BILL NUMBER: SB 1143	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Liu

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2010

   An act relating to community college funding.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1143, as introduced, Liu. Community college funding.
   Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under
the administration of the Board of Governors of the California
Community Colleges, as one of the 3 segments of public postsecondary
education in this state.
   This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation to establish a framework for allocating state funds to
community colleges in a manner that provides incentives for community
colleges to assist students in completing coursework in which they
enroll and coursework that is required to earn a certificate or
degree. The bill would also express legislative findings and
declarations relating to the rate of degree completion among
community college students in this state.
   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) The low rate of degree completion among community college
students is threatening California's economic future.
   (b) In order to reach the education levels of the most competitive
economies, the number of students earning college degrees in
California each year must increase by more than 50 percent.
   (c) Over 70 percent of public undergraduate enrollment in
California is in the community colleges.
   (d) Only 24 percent of degree-seeking students complete a
certificate or associate degree or transfer to a four-year college or
university within six years.
   (e) Under current law, community colleges receive most of their
annual funds based on student enrollment in the third week of each
semester.
   (f) This method of allocating funds creates an incentive for
community colleges to enroll students, but no fiscal incentive for
those colleges to help students complete their courses and earn
degrees. Currently, only about 60 percent of community college
courses are successfully completed.
   (g) Many of today's community college students require extensive
academic and student support services to remain enrolled and succeed.
Community colleges lack the resources and the incentives to invest
in this level of student support.
  SEC. 2.  It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation
to establish a framework for allocating state funds to community
colleges in a manner that provides incentives for community colleges
to assist students in completing coursework in which they enroll and
coursework that is required to earn a certificate or degree.