BILL NUMBER: SB 1143	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 5, 2010

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Liu

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2010

   An act  to add Section 84502 to the Education Code, 
relating to community college funding.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1143, as amended, 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.  Existing law establishes a system of
funding community colleges pursuant to which calculations based on
the number of full-time equivalent students (FTES) enrolled in
classes at the colleges are a major factor.  
   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.  
   This bill would require the board of governors to calculate FTES
using the average active enrollment in a course as of a specified
census date and at course completion. The bill would authorize the
board of governors to adopt an alternative and equivalent calculation
method for designated types of courses. The bill would require that
a decrease in FTES in a district that is due solely to a change in
calculation required by this bill shall not result in a reduction in
the general apportionment made to that district prior to the 2012-13
fiscal year.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  yes  . 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. 
   SEC. 2.    Section 84502 is added to the  
Education Code   , to read:  
   84502.  The rules and regulations prescribed pursuant to Section
84500 shall calculate full-time equivalent student enrollment using
the average active enrollment in a course as of the census date at
the one-fifth point and at course completion.
   (a) The board of governors may adopt an alternative and equivalent
calculation method for the following:
   (1) Short term credit courses.
   (2) Irregularly scheduled credit courses.
   (3) Open entry/open exit courses.
   (4) In-service training courses.
   (5) Noncredit courses, except for distance education courses.
   (6) Apprenticeship classes of related and supplemental
instruction.
   (7) Tutoring courses.
   (b) The board shall adopt one or more weighting factors for the
full-time equivalent students (FTES) calculation in order to ensure
that districts do not have a disincentive to enroll students from
demographic groups with historically lower rates of course
completion.
   (c) A decrease in the FTES of a district that is due solely to the
change in calculation required by this section shall not result in a
reduction of revenue apportioned to that district pursuant to
Section 84750.5 prior to the 2012-13 fiscal year.