law requires a nonpublic, nonsectarian school that provides special education and related services to an individual with exceptional needs in any of the grades from kindergarten through grade 12 to certify in writing to the Superintendent of Public Instruction that it meets specified requirements, including the requirement that it will not accept a pupil with exceptional needs if it cannot provide the services outlined in the pupil's individualized education program, as specified. This bill would specify the required standards-based, core curriculum and instructional materials used to provide the special education and related services including technology-based materials, as specified.

This measure would proclaim February 28, 2010, as Rare Disease Day.

This measure would establish, until January 1, 2014, the California Task Force on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education for the purpose of promoting the improvement of mathematics, science, engineering, and technology education across the state. The task force would consist of Members of the Legislature and experts appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly and the Senate Committee on Rules. The task force would conduct its business on a volunteer basis, be able to accept private funds, and would submit an annual report on its work to the Legislature.

This measure would request that the Congress and the President of the United States enact the Medicare Secondary Payer Enhancement Act of 2010.

Existing provisions of the California Constitution prohibit the Legislature from making any gift of public money or thing of value to any person, and this prohibition applies to local government. Existing law specifies the duties of various local officials. This bill would prohibit a local official, subject to specified exceptions, from making available to an immediate family member, as defined, a vehicle or credit card provided by the local agency that the local official represents.

This measure would state the intent of the Legislature to increase the funding of child development centers and preschools in future years, as resources become available, in order to provide staff with adequate salaries and benefits, provide adequate resources to support program quality for children, and keep programs open to serve parents and children.

This measure would proclaim May 12, 2010, as California Lab Day.

This measure would designate the 2nd week of October 2010, and annually thereafter, as Disability History Week, and would encourage public and private institutions of higher education, state and local agencies, nonprofit and community-based organizations, and private businesses and corporations to observe Disability History Week by dedicating appropriate classroom instructional time or by coordinating all-inclusive activities to be conducted during that week to afford opportunities for students and the general public to learn more about the disability community and to celebrate and honor its role in contemporary American society.

This measure would declare the Legislature's support for the observance of "Spirit of '45 Day" on the second Sunday in August to commemorate the anniversary of the end of World War II on August 14, 1945.