BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2822
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Date of Hearing: May 4, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
AB
2822 (Chiu) - As Amended March 17, 2016
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill authorizes the use of the California Community
Colleges' (CCCs') Student Success and Support Program (SSSP)
funds for the provision of emergency student financial
assistance. Specifically, this bill:
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1)Authorizes funding for SSSP to be used for providing emergency
student financial assistance in order to assist eligible
students to overcome unforeseen financial challenges,
including, but not necessarily limited to, the immediate need
for shelter or food.
2)Defines "eligible student" to mean 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.
FISCAL EFFECT:
Significant cost pressure, at least in the low millions of
dollars annually, from expanding eligible uses of SSSP funding,
which is currently at $300 million annually. Pasadena City
College provided $500 emergency grants to 35 students, totaling
$17,500. Grossmont College spent $40,000 on emergency assistance
in an academic year. These programs have been funded with
external fund sources, such as through district foundations and
from fundraising. Representatives from both colleges stated that
they could serve many more students if more funds were
available.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. According to the author, "If California seriously
wants to meet the goals outlined in the Seymour-Campbell
Student Success Act, then the CCCs should have every effective
tool available to them." The author contends that, this
measure provides the CCCs another means to supporting
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students, despite unforeseen financial emergencies.
The author argues that, "This measure would further the goals
of California community colleges' to retain and graduate
students by providing emergency aid, at just the right time,
to students who would otherwise be forced to leave school
because of a financial emergency."
According to information provided by the author, the field of
emergency aid is emerging as a best practice for community
colleges around the nation; however, the field remains
relative new. California presently has three community
colleges, Cuyamaca Community College, Grossmont Community
College, and Pasadena Community College that have begun
emergency aid programs.
2)SSSP Funding. Existing funding for the SSSP ($300 million
annually) is targeted to fully implement core services:
orientation; assessment; counseling; advising; and other
education planning services needed to assist a student in
making an informed decision about his/her education goal and
course of study and to develop an education plan; and, follow
up for at-risk students. Additionally, SSSP funds may only be
used for core services and any CCD or college receiving SSSP
funding must agree to implement the CCC BOG's system of common
assessment.
3)Related Legislation. AB 1995 (Williams), also on today's
committee agenda, requires CCC campuses to grant enrolled
homeless students access to campus shower facilities, as part
of the SSSP.
Analysis Prepared by:Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916)
319-2081
AB 2822
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