Amended in Assembly March 26, 2015

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 1385

Introduced by Assembly Member Ting

February 27, 2015

begin delete An act relating to community colleges. end delete begin insert An act to add Section 72218 to the Education Code, relating to community colleges. end insert

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1385, as amended, Ting. Community colleges: accreditation.

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 specifies the duties of the board of governors, including, among other duties, establishing minimum standards for the formation of community colleges and districts. Under existing regulatory authority, the board of governors requires each community college to be accredited.

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This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would increase the transparency and fairness of the accreditation process for community colleges.

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This bill would require the accrediting agency designated by the board of governors to notify the board of governors before increasing membership fees, special assessments, or other payments charged to a community college or community college district, and state in the notification the reasons for, and the amount of, the increase.

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

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

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begin insert SECTION 1. end insert   

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begin insert Section 72218 is added to the end insert begin insert Education Code end insert begin insert ,
to read: end insert

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begin insert 72218. end insert   

(a) The accrediting agency shall notify the Board of
Governors of the California Community Colleges before increasing
membership fees, special assessments, or other payments charged
to a community college or community college district, and state
in the notification the reasons for, and the amount of, the increase.

(b) This section does not apply to the accrediting agency’s
activities that are related to private educational institutions in the
state or educational institutions outside of the state.

(c) This section does not affect the authority of the United States
Department of Education regarding educational institutions.

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SECTION 1.  

It is the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation that would increase the transparency and fairness of
the accreditation process for California community colleges.

end delete