Amended in Assembly April 13, 2015

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 421

Introduced by Assembly Member Calderon

February 19, 2015

An act to amend Section 87356 of, and to add Section 72620.1 to, the Education Code, relating to community colleges.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 421, as amended, Calderon. Community colleges: veterans counselor.

Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law establishes community college districts throughout the state, and authorizes them to operate campuses and provide instruction to students. Existing law authorizes the governing board of a community college district to provide a counseling program. Existing law requires the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges to adopt regulations to establish and maintain minimum qualifications for the hiring of certain community college faculty and staff members.

This bill would begin delete require end delete begin insert require, on or before July 1, 2018, end insert the governing board of a community college district to provide begin delete in each college within the district a veterans counselor end delete begin insert a veterans counselor at each of the district’s colleges with 200 or more enrolled student veterans, as defined by the board of governors end insert . The bill would also require the begin delete Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges end delete begin insert board of governors end insert to adopt regulations to establish and maintain minimum qualifications for veterans begin delete counselors. end delete begin insert counselors, as specified. end insert By requiring community colleges to have a veterans counselor, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

Section 72620.1 is added to the Education Code,
to read:

72620.1.  

begin delete The end delete begin insert On or before July 1, 2018, the end insert governing board
of a community college district shall provide begin delete in each college within
the district a veterans counselor. end delete begin insert a veterans counselor at each of
the district’s colleges with 200 or more enrolled student veterans,
as defined by the Board of Governors of the California Community
Colleges. end insert

SEC. 2.  

Section 87356 of the Education Code is amended to
read:

87356.  

(a) The board of governors shall adopt regulations to
establish and maintain the minimum qualifications for service as
a faculty member teaching credit instruction, a faculty member
teaching noncredit instruction, a librarian, a counselor, a veterans
counselor, an educational administrator, an extended opportunity
programs and services worker, a disabled students programs and
services worker, an apprenticeship instructor, and a supervisor of
health.

begin insert

(b) When the board of governors adopts regulations to establish
and maintain the minimum qualifications for service as a veterans
counselor, the board of governors shall consider including at least
all of the following:

end insert begin insert

(1) A definition of a veterans counselor that would include a
person who has demonstrated experience of the unique social and
psychological needs of veteran students.

end insert begin insert

(2) The role of a veterans counselor.

end insert begin insert

(3) A requirement that a veterans counselor have appropriate
knowledge and experience, including, as appropriate, the
following:

end insert begin insert

(A) Knowledge about veterans educational benefits (GI Bill)
and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

end insert begin insert

(B) Experience in designing and preparing Veteran Student
Educational Plans for community college student veterans.

end insert begin insert

(C) Knowledge of California Community College Student
Success and Support Programs.

end insert begin insert

(D) Experience in using a broad range of technology pertaining
to data collection and analysis for student success.

end insert begin insert

(E) Experience in developing and presenting counseling-related
workshops and orientation sessions.

end insert begin insert

(F) A demonstrated ability to effectively serve as a liaison and
communicate effectively with faculty, staff, and external community
veterans resource providers concerning veteran-specific issues,
learning processes, combat stress injuries, moral injuries, trauma,
traumatic brain injuries, and other disabilities.

end insert begin insert

(G) Knowledge of occupational opportunities and internships
for veterans, community agencies and other organizations serving
students who are veterans, issues facing veterans, and state and
federal guidelines and services to veterans.

end insert begin delete

(b)

end delete

begin insert (c) end insert  The Legislature finds and declares that this section does not
create a state-mandated local program because compensation of
faculty will continue to be determined through the collective
bargaining process or meet and confer sessions.

SEC. 3.  

If the Commission on State Mandates determines that
this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to
local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made
pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division
4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

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CORRECTIONS:

Digest--Page 1.

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