State Schools Chief Jack O’Connell Thanks Governor For
Taking Next Step Toward Signing Education Funding Bills Into Law

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell today thanked Governor Schwarzenegger for asking the state Legislature to send him Senate Bill (SB) 847 and Assembly Bill (AB) 185. The two bills authorize the state to distribute federal education funds and would take effect immediately upon his signature.

“These federal education funds are critically needed and needed now,” O’Connell said. “I applaud the Governor for taking action and reacting quickly to the pleas of schools and districts around the state. I urge him to sign the bills into law now so we can distribute the funding to schools that have been hard hit by the state budget crisis.”

California’s Constitution requires that without a state budget, any appropriation bill, like SB 847 and AB 185, may not be sent to the governor’s desk unless the governor requests them by a formal letter. Today, Governor Schwarzenegger announced that he sent letters requesting SB 847 and AB 185 be sent to him because they constitute emergencies.