BILL NUMBER: AB 2462 AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 8, 2012 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 26, 2012 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 9, 2012 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 29, 2012 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Members Block, Cook, and Fuentes FEBRUARY 24, 2012 An act to add Section 66025.7 to the Education Code, relating to public postsecondary education. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2462, as amended, Block. Public postsecondary education: academic credit for prior military academic experience. (1) Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California as the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in this state. The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the Chancellor of the California State University, and the President of the University of California serve as the respective chief executive officers of these 3 segments. This bill would require the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to implement a process for awarding credit for prior military academic experience, to be completed no later than July 1, 2013, that meets the pertinentstandardsrecommendations of the American Council on Education. To the extent that the implementation of these processes would impose new duties on community college districts, the bill would constitute a state-mandated local program. The bill would express legislative findings and declarations relating to encouraging community colleges to develop appropriate methods of awarding credit for the education and experience acquired by military personnel during their service. (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 66025.7 is added to the Education Code, to read: 66025.7. (a) The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall implement a process for awarding credit for prior military academic experience, to be completed no later than July 1, 2013, that meets the pertinentstandardsrecommendations of the American Council on Education. (b) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (1) Community colleges are encouraged to facilitate the acceptance of credits earned at other community colleges. (2) In addition to accepting credits from other community colleges, community colleges are also encouraged to recognize the learning acquired by military personnel during their service and to award credit for that learning where appropriate. The American Council on Education or another appropriate entity may offer a consistent and reasonable method of recognizing that learning. The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges is also encouraged to develop recommendations regarding approaches to the use of systems, including, but not limited to, the American Council on Education system, that provide guidance for awarding college credit for academic instruction and experience in a military setting. (3) Community colleges are encouraged to consider military education or experience for credit for career technical education instruction and to develop ways to evaluate progress to, or completion of, a professional or occupational certificate for persons with military education or experience. (4) Community colleges also are encouraged to consider awarding credit by examination process for experience or instruction gained in a military setting. SEC. 2. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.