BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 955|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 955
Author: Williams (D)
Amended: 9/5/13 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 León, 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 : Long Beach City College
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
CONTINUED
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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.
Senate Floor Amendments of 9/5/13 change the date by which
regulations must be adopted by the Board of Governors of the
California Community Colleges (CCCs) from June 30, 2014, to
March 31, 2014, to ensure that reporting requirements to be met
by participating campuses are in place prior to the
implementation of extension credit course offerings in the 2014
summer intersession, and clarify a cross-reference of the bill.
ANALYSIS :
Existing law:
1.Establishes the CCCs 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 CCD 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 CCD 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 CCD by February 1
of each year for the succeeding fiscal year that specified
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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
CCD for the "expense of education", adjusted by the Consumer
Price Index, and divided by the total full-time 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 CCC credit
courses.
D. The program shall be subject to CCD 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
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eligible CCD satisfy specified criteria.
4. Prohibits the governing board of an eligible CCD from
expending General Fund monies to establish and maintain the
extension program.
5. Requires each eligible CCD 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 CCDs in regular credit programs supported through
state apportionments, including an analysis of program
effects, if any, on district workload and district
financial status. A CCD 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 CCC
campus, as specified, and a participating CCD shall
supplement financial assistance with funds from campus
foundations or any other non-state fund, as specified.
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.
8.These provisions will sunset on January 1, 2018.
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.
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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 : (Verified 9/6/13)
Long Beach City College (source)
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
American Legion-Department of California
AMVETS, Department of California
California Competes
California State Commanders Veterans Council
Campaign for College Opportunity
College of the Canyons
College of the Canyons Associated Student Government
Lake Tahoe Community College Associated Student Council
Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund
National Guard Association of California
Riverside Community College District
Service Employees International Union
Solano Community College
VFW, Department of California
Vietnam Veterans of America-California State Council
OPPOSITION : (Verified 9/6/13)
Associated Students of Pasadena City College
California Community College Independents
California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office
California Federation of Teachers
California School Employees Association
California Teachers Association
Citrus Community College District
Coast Community College District Student Council
College of the Canyons Faculty Association
Faculty Association of California Community Colleges
Los Angeles, Los Rios, San Francisco, San Diego, San Jose
Evergreen, Peralta, and Los Angeles Community College
Districts
Part-Time Faculty United, College of the Canyons
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Pasadena City College Faculty Association
Pasadena City College Instructional Support Services Unit-CFT
Tri-Counties Central Labor Council
United Professors of Marin, AFT Local 1610
University Professional and Technical Employees-Communications
Workers of America Local 9119
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : 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 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.
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION : Opponents express concerns that this
bill creates a two-tier system of education that provides access
for those who can afford to pay-the beginning of privatization
of the CCCs. Fees have increased 125% since 2008, and this bill
will further move CCCs from their low fee, open access missions.
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 50-16, 5/20/13
AYES: Achadjian, Allen, Bigelow, Bloom, Bocanegra, Bonta,
Brown, Ian Calderon, Campos, Chávez, 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. Pérez
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NOES: Ammiano, Bonilla, Buchanan, Chesbro, Dickinson, Fong,
Garcia, Gatto, Lowenthal, Maienschein, Mitchell, V. Manuel
Pérez, Quirk-Silva, Skinner, Weber, Yamada
NO VOTE RECORDED: Alejo, Atkins, Blumenfield, Bradford, Chau,
Gomez, Roger Hernández, Holden, Jones-Sawyer, Logue, Pan,
Quirk, Vacancy, Vacancy
PQ:ej:n 9/9/13 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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