BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Senator Carol Liu, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: AB 2908
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|Author: |Committee on Higher Education |
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|Version: |April 11, 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: Postsecondary education: omnibus
SUMMARY
This bill corrects technical errors and oversights, and makes
non-controversial and conforming changes to various provisions
of the Education Code.
BACKGROUND
Existing law:
1) Requires the legislative analyst's office (LAO) to
report to the Legislature on the expenditures of the
University of California (UC) and California State
University (CSU). (Education Code § 66028.6)
2) Requires the governing boards of each community college
district, the CSU Trustees, the Hastings College of Law
Board of Directors, the UC Regents, and the governing
boards of any postsecondary educational institution
receiving public funds for student financial assistance to
make a report containing data on hate crimes, as specified,
available to the LAO. (EC § 67380)
3) Authorizes California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) to
require school districts and charter schools to submit the
grade point averages (GPAs) of all grade 12 pupils every
year, unless a pupil and/or his or her parent or guardian
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has opted out of the GPA submission to CSAC; and, specifies
that school districts and charter schools shall notify
grade 12 pupils and/or their parent or guardian if the
pupil is under 18 years of age, in writing, about the GPA
submission to CSAC, no later than October 15 every year.
(EC § 69432.9)
4) Requires the LAO to report to the Legislature on the
outcomes of the Cal Grant C program on or before April 1,
2015, and on or before April 1 of each odd numbered year
thereafter. (EC § 69439)
5) Requires the LAO to report to the Legislature on the
status update of CSU's online education programs, as
specified, on or before October 1, 2017.
(EC § 89226)
ANALYSIS
This bill:
1) Extends the due date for the Legislative Analyst's Office
(LAO) to report on CSU's online courses, as specified, from
October 1, 2017 to October 1, 2018.
2) Reassigns, from the LAO to the University of California
(UC) Regents and California State University (CSU) Trustees
the reporting requirement to the Legislature on UC and CSU
expenditures.
3) Removes the requirement for postsecondary institutions to
submit hate violence reports to the LAO; and, specifies
that the postsecondary institutions shall still complete
reports and post their findings publicly on their
respective Internet Web sites.
4) Authorizes the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) to
require a grade point average (GPA) submission no later
than October 1 of each academic year.
5) Specifies that the grade point averages for grade 12
students are to be submitted by October 1, of each academic
AB 2908 (Committee on Higher Education) Page 3 of ?
year.
6) Moves the date for which a school district or charter
school is required to submit GPA
7) Changes the date from October 15 to January 1 for when
schools are required to notify parents that his or her
student will be deemed a Cal Grant applicant and GPA
submitted to CSAC, unless the student opts out. Further
requires that parents be notified when students are in
grade 11, instead of grade 12.
8) Extends the due date for the LAO to report on Cal Grant C
from April 1, 2015 to April 1, 2018 and requires CSAC,
instead of the LAO, to submit the report with more limited
information on or before April 1, 2020 and each
even-numbered year thereafter.
9) Makes clarifying and technical changes to an incorrect
cross reference in the Education Code.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Non-controversial amendments. This bill is the annual
higher education omnibus clean-up bill and proposes
technical, non-controversial amendments to existing law.
By tradition, if any affected agency, the Department of
Finance, or any of the four legislative caucuses objects to
a provision in the bill or one that is being considered,
that particular provision cannot be included.
2) Conforming to new FAFSA timeline. On September 14,
2015, President Obama announced significant changes to the
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Starting
this year, the FAFSA will be available to students on
October 1, 2016, rather than on January 1, 2017. The
earlier submission date will be a permanent change,
enabling students to complete and submit a FAFSA on October
1 every year. This bill authorizes CSAC to adjust the GPA
submission date thereby conforming to the new FAFSA release
date.
3) Workload demands on the LAO. AB 770 (Vasconcellos),
Chapter 1187, Statutes of 1973, created the California
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Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) and made it
responsible for the planning and coordination of
postsecondary education. CPEC was charged with providing
analysis, advice, and recommendations to the Legislature
and the governor on statewide policy and funding
priorities. Governor Brown used his line item veto power to
defunded CPEC as part of his 2011-2012 budget. On November
18, 2011, CPEC closed its office and ceased operations.
In the absence of CPEC, the state has asked the LAO to conduct
many of the duties CPEC would traditionally perform, including
researching, writing, reviewing new programs and issuing
reports. Staff notes that the LAO has reached its capacity with
the volume of reports and studies assigned to the Office on an
annual basis. This bill seeks to extend deadlines and make
adjustments to specified reports thereby allowing more time for
completion and alleviating workload.
SUPPORT
None received.
OPPOSITION
None received.
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