BILL NUMBER: AB 1307 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE SEPTEMBER 3, 2015
AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 18, 2015
AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 7, 2015
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 1, 2015
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 23, 2015
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 14, 2015
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2015
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Members McCarty and Medina
FEBRUARY 27, 2015
An act to amend Sections 66028.2, 66028.4, and 66028.5 of the
Education Code, relating to public postsecondary education.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1307, as amended, McCarty. Working Families Student Fee
Transparency and Accountability Act.
The Donahoe Higher Education Act sets forth the missions and
functions of the segments of the higher education system in the
state. The public segments include the University of California,
administered by the Regents of the University of California, and the
California State University, administered by the Trustees of the
California State University. The provisions of the act apply to the
University of California only to the extent that the Regents of the
University of California, by appropriate resolution, make them
applicable. Under existing law, the regents have all the powers
necessary or convenient for the administration of the university,
including the power to set mandatory systemwide fees.
Existing law establishes the Working Families Student Fee
Transparency and Accountability Act, which suggests policies relating
to mandatory systemwide student fees charged and student financial
aid for resident students at the University of California and the
California State University. University,
including a policy urging the regents and the trustees to ensure that
at least 33% of revenues from an increase in fees ch
arged to resident students is set aside for institutional student aid
to assist students and families.
This bill would instead urge the regents and trustees to
ensure that at least 33% of revenues from an increase in fees charged
to undergraduate students is set aside for institutional student aid
to assist resident undergraduate students and families, and would
make certain the rest of these
policy suggestions requirements, subject to adoption of a resolution
by the regents as to the University of California. The bill would
change an inaccurate cross-reference in a provision of the Working
Families Student Fee Transparency and Accountability Act.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 66028.2 of the Education Code is amended to
read:
66028.2. The following requirements apply to student financial
aid for resident students, and mandatory systemwide fees charged at
the University of California and the California State University:
(a) As any changes in mandatory systemwide fees and financial aid
resources are considered, the impact on students shall be explained
to students, including, but not limited to, changes to the minimum
work or loan burden for all students, if applicable, institutional
financial aid awards, and the average student loan debt for
undergraduate students.
(b) Students shall be consulted before increases on mandatory
systemwide fees are proposed, so that students can provide input and
ask questions regarding the need for any increases in mandatory
systemwide fees.
(c) Adequate advance notice shall be provided to students
regarding any future mandatory systemwide fees, thereby allowing the
students and their families greater time to prepare for the mandatory
systemwide fees to be assessed.
(d) In order to ensure that access is not precluded for any
eligible student, and particularly for financially needy students,
all current and prospective students shall be provided with timely
information concerning student financial aid, including the processes
associated with applying for and obtaining student financial
assistance.
(e) In order for the general public to maintain confidence in the
state's public colleges and universities, the state's public colleges
and universities shall ensure transparency in the uses of mandatory
systemwide fee revenue and the rationale for implementing mandatory
systemwide fee increases.
SEC. 2. Section 66028.4 of the Education Code is amended to read:
66028.4. (a) On or before April 2, 2013, the regents and the
trustees each shall develop a list of factors that shall be taken
into consideration when developing recommendations to adjust
mandatory systemwide fees consistent with the policies set forth in
this article. The factors shall include, at a minimum, the level of
state support, total cost of attendance, impact on various categories
of students, including historically underrepresented students and
low- to middle-income students, as well as efforts to mitigate the
impacts.
(b) The factors, and any subsequent amendments to those factors,
shall be developed in consultation with the appropriate statewide
student body associations and shall be formally adopted by the
regents or the trustees in an open and public meeting.
(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to exempt any
increase in mandatory systemwide fees from the requirements of
Section 66028.3.
SEC. 3. Section 66028.5 of the Education Code is amended to read:
66028.5. (a) The regents and the trustees are urged to maintain
their commitment to institutional financial aid program funding by
ensuring that at least 33 percent of the revenues of an increase to
existing mandatory systemwide fees charged to resident
undergraduate students is set aside by the
regents or the trustees, as applicable, for institutional student aid
to assist resident undergraduate students, including
those undergraduate students exempt from nonresident
tuition pursuant to Sections 68075.5 and 68130.5, and families in
meeting the total cost of education.
(b) The regents and trustees shall report their compliance with
this section in their respective annual reports on institutional
financial aid pursuant to Section 66021.1.