Triple bill joy for Sen. Scott

Three of State Sen. Jack Scott’s bills were signed into law by the

governor Thursday that would allow Cal State schools to issue

doctorates, charities to diversify their investments and give schools

the freedom to create pilot programs.

For the first time, the Cal State’s 23 campuses will offer

doctorate degrees in education.

In the past, doctorate degrees have only been offered through

University of California.

The legislation recognizes the need for highly trained

administrators for the state’s public schools and the Cal State

system’s role in training those administrators.

The Cal State system estimates that about 500 students will take

advantage of the new doctorate program in education at a lower cost

to the students in the state.

In education, a doctorate is becoming a requirement for

administrators.

“I am very pleased the governor recognized the importance of this

legislation,” Scott said. “This bill will provide education

professionals access to affordable, high-quality doctoral programs in

California, rather than forcing them to pay higher tuition at private

colleges or go out-of-state.”

A second bill, SB 271, will allow licensed charities to invest up

to 50% of their reserve assets in stocks and mutual funds.

The legislation will allow these licensed charities to diversify

their investment holdings, Scott said.

The third bill, SB 1053, will establish a pilot program to give

schools more flexibility in using district funds.

The program would allow principals, teachers and parents to decide

where such funds are most needed, to better support and improve pupil

learning.

Five percent, or about 500 campuses, of the kindergarten through

12th-grade schools in California would be eligible.

The bill includes a provision to end the pilot program in 2010,

according to the Senate floor analysis.

Frommer military bill made into law

The governor also signed AB 1666 Thursday, which was introduced by

Assemblyman Dario Frommer, to enact the California Military Families

Financial Relief Act.

The act gives additional protection to California National Guard

members and reservists to lessen the financial challenges they face

when they are called to active duty for more than 30 days.

The act will require community colleges to refund tuition and fees

or credit them to service members who have been granted an academic

leave of absence during military service.

The act will also protect service members and their families from

having their utilities shut off when they provide a copy of the

service member’s activation or deployment order.

Military surveys and mobilization reports have found troops’

salaries have plunged as much as 70% in some cases between their

higher-paying civilian jobs and active-duty jobs, according to the

bill’s analysis.

“This bill will be another tool for active duty service members to

decrease the financial burden faced when a member of the family is

activated into military service,” analyses’ author, Anthony Newman

said.

Local political races heating up

Sonny Sardo and his volunteers walked precincts this month to

promote the businessman’s bid for Congress.

Sardo, a Vietnam veteran who served 22 years on the Los Angeles

County Commission on Military and Veterans’ Affairs, is seeking the

26th Congressional District seat, which has been occupied for the

past 25 years by Rep. David Dreier.

For more information about Sardo’s campaign, call (888) 557-2736

or log on to o7www.sardoforcongress.org.

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