BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1747
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Date of Hearing: April 12, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Jose Medina, Chair
AB 1747
(Weber) - As Amended April 4, 2016
SUBJECT: Food assistance: higher education students.
SUMMARY: Requires, as a condition of participation in the Cal
Grant Program, each public and private postsecondary educational
institution to take a number of steps to facilitate student
access to nutrition programs. Specifically, this bill:
1)States that the Legislature intends to increase the college
graduation rates of low-income Californians and to reduce the
incidence of economic hardship and hunger among low-income
college students.
2)Requires, as a condition of participation in the Cal Grant
Program, each public and private postsecondary educational
institution, to do both of the following:
a) Ensure that on each campus there is access to
surcharge-free transactions using the electronic benefits
transfer (EBT) system, as specified; and,
b) Increase access to and information about the Restaurant
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Meals Program on campus, as specified.
3)Specifies that a public or private postsecondary education
institution is not required to create, operate, or maintain an
EBT system on behalf of on-campus food vendors.
4)Stipulates that the provisions of this bill shall apply only
to contracts renewed or entered into on or after January 1,
2017, to the extent any contract would be substantially
impaired as a result of the new requirements.
5)Allows private nonprofit or public postsecondary educational
institutions that are successful in raising money for CalFresh
outreach activities to receive matching funds from the United
States Department of Agriculture, as specified.
6)Creates the Public Higher Education Pantry Assistance Program
Account (PHEPAPA) in the Emergency Food Assistance Program
(EFAP); and, stipulates that, upon appropriation by the
Legislature, funds in the PHEPAPA shall be allocated to the
State Department of Social Services for allocation to food
banks, as specified, that meet both of the following criteria:
a) The primary function of the food bank is the
distribution of food to low-income households; and,
b) The food bank has identified specific costs associated
with supporting on-campus pantry and hunger relief efforts
serving low-income students.
EXISTING LAW:
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1)Authorizes the Cal Grant Program, administered by the
California Student Aid Commission (CSAC), to provide grants to
financially needy students to attend college. The Cal Grant
programs include both the entitlement and the competitive Cal
Grant awards. The Program consists of the Cal Grant A, Cal
Grant B, and Cal Grant C programs; eligibility is based upon
financial need, grade point average, residency, and other
eligibility criteria, as specified (Education Code (EC)
Section 69430, et seq.).
2)Requires institutions to meet specified criteria in order to
participate in the Cal Grant Program, as specified (EC
69432.7).
3)Establishes the EFAP within the State Treasury; and,
authorizes the Controller to transfer from the Personal Income
Tax Fund to the EFAP Fund not in excess of the sum of the
amounts designated by individuals, as specified (Revenue and
Taxation Code Section 18852).
4)Establishes the EBT Act, and defines the EBT system as the
program designed to provide benefits to those eligible to
receive public assistance benefits such as CalWORKs and
CalFresh (Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) 10065, et seq.).
5)Establishes that an EBT recipient may be charged a fee for
cash withdrawal transactions that exceed four per month, as
specified, by state and federal law and customarily charged to
other customers (WIC 10072).
6)Establishes under federal law the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP) pursuant to the Food Stamp Act of
1964; and, establishes in California statute, the CalFresh
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program to administer the provision of federal SNAP benefits
to families and individuals meeting certain criteria, as
specified (WIC 18900, et seq.).
7)Establishes the Restaurant Meals Program under SNAP to allow
eligible homeless, disabled, or elderly recipients to purchase
hot, prepared food from participating restaurants (7 U.S.C.
Section 2020).
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown
COMMENTS: Double referral. This measure was heard, and passed
out of the Assembly Human Services Committee, with a vote of 5
-1, on March 29, 2016.
Background. A growing number of college students are enrolled
in SNAP, but few students who receive SNAP benefits can purchase
food on college campuses. According to a December 2015 report,
by Wisconsin Hope Lab, entitled, "Hungry to Learn: Addressing
Food and Housing Insecurity Among Undergraduates," of a survey
of more than 4,000 undergraduates at 10 community colleges
across the nation, half of all of the respondents reported that
they struggle with food and/or housing insecurity. The report
also found that 20 percent of the student respondents indicated
that they are hungry.
Need for the measure. According to the author, "Hunger and
homelessness among college students has grown in frequency in
recent years. Meanwhile, the cost to attend a college or
university has increased while opportunities for low-income
Californians admitted into a state college or university has
decreased."
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This measure is the first step in supporting economic diversity
at California's colleges and universities to help improve
graduation rates for low-income college students by ensuring
they are eligible to have more access to fresh and health food
while on campus.
Segments involvement to combat the hunger pains. The University
of California (UC) has made tacking the issue of student hunger
a priority. The UC launched the Global Food Initiative, and in
March 2015, the UC President allocated $75,000 per campus to
support the effort; looking inward, ensuring that its own
students have food security, as it takes on the bigger issue of
hunger around the world. Systemwide, UC campuses have begun
surveying students in order to assess the scope of food security
issues and have begun implementing short-term relief where
needed as campuses explore long-term solutions that address
student nutrition. Many UC campuses have food pantries and
partner with local food banks.
The California State University (CSU) Chancellor commissioned in
February 2015, a study to shed light on how CSU campuses were
meeting the needs of displaced and food insecure students and to
offer recommendations to ensure success and graduation for these
students. The study found, among others, that student survey
results showed 24 percent of students expressing they had food
insecurities; 11 campuses had programs for food insecure
students, ranging from small food pantries to large programs and
services; five campuses incorporate students' needs as part of
student success directives and the university mission; and,
students who experienced food and/or housing instability
reported high levels of stress and the need for single points of
contact.
Committee staff understands that the California Community
Colleges (CCC) does not have a systemwide plan to help combat
student food insecurities issues; however, some CCC campuses
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have varying plans in place to help address the hunger needs of
the students.
Previous legislation. AB 832 (Weber) of 2013, which was held in
the Assembly Human Services Committee, would have required all
convenience stores and bookstores at UC, CSU and the CCC to
accept the use of EBT cards.
AB 756 (Mitchell) of 2011, which died in the Assembly Human
Services Committee, would have prohibited surcharges on ATM
withdrawals and point-of-sale transactions for CalWORKs
recipients when using their state-issued EBT cards.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
California Association of Food Banks
California Federation of Teachers
California Food Policy Advocates
California Immigrant Policy Center
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California Primary Care Association
California State Student Association
Courage Campaign
Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano
National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and
Youth
National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter
Orange County Food Access Coalition
St. Anthony Foundation
University of California Student Association
Western Center on Law and Poverty
Young Invincibles
Opposition
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California Bankers Association (based on prior version)
California Credit Union League (based on prior version)
Analysis Prepared by:Jeanice Warden / HIGHER ED. / (916)
319-3960