BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 404
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Date of Hearing: March 29, 2011
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Marty Block, Chair
AB 404 (Gatto) - As Amended: March 8, 2011
SUBJECT : Public postsecondary education: Native American
Linguistic Institute.
SUMMARY : Requires the California State University (CSU) and
requests the University of California (UC) to establish a Native
American Linguistic Institute for the purpose of preserving
tribal languages. Specifically, this bill :
1)Codifies Legislative intent that California is home to 109
federally recognized tribes with 23 distinct language families
in California, that California supports native language
preservation and restoration programs on UC and CSU campuses,
and that the revitalization of indigenous California languages
is of the utmost importance to all Californians.
2)Requires CSU to establish a Native American Linguistic
Institute for the purpose of preserving tribal languages, and
requests UC comply with these provisions.
3)Requires the Institute to include two faculty members.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown. However, it should be noted that the
Legislature recently approved portions of the Governor's 2011-12
Budget, including a $500 million reduction to both UC and CSU.
COMMENTS : Need for this bill . According to the author, the
creation of an Institute would create an essential space for
students of Native American linguistics to further study for a
teaching credential and allow for the preservation of Native
American tribal languages.
Process for establishing academic programs . Legislation is not
necessary to create a new academic program at UC or CSU.
Academic programs are created, evolve, and are discontinued in
response to changing budgetary, academic, student, and societal
needs. For example, in recent years, UC has eliminated five
departments, 11 graduate programs, and three undergraduate
programs, and CSU has discontinued 11 degree-granting programs.
In general, new academic programs are developed and approved at
AB 404
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the campus level and reviewed by the system, which maintains
information from each campus on existing programs and new
programs suggested for development or currently under
consideration.
Existing UC and CSU programs . According to The Guide to Native
American Studies Programs in Canada and the United States, 14 UC
and CSU campuses offer programs in Native American or American
Indian studies, including Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UCLA,
UC Riverside, Chico State University, CSU East Bay, CSU Long
Beach, CSU Northridge, Sacramento State University, CSU San
Marcos, Humboldt State University, San Diego State University,
and San Francisco State University. UCLA and CSU San Marcos
have programs that focus on language and linguistics. While
some of these programs offer degrees, other offer minors or
areas of emphasis.
What would the Institutes offer ? The academic purpose of the
Institutes is unclear. Would they offer degree programs
(graduate or undergraduate) or a program of study or serve as a
type of repository for preserving information about Native
American tribal languages?
California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) approval .
Current law generally requires colleges to seek and receive
approval by CPEC prior to commencing new programs of study. It
is unclear if the Institutes authorized by this bill are to be
subject to or exempted from this process, which serves to
improve the quality of programs, avoid duplication, and ensure
best use of state resources.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
California Communities United Institute
California Tribal Business Alliance
Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians of California
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Sandra Fried / HIGHER ED. / (916)
AB 404
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319-3960