BILL ANALYSIS �
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 955
Author: Williams (D)
Amended: 9/3/13 in Senate
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 5-2, 6/12/13
AYES: Liu, Wyland, Correa, Hueso, Huff
NOES: Hancock, Torres
NO VOTE RECORDED: Block, Monning
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 5-0, 8/30/13
AYES: De Le�n, Walters, Gaines, Hill, Steinberg
NO VOTE RECORDED: Lara, Padilla
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 50-16, 5/20/13 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT : Community Colleges: Intersession Extension Pilot
Program
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill requires the California Community Colleges
Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) to establish a voluntary pilot
program that authorizes a community college district (CCD) to
establish and maintain an extension program meeting specified
characteristics during summer and winter intersessions. This
bill requires the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO), by January
1, 2017, to submit a report on the pilot program to the
Legislature, as specified. This bill states the intent of the
Legislature that at least one campus should begin implementation
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of the pilot program by January 2014 and that an additional five
campuses should implement the pilot program by July 1, 2014.
ANALYSIS :
Existing law:
1.Establishes the CCC as a part of public higher education.
2.Establishes and differentiates the goals, missions and
functions of California's public segments of higher education.
3.Requires the governing board of a local CCC district to admit
any California resident, (and authorizes them to admit any
nonresident) possessing a high school diploma or the
equivalent and authorizes the board to admit anyone who is
capable of profiting from the instruction offered, as
specified.
4.Requires that CCC students be charged a per unit fee and
statutorily prescribes the fee level through the annual budget
process. Existing law exempts the student enrolled in
noncredit courses and in credit contract education courses, as
specified, from these fee requirements. Existing law also
exempts from these requirements California State University
and University of California students enrolled in CCC remedial
classes, as specified, and provides for the waiver of these
fees for students who have financial need or meet other
specified criteria.
5.Authorizes a CCC district to admit nonresident students and
requires that these students be charged a tuition fee, with
certain specified exemptions.
6.Requires that the tuition fee be set by the CCC district by
February 1 of each year for the succeeding fiscal year that
specified notice of these fee changes be provided, and that
any increase in these fees be gradual, moderate, and
predictable.
7.Prescribes a formula for the calculation of the nonresident
fee which, generally, is based upon the amount expended by the
CCC district for the "expense of education", adjusted by the
Consumer Price Index, and divided by the total full-time
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equivalent students (FTES) (including nonresident students)
that attend the district in the preceding fiscal year.
8.Authorizes a tuition fee amount not to exceed that established
by any contiguous district, and prohibits the fee from being
less than the statewide average fee for students. Special
provision is made for the calculation of the fee by districts
that have greater than 10% FTES from non-credit courses.
This bill:
1. Requires the CCCCO to establish and maintain a voluntary
pilot program to establish and maintain an extension program
meeting specified characteristics during summer and winter
intersessions.
2. Requires an extension program have all of following
characteristics:
A. The program shall be self-supporting and all costs
associated with the program shall be recovered.
B. Enrollment in the pilot program shall not be reported
for state apportionment funding, but program enrollment
shall be open to the public.
C. The program shall be developed in conformance with
existing law and regulation related to community college
credit courses.
D. The program shall be subject to community college
district collective bargaining agreements.
E. The program shall apply to all courses leading to
certificates, degrees, or transfer preparation.
3. Requires, in order to participate in the pilot program, an
eligible community college district satisfy specified
criteria.
4. Prohibits the governing board of an eligible community
college district from expending General Fund monies to
establish and maintain the extension program.
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5. Requires each eligible community college district
participating in the pilot program shall do both of the
following:
A. Collect and keep records that measure student
participation, student demographics, and student
outcomes in a manner consistent with records collected
by community college districts in regular credit
programs supported through state apportionments,
including an analysis of program effects, if any, on
district workload and district financial status. A
community college district shall submit this information
to the CCCCO by October 1 of each year.
B. Submit a schedule of fees established pursuant to the
bill to the CCCCO by August 1 of each year.
