BILL ANALYSIS Ó Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary Senator Kevin de León, Chair SB 1023 (Liu) - Community Colleges: Foster Youth Amended: April 24, 2014 Policy Vote: Education 8-0 Urgency: No Mandate: No Hearing Date: May 12, 2013 Consultant: Jacqueline Wong-Hernandez This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File. Bill Summary: SB 1023 authorizes the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) to enter into agreements with community college districts (CCDs), in collaboration with the Department of Social Services (DSS), the County Probation Officers Association, and county child welfare agencies, to provide additional funds for services in support of postsecondary education for foster youth and former foster youth. This bill also establishes eligibility and participation requirements for the program. Fiscal Impact: The actual level of program funding will be determined by the BOG, and presumably would be based on a budget appropriation for this purpose. Foster youth services: $8 million - $11 million (General Fund) annually to provide the services described, depending on the distribution of eligible participants and the level of CCD participation. Administration: Approximately $175,000 (General Fund) to the CCCCO to establish the program and develop guidelines in coordination with specified groups, which includes 1 PY for the program and 1 PY office technician, and travel. Ongoing costs would likely be less, once the programs are operational and staff is primarily responsible for only the reporting requirements. Background: The Community College Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) works to increase the enrollment of students who are affected by language, social and economic disadvantages, improve the delivery of programs and services to the disadvantaged, and increase the number of students who successfully complete their chosen educational objectives, are placed into career employment, and transfer to four-year SB 1023 (Liu) Page 1 institutions. EOPS is to supplement the regular educational programs of the CCC. (Education Code § 69640-69656) In order to be eligible for EOPS, a student must: 1) be a resident of California; 2) be enrolled full-time (12 units); the EOPS director is authorized to allow up to 10% of EOPS students to be enrolled in nine units; 3) not have completed more than 70 units of degree applicable credit coursework; 4) qualify to receive a BOG fee waiver; and, 5) be educationally disadvantaged as determined by the EOPS director. (California Code of Regulations, Title 5, § 56220) The Student Success Act, in existing law, applies to all CCC students for the purpose of increasing student access and success by providing effective core matriculation services, including orientation, assessment and placement, counseling and other education planning services and academic interventions. CCCs are responsible for providing student services and support, including orientation, assessment, counseling and education planning, referral to specialized support services, and evaluation of each student's progress and referral to appropriate interventions. Students are responsible for identifying an academic and career goal, declaring a specific course of study, being diligent in class attendance and completion of assigned coursework, and completing courses and maintaining academic progress toward an educational goal. (EC § 78210-78219; 5 CCR § 55500-55534) Proposed Law: This bill authorizes the CCCCO, in cooperation with the DSS and others, to enter into agreements to provide additional funds for services in support of foster youth. This bill requires the BOG, in conjunction with the DSS, to adopt guidelines for this program, and requires the BOG to be responsible for the administration of the program funds. This bill authorizes a CCD to apply to the BOG for funding to administer this program, and requires the application to: a) demonstrate that all existing resources have been exhausted; b) provide the number of foster youth who will be served; c) describe the extent of cooperation between the local county child welfare department, DSS, the local EOPS, and the CCD. To be eligible to participate in this program, a student must 1) be a current or former foster youth in California whose SB 1023 (Liu) Page 2 dependency was established by the court on or after the youth's 16th birthday; and, 2) be no older than 25 years of age at the beginning of the academic year of participation. Support services must include, but are not limited to: a) Child care and transportation allowances; b) allowances for books and supplies; c) counseling and mental health services; d) career counseling; e) matriculation and transfer counseling; f) monitoring of academic progress; g) tutoring and mentoring; h) independent living skills support; i) housing assistance; j) frequent in-person contact; and, k) other related services. This bill requires the BOG, beginning January 31, 2017, and biennially thereafter, to submit a report to the Governor, the education policy committees of the Legislature, and California Child Welfare Council describing its efforts to serve students who are current and former foster youth, as specified. This bill provides that it is to become operative in a fiscal year only if the BOG certifies by resolution that sufficient funds have been appropriated for that fiscal year. Staff Comments: The purpose of this bill is to provide significant additional resources, including monetary resources, directly to a subset of foster youth and former foster youth who are CCC students. The bill creates a new campus support program within EOPS specifically for students who were: a) in foster care on or after their 16th birthdays; b) are under the age of 26; and, c) are enrolled in at least 9 units. There are approximately 13,000 self-identified foster youth and former foster youth enrolled in CCC courses statewide. The number of those who would meet the additional requirements to be eligible for services is unknown, but it is likely to be far fewer than half. The 2013-14 base funding level for EOPS services is $859 per student, and the support envisioned in this bill is considerably more extensive. If 6,500 students were to receive additional services and allowances costing 1.5 to 2 times the amount of EOPS services, it would cost $8 million - $11 million annually. Staff recommends a technical amendment to replace references to "County Probation Officers Association" with "Chief Probation Officers of California," throughout the bill. SB 1023 (Liu) Page 3