Assembly Bill 158, introduced in recognition of California’s premier education finance expert, designates the code responsible for implementing California’s Proposition 98 as the John B. Mockler Education Finance Act and was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown April 27, according to 70th District Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell (D-Long Beach), who authored the bill. O’Donnell’s office indicated the bill received unanimous, bipartisan support in the state legislature.
John Mockler, an authority in the world of education policy, passed away last month from pancreatic cancer at the age of 73. Primarily known as the author of Proposition 98, the state’s constitutional guarantee to increased education funding, Mockler was also an advocate for disadvantaged and disabled students, according to O’Donnell’s office.
Having served in a number of roles at the state level, including secretary of Education and executive director of the State Board of Education, Mockler was acknowledged by the legislature as “a tireless warrior who fought to ensure school finance always remained on solid footing,” according to O’Donnell’s office, which also stated that, among Mockler’s many accomplishments were the development of the state’s Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) and the successful negotiation of countless budget deals to improve education funding.
“John was one of the most influential voices on education policy for more than 40 years,” O’Donnell said. “It is a privilege to join in celebrating his passion for California’s students and honoring his innumerable contributions to our state.”
Source: O’Donnell’s office
