BILL NUMBER: AB 440	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 16, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Beall
    (   Coauthors:   Assembly Members 
 Block,   Chesbro,   Coto,   De Leon,
  and Fong   ) 

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2009

   An act to add Article 3 (commencing with Section 66745) to Chapter
9.2 of Part 40 of Division 5 of Title 3 of the Education Code,
relating to community colleges.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 440, as amended, Beall. California Community Colleges: student
transfer.
   Existing law establishes the 3 segments of public postsecondary
education in this state. These segments include the California State
University, the campuses of which are administered by the Trustees of
the California State University, the University of California, which
is administered by the Regents of the University of California, and
the California Community Colleges, which are administered by the
Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges.
   Existing law establishes community college districts throughout
the state, and authorizes them to provide instruction to students at
community college campuses.
   Existing law, known as the Donahoe Higher Education Act,
authorizes the community colleges to grant associate in arts and
associate in science degrees. The act also requires the regents, the
trustees, and the board of governors to have as a fundamental policy
the maintenance of a healthy and expanded program to increase the
number of transfer students from community colleges.
   This bill would  enact the College Student Success Act, which
would  authorize a community college district to grant an
associate in arts degree in transfer studies  or an equivalent
program  to a student meeting specified requirements.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   SECTION 1.    The Legislature finds and declares all
of the following:  
   (a) Since the enactment of the Master Plan for Higher Education in
1960, preparing students to transfer to a four-year university has
been a core function of the California Community Colleges.  
   (b) Successful progression from lower division coursework to
degree completion is a basic principle of California higher education
and is critical to the future of California's economy.  
   (c) Currently, the coursework necessary to transfer to a campus of
the California State University or the University of California
differs from the coursework needed to earn an associate degree. As a
result, many transfer students leave the community college system
having completed transfer requirements, but are unable to participate
in community college graduation ceremonies, do not have a degree to
show for their work, and are ineligible for some awards and
scholarships because they did not fulfill current requirements for an
associate degree.  
   (d) Today, one in every four jobs require an associate degree or
higher. In the near future, one in every three jobs will require an
associate degree or higher.  
   (e) The community college system allows the state to address the
serious shortage of educated workers.  
   (f) To meet workforce demands in a cost-effective way, a transfer
studies associate degree program provides increased educational
opportunities for Californians throughout the state who might not
otherwise earn a baccalaureate degree because of interruptions in
their education.  
   (g) In the current difficult fiscal times, increasing student
success will have long-term benefits for California's economy. 

   (h) A transfer studies associate degree program is a manageable
reform in an otherwise bleak economic climate. 
   SECTION 1.   SEC. 2.   Article 3
(commencing with Section 66745) is added to Chapter 9.2 of Part 40 of
Division 5 of Title 3 of the Education Code, to read:

      Article 3.  Transfer Studies Program


   66745.  This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the College
Student Success Act. 
    66745.   66746.   A community college
district may grant an associate in arts degree in transfer studies
 or an associate in arts degree in an equivalent program  to
a student meeting both of the following requirements:
   (a) Completes a minimum of 60 semester units.
   (b) Meets the minimum requirements for transfer to  a campus
of  the California State University or the University of
California.
    66746.   66747.   (a) A degree granted
pursuant to this article shall recognize the completion of lower
division general education requirements.
   (b) A degree granted pursuant to this article does not guarantee
admission to any institution.