BILL ANALYSIS Ó SB 1023 Page 1 Date of Hearing: August 6, 2014 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Mike Gatto, Chair SB 1023 (Liu) - As Amended: June 19, 2014 Policy Committee: Human ResourcesVote: 7-0 Higher Education 13-0 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: SUMMARY This bill authorizes the California Community College (CCC) Chancellor's Office to enter into agreements with up to 10 districts to provide additional funding and services, as specified, in support of foster youth at the CCC. Specifically, this bill: 1)States that the program-the Cooperating Agencies Foster Youth Educational Support Program-must expand the number of foster youth participating in the CCC's Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) and not displace other students. 2)Requires a district's application to the CCC Board of Governors (BOG) to participate in the program to estimate the number of foster youth to be served and requires the board, if more than 10 districts seek to participate, to give priority to those with the higher number of eligible students. 3)Stipulates that, to be eligible for participation, a student's dependency must have been established or continued on or after the student's 16th birthday and the student must not exceed 25 years of age. 4)Requires the BOG to adopt regulations authorizing students enrolling in at least nine units to participate in the program, and to adopt regulations, in consultation with the Department of Social Services (DSS) program regulations. 5)Requires the BOG to report on the program to the Legislature, the Governor, and the California Child Welfare Council by SB 1023 Page 2 March 31, 2018 and every two years thereafter. 6)Stipulates that the program is operative only in fiscal years when funding is appropriated for this purpose, and that two percent of funds may be used for program administration and three percent may be used for program development and accountability. FISCAL EFFECT 1)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 much less than half. The 2014-15 base funding level for EOPS services is $859 per student, and the support envisioned in this bill is more extensive. If roughly 1 in 7 districts participate, as authorized, and serve about 1,000 students at twice the cost of EOP services, the annual cost would be about $1.7 million. (GF, Prop. 98) 2)The Chancellor's Office would incur initial General Fund costs of around $175,000 for two positions and travel costs to establish program guidelines, receive and review applications, and provide technical assistance. Ongoing costs should be somewhat less. COMMENTS 1)Background . The Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 is intended to increase overall CCC student access and success by providing effective core matriculation services, including orientation, assessment and placement, counseling and other education planning services and academic interventions. EOPS is a supplemental CCC program to increase the enrollment of students who are affected by language, social and economic disadvantages, to improve the delivery of programs and services to the disadvantaged, and to increase the number of students who successfully complete their chosen educational objectives. The Chafee Education Training Voucher program (ETV), provides up to $5,000 annually to current and former foster youth to assist in covering educationally related costs. The ETV is administered by the California Student Aid Commission under a SB 1023 Page 3 memorandum of understanding with DSS. The program is funding by state and federal dollars and totaled about $11 million in 2013-14, and served approximately 3,350 current and former foster youth out of 17,761 eligible applications at all educational segments in the state. 2)Purpose . According to the author, "SB 1023 is needed to provide an additional layer of support that meets the unique needs of foster youth to enable those students to meet the requirements of the Student Success Act. SB 1023 creates under the umbrella of EOPS an additional component that is similar in concept to existing Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education (CARE) program for single parents receiving public assistance. In addition to establishing support services that are specific to current and former foster youth, SB 1023 authorizes these students to participate with a minimum of 9 units rather than the full load of 12 units, at the discretion of the EOPS director. This is consistent with existing options related to students participating in Disabled Student Programs and Services, and does not affect a student's eligibility for financial aid." Analysis Prepared by : Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081