SACRAMENTO – Today, Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez (R-Indio), a 21-year U.S. Marine Corps veteran, announced that Assembly Bill 1412 passed out of the Assembly Military and Veterans Affairs Committee with strong bipartisan support. The bill ensures that students with exceptional needs who transfer to California from another state—particularly children of active-duty military families—receive timely access to the special education services they need.
“I understand the challenges military families face when they’re required to move, often on short notice,” said Gonzalez. “Students with special needs shouldn’t have to wait weeks or months to access the services they’re entitled to. AB 1412 is about fairness, consistency, and giving every child a stable chance to succeed—no matter where they’re coming from or how often they relocate.”
AB 1412 requires California school districts to adopt or implement a student’s current or new Individualized Education Program (IEP) within 30 days of a transfer from out of state during the same academic year. It also directs school districts to take reasonable steps—aligned with the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children—to ensure the prompt acquisition of student records.
The bill allows districts to accept unofficial records provided by a parent or guardian who is an active-duty member of the military—including the student’s previous IEP and related special education documentation—while awaiting official verification.
By promoting timely coordination between families, former schools, and receiving districts, AB 1412 reduces unnecessary delays in services and helps maintain educational continuity for highly mobile students.
“This is a practical fix to a problem that too many military families face,” Gonzalez added. “We owe it to these families to ensure their children receive the support they need—without red tape getting in the way.”
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