For legislative bills that have significant impact on children and youth, and that fall within the framework of the legislation platform, priorities, and current PTA positions, California State PTA may adopt one of the following bill positions:
Support: Legislation considered to be of great importance and beneficial to the welfare of children and youth. Will work actively to seek passage of these bills.
Oppose: Legislation considered to be very harmful to the welfare of children and youth. Will work actively to seek defeat of these bills.
Oppose Unless Amended: Legislation that contains some provisions in conflict with established PTA positions. The California State PTA legislative advocate will work with the bill’s author to amend the bill. If the bill is amended so that it no longer is objectionable, PTA will change its position.
Support if Amended: Legislation PTA would support, except that it contains a part (or parts) PTA would like changed. If the bill is amended to accommodate the PTA concern or recommendations, California State PTA will work to secure its passage.
Seek Amendments: Legislation that addresses an important PTA issue, but which would require amendments to receive full support or removal of opposition from the PTA. Legislative advocate(s) will work with the author and with allied organizations to secure appropriate changes.
Approve: Legislation that PTA could support but does not actively seek passage of because the bill is not currently a high priority for PTA action or does not need active support from California State PTA.
Watch: Legislation that could be important, but the bill is not complete or the author intends to work further on the bill through amendments. PTA chooses to monitor the progress of the bill. Future amendments to the bill could result in PTA taking an active position.
When a bill has been amended so that the content is changed significantly, the bill is re-examined to determine if the content is still appropriate for PTA action on legislation, and whether a change in position is warranted. If the content is no longer within the scope of PTA action on legislation, the PTA position is dropped.
Positions on State Initiatives and Propositions
Support: The initiative is considered to be of great importance and beneficial to the welfare of children and youth. Will work actively to seek passage of it.
Oppose: The initiative is considered to be very harmful to the welfare of children and youth and is in conflict with the Purposes of the PTA. Will work actively to seek defeat of the initiative.
Neutral: The initiative may be relevant to the welfare of children and youth, but after careful analysis, California State PTA has chosen to neither support nor oppose this particular initiative due to either lack of existing specific authority or conflicting authorities. Will not support or oppose passage of the initiative.
