BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Senator Carol Liu, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: AB 340
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|Author: |Weber |
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|Version: |July 8, 2015 Hearing |
| |Date: July 15, 2015 |
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|Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |Yes |
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|Consultant:|Kathleen Chavira |
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Subject: Postsecondary education: campus climate: report
SUMMARY
This bill requires the California Community Colleges (CCC) Board
of Governors (BOG) and the California State University (CSU)
Trustees, and encourages the University of California (UC)
Regents, to each generate a report, as specified, pertaining
campus climate.
BACKGROUND
Existing law:
1)Declares it a shared goal of public education and independent
institutions of higher education to achieve educational equity
not only through a diverse and representative student body and
faculty, but also through educational environments in which
each person, regardless of race, gender, gender identity,
gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability or
economic circumstances has a reasonable change to fully
develop his or her potential. (Education Code § 66010.2)
2)Provides that it is the policy of the State of California to
afford all persons, regardless of disability, gender, gender
identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity,
religion, sexual orientation, or any other basis that is
contained in the prohibition of hate crimes, as specified,
equal rights and opportunities in the postsecondary
institutions of the state. (EC § 66251)
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3)Declares that, consistent with specified federal law
provisions, all students have the right to participate fully
in the educational process, free from discrimination and
harassment and that California's postsecondary educational
institutions have an affirmative obligation to combat racism,
sexism, and other forms of bias, and a responsibility to
provide equal educational opportunity. It also declares the
Legislature's intent that each postsecondary educational
institution undertake educational activities to counter
discriminatory incidents on school grounds and, within
constitutional bounds, to minimize and eliminate a hostile
environment on school grounds that impair the access of
students to equal educational opportunities. (EC § 66252)
4)Requests the UC Regents, CSU Trustees, and the governing board
of each community college district to adopt and publish
policies on harassment, intimidation,
and bullying to be included within the rules and regulations
governing student behavior within their respective segments of
public postsecondary education.
(EC § 66302)
ANALYSIS
This bill:
1)Requires the California Community Colleges (CCC) Board of
Governors (BOG) and the California State University (CSU)
Trustees, and encourages the University of California (UC)
Regents, to generate a report once every biennium of the
legislative session, beginning with the 2017-2018 Regular
Session that include, but is not limited to the following
elements:
a) New and recent administrative efforts intended to affect
campus climate.
b) Recent campus program developments related to gender,
race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual
orientation, disability, and gender identity that impact
campus climate.
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c) Data, including, but not limited to, student demographic
data, and crime data, including, but not limited to, the
data required to be kept and disclosed under specified
federal law and other hate crime statistics.
2)Requires the CCC BOG and the CSU Trustees, and encourages the
UC Regents, to each post the respective segment's report on
its Internet Web site and send it to the Governor, the
Attorney General, and the appropriate policy committees of the
Legislature.
3)Defines "campus climate" to mean a measure of an individual's
experience within a learning environment, specifically on the
current attitudes, practices, policies, and behaviors of
campus life that impact the success and retention of all
members of a campus community.
4)Deletes the request that the CSU Trustees and each community
college district governing board adopt and publish policies on
harassment, intimidation, and bullying as part of their rules
and regulations governing student behavior and instead,
requires such action if the governing body expends funds to
support activities related to campus climate, as defined.
5)Requests the UC Regent adopt and publish policies on
harassment, intimidation, and bullying to be included within
their rules and regulations governing student behavior.
STAFF COMMENTS
1)Source of the bill. This bill is a result of the efforts of the
Assembly Select Committee on Campus Climate. According to the
author, "The select committee sought to examine public safety
protocols and practices of California's higher education
institutions while exploring solutions to encourage campus
safety and promote healthier campus climates. The select
committee's mission was to ensure that the state's college
campuses are safe and welcoming environments for all students.
" The author contends that, existing law does not
specifically address campus climate and that this measure
would be the appropriate next step in creating some type of
oversight of campus climate. According to the author the UC
recently conducted a system-wide campus climate survey which
revealed that every campus handles related situations
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differently. As California's higher education systems
continue to grow and become increasingly diverse, students
need to feel safe on campus and knowledgeable about campus
procedures, policies, and services.
2)Assembly Select Committee on Campus Climate. Created by former
Speaker John Perez in 2014, the select committee was a result
of a number of incidents such as a 2013 case involving an
African-American student who experienced on-campus racial
bullying at San Jose State. The committee held four hearings
throughout the state and heard from system-wide
representatives, university administrators, faculty,
university staff, students, community organizations and policy
experts. The committee issued a report with its
recommendations in October 2014. Among other things, the
committee recommended that the UC, CSU and CCC provide an
annual report to the Legislature on recent challenges and
developments in regards to campus climate. This bill
implements these report recommendations with the intent that
there be a certain level of oversight and that the Legislature
be kept informed of any major changes at California colleges
and universities.
SUPPORT
Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges
California Conference of the NAACP
California Federation of Teachers
California State University
OPPOSITION
None received.
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