BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Senator Carol Liu, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: AB 2154
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|Author: |Medina |
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|Version: |May 25, 2016 Hearing |
| |Date: June 8, 2016 |
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|Urgency: |No |Fiscal: | Yes |
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|Consultant:|Olgalilia Ramirez |
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Subject: Student Aid Commission: student members
SUMMARY
This bill provides changes to the term and benefits for service
as a student member of the California Student Aid Commission
(Commission).
BACKGROUND
Existing law:
1) Establishes the California Student Aid Commission to
administer California's student financial aid programs. The
composition of the Commission includes:
a) Eleven members Governor appointees confirmed
by the Senate:
i) Three representatives from the
general public.
ii) One representative from a California
secondary school.
iii) Two student representatives each of
whom must be enrolled in a California
postsecondary educational institution.
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iv) One representative from the University
of California.
v) One representative from the California
State University.
vi) One representative from the California
Community Colleges.
vii) One representative from a California
independent college or university.
viii) One representative from a public,
proprietary, or nonprofit postsecondary school
located in California.
a) Two representatives appointed by the Senate
Rules Committee.
b) Two representatives appointed by the Speaker
of the Assembly. (Education Code § 69510)
1) Provides that student members appointed to the
California Student Aid Commission (Commission):
a) Be enrolled in postsecondary educational
institutions for the duration of the two year terms
b) May serve for six months beyond graduation.
c) May not be enrolled in the same segment of
higher education. The segments of higher education
are designated as the University of California (UC),
the California State University (CSU), the California
Community Colleges (CCC), independent institutions
(non-profit), and for-profit institutions. (EC §
69511)
2) Provides that the Commission is responsible for
determining the appropriate student organization for each
segment, and each student organization is required to
inform students within their respective segment of pending
Commission student member vacancies and each student
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organization is authorized to submit a list of three to
five nominees for membership. A student member appointed
to the Commission may not be in the same segment of the
outgoing or the other sitting student member. (EC §
69511.5)
ANALYSIS
This bill provides changes to the term and benefits for service
as a student member of the Commission. Specifically it:
1) Authorizes a student Commission member upon expiration of
the student member's two-year term to remain in office for
one additional year or until the Governor appoints a
successor, whichever occurs first.
2) Requires an institution to waive a student member's tuition
up to a specified amount, for the duration of their term in
office, provided that the student is not a Cal Grant award
recipient.
3) Requires the Commission to notify the appropriate student
organization for each segment of a pending vacancy no less
than three months before the expiration of the term and of
the organizations opportunity to submit a list of nominees.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Need for the bill. According to the California State
Student Association (CSSA), the sponsors of this bill, "for
the past several years, student commissioners have faced
challenges trying to serve on the commission while often
also needing to work in order to pay for school."
Additionally, CSSA asserts, that there have been instances
of delayed appointments of student members, causing gaps in
student representation. For example, the California State
University student was selected for appointment in 2013,
nearly seven months late and in 2014, the private
university student appointment was delayed by five months.
Lastly, in 2011, a student was appointed to the commission
after a four year gap.
This bill seeks to ensure consistent student representation on
the California Student Aid Commission (Commission) by
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authorizing students to serve for one additional year after
their term has expired should there be a delay in appointing a
successor and by requiring that institutions waive tuition for
the duration of the student's term provided that they are
non-Cal Grant recipients.
2) Appointment of student members. Existing law provides for
two student commissioners from different higher education
segments, nominated by the appropriate student association
and appointed by the governor to serve on the Commission
for two year terms. The higher education segments are
designated as University of California, California State
University, California Community Colleges, independent
institutions (non-profit), and for-profit institutions.
The student commissioners may not be enrolled in the same
segment of the outgoing or the other sitting student
member. This rotation of student seats by segment could be
confusing to many if not adequately tracked. It is the
responsibility of the student organizations to have
knowledge of the process and submit nominees to the
Governor at the appropriate time. Arguably, if a student
organization is not aware of this opportunity it could
delay an appointment or miss the chance all together. This
bill requires the Commission to notify appropriated student
organizations of a pending vacancy and of the organizations
opportunity to submit a list of nominees.
3) Commission service and benefits. The Commission is
responsible for administering financial aid programs for
students attending public and private postsecondary
institutions, colleges and vocational schools in
California. Service on the Commission requires attendance
at meetings of the board and assigned committees. The
Commission meets at least six-times per year, in two-day
meetings. Additionally, committees may meet more
frequently. All commissioners are entitled to a $100
stipend for each day of attendance at a regular or assigned
committee meeting and compensation for board related travel
expenses. Each student commissioner is a full voting
member with the same powers and duties afforded to the
remaining commissioners.
4) Other boards by comparison. Students serve on a variety of
boards and commissions and each provides varying benefits
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to students who serve.
a) The California Community Colleges Board of
Governors sets policy and provides guidance for the 72
districts and 113 colleges that constitute the system.
The 17-member board meets at least six-times a year,
in two-day meetings. The Governor appoints two student
members (voting and non-voting) from nominees proposed
by the recognized student organization. These student
members serve staggered two-year terms with the
non-voting student trustee succeeding to the voting
position upon the expiration of the term of the voting
member. Student members receive $100 per diem and are
compensated for board related travel expenses.
b) California State University Board of Trustees is
responsible for the oversight of the 23 campus CSU
system. The board meets six-times per year, in two-day
meetings. The Governor appoints two student trustees
(voting and non-voting) from nominees proposed by the
California State Student Association. These student
trustees serve staggered two-year terms with the
non-voting student trustee succeeding to the voting
position upon the expiration of the term of the voting
member. Student trustees receive tuition fee waivers,
$100 per diem and compensation for board related
travel expenses.
c) The Regents of the University of California
governs the 10 campus UC system and meets six times a
year, in two-day meetings. The Board of Regents
appoint a student Regent (voting) and a student
Regent-designate (non-voting) and serve one-year terms
in each positions with the Regent-designate succeeding
the voting student Regent. The student Regent is
reimbursed for expenses incurred for attendance at
meetings of the board and its committees, and all
mandatory University fees and tuition are waived
during the academic years in which he or she serves as
Regent-designate and as a member of the board.
Arguably service on the California Student Aid Commission
(Commission) is comparable to service on the Board of
Trustees or Regents therefore it may be appropriate for the
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benefits provided by this bill to be extended to a student
member of the Student Aid commission.
5) Cost Impact. This bill seeks to acknowledge that students
who serve on the Commission merit a tuition waiver. The
tuition waiver is solely based on service there is no test
for financial need. However, given the small number of
students that would receive such a waiver the cost would be
insignificant. Staff notes that the tuition waiver only
applies to non-Cal Grant recipients as student members who
receive a Cal Grant would have his or her fees covered by
the award.
6) Related legislation. AB 2766 (Lopez) would require the
commission to include 4 student members, one from each of
the public postsecondary institutions (University of
California, California State University, California
Community Colleges) and a California private postsecondary
education institution. AB 2766 is scheduled to be heard by
this Committee on June 8th.
SUPPORT
California State Student Association
California Student Aid Commission
OPPOSITION
None received.
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