Amended in Assembly March 17, 2016

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 2822

Introduced by Assembly Member Chiu

February 19, 2016

An act to amend Section begin delete 69506 end delete begin insert 78212 end insert of the Education Code, relating to student financial aid.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2822, as amended, Chiu. Student financial begin delete aid. end delete begin insert aid: Student Success and Support Program: emergency student financial assistance. end insert

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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, known as the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012, defines “matriculation” as a process that brings a college and a student who enrolls for credit into an agreement for the purpose of realizing the student’s educational objectives. The act specifies the matriculation services that community colleges are required to provide.

end insert begin insert

This bill would authorize the use of Student Success and Support Program funds for the provision of emergency student financial assistance, as defined, to eligible students, as defined, if emergency student financial assistance is included in an institution’s plan for interventions to students.

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Existing law establishes various state-funded student financial aid programs, including, among others, the Ortiz-Pacheco-Poochigian-Vasconcellos Cal Grant Program, administered by the Student Aid Commission. Existing law provides that the methodology set forth in federal law or regulation serves as the formula for determining the expected family contribution of students seeking any state-funded financial assistance and that, for purposes of determining the dependent and independent status of students, the definition set forth in the federal law or regulation serves as the definition for students seeking any state-funded financial assistance.

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This bill would make a nonsubstantive change in this provision.

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Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  begin delete no end delete begin insert yes end insert . 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 78212 of the end insert begin insert Education Code end insert begin insert is amended
to read: end insert

78212.  

(a) (1) For purposes of this article, “matriculation”
means a process that brings a college and a student into an
agreement for the purpose of achieving the student’s educational
goals and completing the student’s course of study. The agreement
involves the responsibilities of both parties to attain those
objectives through the college’s established programs, policies,
and requirements including those established by the board of
governors pursuant to Section 78215.

(2) The institution’s responsibility under the agreement includes
the provision of student services to provide a strong foundation
and support for their academic success and ability to achieve their
educational goals. The program of services funded through the
Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012, which shall be
known and may be cited as the Student Success and Support
Program, shall include, but are not necessarily limited to, all of
the following:

(A) Orientation services designed to provide to students, on a
timely basis, information concerning campus procedures, academic
expectations, financial assistance, and any other matters the college
or district finds appropriate.

(B) Assessment before course registration, as defined in Section
78213.

(C) Counseling and other education planning services, which
shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, all of the following:

(i) Counseling and advising.

(ii) Assistance to students in the exploration of educational and
career interests and aptitudes and identification of educational
objectives, including, but not limited to, preparation for transfer,
associate degrees, and career technical education certificates and
licenses.

(iii) The provision of information, guided by sound counseling
principles and practices, using a broad array of delivery
mechanisms, including technology-based strategies to serve a
continuum of student needs and abilities, that will enable students
to make informed choices.

(iv) Development of an education plan leading to a course of
study and guidance on course selection that is informed by, and
related to, a student’s academic and career goals.

(D) Referral to specialized support services as needed and
available, including, but not necessarily limited to, federal, state,
and local financial assistance; health services; career services;
veteran support services; foster youth services; extended
opportunity programs and services provided pursuant to Article 8
(commencing with Section 69640) of Chapter 2 of Part 42 of
Division 5; campus child care services provided pursuant to begin delete Article
4 (commencing with Section 8225) of Chapter 2 of Part 6 of
Division 1 of Title 1; end delete begin insert Article 6 (commencing with Section 66060)
of Chapter 2 of Part 40 of Division 5; end insert programs that teach basic
skills education and English as a second language; and disabled
student services provided pursuant to Chapter 14 (commencing
with Section 67300) of Part 40 of Division 5.

(E) Evaluation of each student’s progress and referral to
appropriate interventions for students who are enrolled in basic
skills courses, who have not declared an educational goal as
required, or who are on academic probation, as defined by
standards adopted by the Board of Governors of the California
Community Colleges and community college districts.

(3)  The student’s responsibilities under the agreement include,
but are not necessarily limited to, the identification of an academic
and career goal upon application, the declaration of a specific
course of study after a specified time period or unit accumulation,
as defined by the board of governors, diligence in class attendance
and completion of assigned coursework, and the completion of
courses and maintenance of academic progress toward an
educational goal and course of study identified in the student’s
education plan. To ensure that students are not unfairly impacted
by the requirements of this chapter, the board of governors shall
establish a reasonable implementation period that is phased in as
resources are available to provide nonexempt students with the
core services pursuant to this section.

(b) Funding for the Student Success and Support Program shall
be targeted to fully implement orientation, assessment, counseling
and advising, and other education planning services needed to
assist a student in making an informed decision about his or her
educational goal and course of study and in the development of
an education plan.

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(c) (1) Funding for the Student Success and Support Program
may be used for provision of emergency student financial
assistance to help eligible students to overcome unforeseen
financial challenges, including, but not necessarily limited to, the
immediate need for shelter or food.

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(2) In order for emergency student financial assistance to be
an allowable use of Student Success and Support Program funds,
emergency student financial assistance shall be included in the
institution’s plan for interventions to students.

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(3) For purposes of this subdivision, the following terms are
defined as follows:

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(A) “Eligible student” means a student who has experienced
an unforeseen financial challenge, who currently meets satisfactory
academic progress of the institution he or she attends, and who is
at risk of not persisting in his or her course of study due to the
unforeseen financial challenge.

end insert begin insert

(B) “Emergency student financial assistance” means financial
support in the form of financial assistance to support a student to
help overcome unforeseen financial challenges so that the student
can continue his or her course of study.

end insert

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SECTION 1.  

Section 69506 of the Education Code is amended
to read:

69506.  

(a) The methodology set forth in federal law or
regulation shall serve as the formula for determining the expected
family contribution of students seeking any state-funded financial
assistance.

(b) For purposes of determining the dependent and independent
status of students, the definition set forth in the federal law or
regulation shall serve as the definition for students seeking any
state-funded financial assistance.

end delete