BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 620
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CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 620 (Block)
As Amended August 30, 2011
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |51-24|(June 1, 2011) |SENATE: |23-15|(August 31, |
| | | | | |2011) |
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Original Committee Reference: HIGHER ED.
SUMMARY : Establishes the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
Equity in Higher Education Act. Specifically, this bill :
1)Adds the attributes of sexual orientation, gender identity,
and gender expression to existing nondiscrimination laws
affecting postsecondary educational institutions, programs,
and requirements.
2)Requests the University of California (UC), the California
State University (CSU), and California Community Colleges
(CCC) boards to take specified actions related to data
collection, campus services and policies, and to report
aggregate demographic data they collect regarding sexual
orientation and gender identity to the Legislature, as
specified; and, post the information on the Internet Web site
of each respective institution.
3)Encourages the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) to conduct
an assessment of the campuses of UC, CSU, and CCC to develop
recommendations to improve the quality of life on those
campuses for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender faculty,
staff, and students, and to publish a summary of those
recommendations on its Internet Web site.
The Senate amendments request rather than require CSU's
participation and ask LAO to conduct specified activities in the
place of the California Postsecondary Education Commission
(CPEC).
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill was substantially similar
to the version that was approved by the Assembly.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
AB 620
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Committee, potentially significant ongoing costs to the segments
and LAO.
COMMENTS : In June 2009, CPEC issued a paper, Access and Equity
for all Students: Meeting the Needs of LGBT Students outlining
policy recommendations supported by research and by individuals
working in advocacy for LGBT students in higher education. The
report found that LGBT students face many challenges that
require additional campus services and resources and encouraged
the CPEC to take specified actions in regards to these issues.
This bill includes recommendations from the CPEC report.
Funding for CPEC was subsequently eliminated by the Governor in
the 2011-12 Budget Act.
Analysis prepared by : Sandra Fried / HIGHER ED. / (916)
319-3960
FN: 0002439