Thanks to the hard work of many SEIU Local 99 members, the California State Assembly voted to approve Assembly Bill 917 to give school workers a voice when traditional schools convert to charters. The bill is authored by Assemblymember Steve Bradford and is now being considered by the state Senate.
On June 5, 2013, the California Senate Education Committee also approved the bill, allowing it to move to the Senate Appropriations Committee. We will keep you updated on its progress.
Assembly Bill 917 is gaining support in the state legislature because so many SEIU Local 99 members signed petitions, made phone calls, and even traveled to Sacramento on our lobby trip last month. Under current law, only teachers and parents can sign a petition to convert a school into a charter. Assembly Bill 917 would require that at least 50% of all employees at a school sign a petition in order for a traditional school to be converted to a charter school.
Two SEIU Local 99 members, Rachel Arzu, an LAUSD Teacher’s Aide and John Lewis, a Bus Driver with LAUSD, traveled to Sacramento and presented strong testimony urging the legislators to support this bill to include classified workers in a decision that impacts our schools, students, and jobs. “This bill would make sure that those of us on the front line working with children and families have a voice in decisions about our neighborhood schools,” said Lewis.
Let’s keep making politics work for us. You can do two things right now to help this bill become a law:
1. Please take some time now to thank the Senators who voted for AB917:
Marty Block Click here to email or call 916-651-4039
Ben Hueso Click here to email or call 916-651-4040
Bill Monning Click here to email or call 916-651-4017
Norma J. Torres Click here to email or call 909-621-2783
Carol Liu Click here to email or call 818-409-0400
Loni Hancock Click here to email or call 916-6514009
2. Urge Senators on the Appropriations Committee to support AB917:
Kevin de Leon Click here to email or call 213-483-9300
Mimi Walters Click here to email or call 916-651-4037
Ted Gaines: Email him at senator.gaines@senate.ca.gov or call 916-651-4001
Jerry Hill Click here to email or call 916-651-4013
