As part of the budget trailer bill package, annual K-2 screening for reading difficulties, including risk of dyslexia, could be on its way to Governor Newsom for signature as soon as today.
The Assembly Budget and the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committees held hearings yesterday. The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee voted to approve the trailer bill package in a 14-0 vote. The Assembly Budget Committee Chair stated at the beginning of their hearing that it was “informational only,” and they did not vote on the trailer bill package. The Assembly Budget Committee Chair did state that the Assembly Floor would be voting on the bill today. The Education Omnibus trailer bill (AB 114/SB 114) includes a provision for mandated, annual CA K-2 screening for risk of reading difficulties, including risk of dyslexia.
If approved, as early as today, by both Houses with a simple majority vote, the budget trailer bill package will be submitted to Governor Newsom for signature. It should be noted that the final legislative deadline for trailer bills this year isn’t until September 14th with the Governor having to sign or veto any trailer bills by October 14th.
You can watch the House floor sessions live today by clicking below (no public comments for floor sessions):
- Assembly Floor session today which is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.
- Senate Floor session today which is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m.
Decoding Dyslexia CA has excerpted the language in the Education Omnibus trailer bill (AB 114/SB 114) regarding K-2 screening for reading difficulties, including risk of dyslexia, for your convenience: https://decodingdyslexiaca.org/senate-bill-114-assembly-bill-114/
For more information about mandated, annual K-2 screening, please read our previously posted blog from June 2, 2023.