Senate Bill No. 1218

Introduced by Senator Nguyen

February 18, 2016

An act to amend Section 66900 of the Education Code, relating to postsecondary education.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 1218, as introduced, Nguyen. Postsecondary education: California Postsecondary Education Commission.

Existing law establishes the system of postsecondary education in this state, consisting of 4 segments: the University of California, the California State University, the California Community Colleges, and independent institutions of higher education, as defined. Existing law establishes the California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) to be responsible for coordinating public, independent, and private postsecondary education in this state and to provide independent policy analyses and recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor on postsecondary education issues. The Budget Act of 2011 deleted funding and personnel from CPEC.

This bill would make nonsubstantive changes in a provision containing legislative findings and intent related to CPEC.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

Section 66900 of the Education Code is amended
to read:

66900.  

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that the California
Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) be responsible for
coordinating public, independent, and private postsecondary
education in California and providing independent policy analyses
and recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor on
postsecondary education issues. begin delete In end delete

begin insert (b) end insert begin insert   end insert begin insert In end insert this respect, the Legislature finds begin insert and declares end insert as follows:

(1) California, in its adoption of the 1960 Master Plan for Higher
Education, established the Coordinating Council for Higher
Education, the commission’s predecessor as the statewide
coordinating and planning board for higher education.

(2) In 1973, the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Higher
Education reviewed the 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education
and ultimately advanced a report that included recommendations
for strengthening California’s higher education plan. The
committee’s work resulted in the disestablishment of the
Coordinating Council for Higher Education and the establishment
of the California Postsecondary Education Commission.

(3) Assembly Bill 770 (Chapter 1187 of the Statutes of 1973)
strengthened the membership of the commission by having a
majority of its members represent the general public. That bill also
increased the commission’s responsibilities with respect to advising
the Legislature and the Governor on issues related to governance,
operation, and financing of higher education in California.

(4) Since 1974, the commission has served as the state’s
independent planning and coordination agency for postsecondary
education policy, responsible for providing analyses and
recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor related to
long-range planning for public postsecondary education and the
state policy and programs involving independent and private
postsecondary education sectors.

(5) In 1990, Senate Bill 1570 (Chapter 1587 of the Statutes of
1990) codified the commission’s mission statement developed by
the 1989 Joint Committee for the Review of the Master Plan for
Higher Education.

(6) The commission has administered specifically designated
federal programs and in July 1993, it was named the state’s
designated agency to administer the new federal state
postsecondary review entity (SPRE).

begin delete

(b)

end delete

begin insert ( end insert begin insert c) end insert  It is the intent of the begin delete Legislature that end delete begin insert Legislature: end insert

begin insert (1) end insert begin insert   end insert begin insert That end insert the commission maintain the essential role it plays in
coordinating all sectors of postsecondary education, both public
and private, given the size, scope, and complexity of California’s
higher education system.

begin delete

(c) It is further the intent of the Legislature, as follows:

end delete begin delete

(1)

end delete

begin insert ( end insert begin insert 2) end insert  That the education policy recommendations of the
commission shall be a primary consideration in developing state
policy and funding for postsecondary education.

begin delete

(2)

end delete

begin insert ( end insert begin insert 3) end insert  That the commission shall develop and maintain a data
collection system capable of documenting the performance of
postsecondary education institutions in meeting the post high
school education and training needs of California’s diverse
population.

begin delete

(3)

end delete

begin insert ( end insert begin insert 4) end insert  That the commission, as the state’s planning and coordinating
agency, shall ensure the effective utilization of public
postsecondary education resources, thereby eliminating waste and
unnecessary duplication, and shall promote diversity, innovation,
and responsiveness to student and societal needs.

begin delete

(4)

end delete

begin insert ( end insert begin insert 5) end insert  That the commission shall encourage the participation of
faculty members, students, administrators, and members of the
general public in carrying out its duties and responsibilities.