6. States the intent of the Legislature that at least one campus
should begin implementation of the pilot program by January
2014 and that an additional five campuses should implement
the pilot program by July 1, 2014. Defines eligible
community college campus, as specified, a participating CCD
shall supplement financial assistance with funds from campus
foundations or any other non-state fund, as specified. These
provisions will sunset on January 1, 2018.
7. Requires the LAO to provide to the Legislature with a written
report that evaluates the pilot program established by this
article, by January 1, 2017.
Comments
According to the author's office, numerous researchers have
raised concerns about California's ability to meet its workforce
needs to sustain its economy. Experts estimate that California
will need 3.5 million additional degrees in the next decade just
to keep pace. The CCC is the key to meeting this need and
providing opportunity for most Californians to achieve their
educational and professional goals. Yet, recent budget
shortfalls have resulted in the worst cuts to the system in
recent memory - reductions that are unlikely to be completely
restored in the near future. This bill allows colleges to offer
courses leading to transfer or a degree or certificate during
intersessions. Furthermore, the author's office states, since
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most campuses have eliminated programs, extension offerings give
students an opportunity to take the courses they are not able to
get during the state-supported regular session to accelerate the
completion of their goals. And by providing additional
opportunities for students to complete high-demand courses, this
should free up space in the companion state-supported courses
offered during the regular session, increasing all students'
ability to complete their education in a timely manner.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:
Oversight: Likely minor ongoing workload for the CCCCO,
depending on the level of participant compliance with the
pilot structure and requirements.
CCD participation: Potentially significant costs and revenue
to CCDs that elect to participate, to comply with reporting
requirements. Significant (elective) costs to offer extension
courses, expected to be fully recovered by increased fees.
LAO report: Minor and absorbable costs to complete the
required for the report.
SUPPORT : (per Senate Education Committee analysis of 6/12/13
-- unable to reverify at time of writing)
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees,
AFL-CIO
American Legion - Department of California
AMVETS - Department of California
Associated Student Council, Lake Tahoe Community College
Associated Student Government of College of the Canyons
California Competes
California State Commanders Veterans Council
Campaign for College Opportunity
Chancellor, College of the Canyons
Superintendent-President, Solano Community College
VFW - Department of California
Vietnam Veterans of America - California State Council
OPPOSITION : (per Senate Education Committee analysis of
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6/12/13 -- unable to reverify at time of writing)
California Community College Chancellor's Office
California Community College Independents
California Federation of Teachers
California School Employees Association
California Teachers Association
Coast Community College District Student Council
Faculty Association of the California Community Colleges
Los Angeles College Faculty
Los Angeles Community College District
Los Rios Community College District
Peralta Community College District
San Diego Community College District
Student Senate for California Community Colleges
Ventura County Federation of College Teachers
Yosemite Community College District
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 50-16, 5/20/13
AYES: Achadjian, Allen, Bigelow, Bloom, Bocanegra, Bonta,
Brown, Ian Calderon, Campos, Ch�vez, Conway, Cooley, Dahle,
Daly, Donnelly, Eggman, Fox, Frazier, Beth Gaines, Gordon,
Gorell, Gray, Grove, Hagman, Hall, Harkey, Jones, Levine,
Linder, Mansoor, Medina, Melendez, Morrell, Mullin,
Muratsuchi, Nazarian, Nestande, Olsen, Patterson, Perea,
Rendon, Salas, Stone, Ting, Wagner, Waldron, Wieckowski, Wilk,
Williams, John A. P�rez
NOES: Ammiano, Bonilla, Buchanan, Chesbro, Dickinson, Fong,
Garcia, Gatto, Lowenthal, Maienschein, Mitchell, V. Manuel
P�rez, Quirk-Silva, Skinner, Weber, Yamada
NO VOTE RECORDED: Alejo, Atkins, Blumenfield, Bradford, Chau,
Gomez, Roger Hern�ndez, Holden, Jones-Sawyer, Logue, Pan,
Quirk, Vacancy, Vacancy
PQ:ejd 9/3/13 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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