BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 195
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 195 (Liu)
As Amended August 20, 2013
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :30-8
HIGHER EDUCATION 13-0 APPROPRIATIONS 17-0
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|Ayes:|Williams, Ch�vez, Bloom, |Ayes:|Gatto, Harkey, Bigelow, |
| |Fong, Fox, Jones-Sawyer, | |Bocanegra, Bradford, Ian |
| |Levine, Linder, Medina, | |Calderon, Campos, |
| |Olsen, Quirk-Silva, | |Donnelly, Eggman, Gomez, |
| |Weber, Wilk | |Hall, Holden, Linder, |
| | | |Pan, Quirk, Wagner, Weber |
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SUMMARY : Requires a working group to identify outcome, progress
and effectiveness metrics for California's higher education
segments (University of California (UC), the California State
University (CSU), and the California Community Colleges (CCC)).
Specifically, this bill :
1)States legislative intent that budget and policy decisions
regarding postsecondary education generally adhere to the
goals of: a) improving student access and success; b) better
aligning degrees and credentials with the state's economic,
workforce, and civic needs; and c) ensuring the effective and
efficient use of resources.
2)Requires a designee of the Governor to convene a working group
to develop performance metrics, as specified, for the purpose
of monitoring progress toward meeting the above goals. The
metrics are to be derived from publicly available data
sources.
3)Specifies that the working group will consist of:
a) One representative each from the UC, CSU, CCCs, the
State Department of Education (DOE), the independent
institutions of higher education, and the private
postsecondary educational institutions.
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b) One representative of the Department of Finance (DOF).
c) One to three members with similar expertise in state
accountability efforts.
d) One representative of the Legislative Analyst's Office
(LAO).
4)Requires the metrics to be submitted to the Legislature and
the Governor by December 31, 2014.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, costs for the segments, DOE, DOF, and LAO to
participate in the workgroup should be minor and absorbable. To
the extent the metrics are derived from current data sources as
intended, the segments should not experience any significant
additional reporting costs.
COMMENTS :
Purpose of this bill . According to the author, the goals
established by this legislation will be the basis for
establishing metrics and targets and for assessing progress in
meeting California's educational and workforce needs. The
author notes that the current fiscal climate makes it especially
important that California be clear about priorities for the use
of the public funding provided to our institutions. According
to the author, "If we are clear about the goals and the
measures, we can then be clearer about the budget and policy
decisions necessary to support our higher education system in
meeting our goals."
Background . The Legislature has been considering statewide
higher education goals for over a decade; beginning with a study
commissioned by the Senate in 2002 that served as the basis for
several legislative efforts (see Previous Legislation below).
As part of its recent reports on higher education oversight, the
LAO has recommended that the Legislature and the Administration
establish a clear public agenda for higher education, including
specific and focused statewide goals that could serve as the
framework for an accountability system designed to align higher
education performance with the state's needs. The most recent
Master Plan review, as reflected in ACR 184 (Ruskin), Chapter
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163, Statues of 2010, noted the lack of public policy goals
based upon the outcomes required to meet California's needs and
found the establishment of statewide goals will enable increased
accountability across the entire higher education system and
within segments. Most recently, the 2013-14 Budget Act
education trailer bill requires CSU and UC to report annually on
specified performance measures, in order to inform budget and
policy decisions and promote effective and efficient use of
resources.
This bill expands upon the Budget Act requirements by
establishing a forum to review and improve upon these reported
elements, to include recommendations for CCC and private college
reporting and outcome measures, and to make recommendations for
ongoing evaluation of progress toward achieving outlined goals.
Analysis Prepared by : Laura Metune / HIGHER ED. / (916)
319-3960
FN: 0002082