BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 906
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Date of Hearing: August 3, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
SB 906
(Beall) - As Amended May 19, 2016
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| |Human Services | | 7 - 0 |
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: YesReimbursable:
Yes
SUMMARY:
This bill:
SB 906
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1)Modifies the definition of "foster youth or former foster
youth," for the purposes of priority registration at the
University of California (UC), the California State University
(CSU), and the California Community Colleges (CCC), to include
a student under age 26 instead of under age 24, and deletes
the January 1, 2017 sunset on priority registration for foster
youth or former foster youth
2)Repeals the January 1, 2017 sunset on provisions providing
priority registration at the CCC to Extended Opportunity
Programs and Services (EOPS) students, and Disabled Student
Programs and Services (DSPS) students.
FISCAL EFFECT:
Any costs for the segments to continue offering priority
registration to the specified student cohorts will be minor and
absorbable. Of the 2.3 million students enrolled in the CCC for
2014-15, about 76,000 were EOPS students, 121,000 were DSPS
students, and 15,000 were foster youth or former foster youth.
COMMENTS:
1)Background. DSPS provides support services, specialized
instruction and accommodations to students with a disability,
allowing them to fully participate and benefit from an
equitable college experience. EOPS enables low income,
educationally disadvantaged students "affected by language,
social, and economic handicaps" to achieve a college education
by providing educational opportunities, encouragement, and
support services. According to the Foundation for California
Community Colleges, each year, approximately 4,000 of
California's foster youth turn 18 and become independent, many
without the necessary skills to support themselves.
SB 906
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A 2013 study by the Center for Social Services and Research
measuring the academic achievement of foster youth, students
with disabilities, and low-income students, found that these
groups, "fared significantly worse than the general population
in a range of areas, including, the percentage who initially
enter community college and persist one year." Additionally,
the Center found that by age 26, each of these student
populations is much less likely to hold a post-secondary
education degree.
2)Purpose. The author contends that this measure "removes the
sunset date for the three categories of students to allow
colleges to continue the priority registration process and
also changes the eligibility criteria for foster youth to
align with other existing programs. By removing the sunset,
colleges will be able to continue to grant priority
registration for foster youth, low-income, and disabled
students, so it enables them to register for courses before
the larger student population. Priority registration would
allow them to secure required courses, shorten the time to
degree completion and reduce financial aid utilization. In
regards to changing the definition of foster youth, these
youth are already at a disadvantage and have encountered many
challenges throughout their lives. These students can't
afford to have another barrier placed upon them. Many foster
youth have shown success based on the offering of priority
registration and additional support services."
3)Prior Legislation. AB 595 (Gomez), Chapter 704, Statutes of
2013, established priority registration for EOPS and DSPS
students until January 1, 2017. AB 194 (Beall), Chapter 458,
Statutes of 2011, established priority registration for
current and former foster youth until January 1, 2017.
SB 906
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Analysis Prepared by:Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916)
319-2081