BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 620 Page 1 Date of Hearing: April 13, 2011 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Felipe Fuentes, Chair AB 620 (Block) - As Amended: March 31, 2011 Policy Committee: Higher EducationVote:6-2 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: Yes Reimbursable: Yes SUMMARY This bill requires the state's public postsecondary institutions to collect demographic data on, and provide professional development and awareness training regarding, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) faculty, staff, and students. Specifically, this bill: 1)Requires the governing boards of the California State University (CSU) and the California Community Colleges (CCC), and requests the Regents of the University of California (UC), in collecting demographic data to allow faculty, staff, and students to identify their sexual orientation, gender identify, and gender expression. 2)Requires the three segments to share information collected in (1), without any individual identifying information, with the California Postsecondary Education Committee (CPEC), if release of the information is so authorized from individuals who have provided the information. 3)Requires the CSU and CCC governing boards, and requests the UC Regents to: a) Develop and implement professional development and awareness training programs that: i) Train faculty in generating a curriculum inclusive of all students. ii) Provide strategies for addressing harassment of LGBT persons. iii) Train campus public safety officers regarding AB 620 Page 2 harassment and hate crimes directed at LGBT persons. iv) Train financial aid advisors regarding the availability of scholarships for LGBT persons and training to assist parents of same-sex parents in completing financial aid applications. b) Designate at each campus an employee to address the needs of LGBT faculty, staff, and students, and, at a minimum, provide contact information of the designee on the website and in printed and online campus directories. c) Adopt policies on harassment, intimidation, and bullying to be included in rules and regulations governing student behavior. 4)Requires CPEC to: a) Assess the three segments with respect to the quality of life for LGBT persons at their campuses, and make corresponding recommendations to the segments. b) Convene focus groups to address the needs of LGBT students and develop a list of best practices for improving the quality of campus life for LGBT persons. 5)Adds the attributes of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression to the existing definition of "hate violence" for purposes of reporting incidences of hate violence on campuses, and to existing provisions prohibiting discrimination in the awarding of Cal Grants, in state administration of federal student loan programs, and in the hiring of community college faculty. FISCAL EFFECT 1)UC . One-time GF costs of $180,000 to develop training materials and plan the implementation of training. This does not include the cost for staff time to attend the training. Ongoing costs of $50,000 to provide training for all supervisors and for new employees. One-time cost of $30,000 to update database in order to collect expanded demographic data. 2)CSU One-time GF development costs of approximately $300,000 to develop the training materials and several million dollars ongoing GF costs to conduct the training sessions systemwide. AB 620 Page 3 Also costs associated with updating databases and for designating a person on each campus to address the needs of LGBT persons. 3)CCC . One-time GF costs of $360,000 ($5,000 per district) to modify database. One-time GF cost of $50,000 to develop curriculum and ongoing GF costs of $650,000 for four positions in the Chancellor's Office to provide training systemwide. Reimbursable GF (Prop 98) costs for district staff to attend training sessions and for the campus designee would be in the millions of dollars systemwide. 4)CPEC . One-time GF costs of up to several hundred thousand dollars for the assessment and focus group works. COMMENTS 1)Purpose . This bill includes recommendations from the June 2009 CPEC report, "Access and Equity for all Students: Meeting the Needs of LGBT Students," which outlines policy recommendations supported by research and by individual working in advocacy for LGBT students in higher education. According to the report, LGBT students face many challenges that require additional campus services and resources for them to be successful in college. Compared to heterosexual students, LGBT students face higher rates of mental health problems, sexual health risks, substance abuse, and family issues leading to negative health outcomes. CPEC also identified the lack of data and limitations as a significant issue in serving LGBT students because, without consistent longitudinal data, it is difficult to track and assess LGBT student persistence and degree completion. 2)Tight Budget Times . The 2011-12 budget, as recently passed by the Legislature, includes $500 million in General Fund reductions to both UC and CSU and a $400 million General Fund (Prop 98) reduction to the community college-all partially offset by increased tuition and fees. Moreover, even these reduced funding levels may not be sustainable if additional revenues assumed as part of the budget are not realized. In response to these cuts, the segments all plan to reduce enrollments and course offerings. Give this austere environment, the author may wish to explore ways to minimize the cost impact of this proposal. AB 620 Page 4 Analysis Prepared by : Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081