BILL NUMBER: SB 1898 CHAPTERED 09/23/00 CHAPTER 588 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 23, 2000 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 22, 2000 PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 30, 2000 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 28, 2000 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 25, 2000 AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 30, 2000 AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 16, 2000 AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 3, 2000 AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 24, 2000 INTRODUCED BY Senator Solis (Coauthors: Assembly Members Alquist and Romero) FEBRUARY 24, 2000 An act to add and repeal Section 69561.5 of the Education Code, relating to student financial aid. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 1898, Solis. Student financial aid: Student Opportunity and Access Program. Existing law establishes the Student Opportunity and Access Program, which is administered by the Student Aid Commission, and requires the commission to apportion funds for the support of programs designed to increase the accessibility of postsecondary educational opportunities to low-income and ethnic minority students. This bill would require the commission, in collaboration with the various segments of higher education, to develop and establish a pilot program entitled "Transfer: Making It Happen," which would assist community college students who are planning to transfer to a 4-year institution of higher education by providing academic preparation and information on financial aid opportunities. The bill would require that, on or before December 1, 2004, the California Postsecondary Education Commission submit to the Governor and the Legislature a report including all of the findings and recommendations of an evaluation of the pilot program carried out during the 3rd year of the operation of the pilot program. These provisions would be repealed as of January 1, 2006. The bill would require the Student Aid Commission to expand the Student Opportunity and Access Program by adding up to 5 new sites in the 2000-01 fiscal year. The bill would also allow existing Student Opportunity and Access Program consortia to expand their services, as prescribed. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 69561.5 is added to the Education Code, to read: 69561.5. (a) In collaboration with the various segments of higher education, the Student Aid Commission shall develop and establish a pilot program entitled "Transfer: Making It Happen." This program shall encourage community college students to transfer to a four-year institution of higher education, and assist them in this endeavor by providing academic preparation and information on financial aid opportunities. The program shall be modeled after the "College: Making It Happen" program. (b) The pilot program established by this section shall target students who attend those community colleges or high schools that participate in one of the Student Opportunity and Access Program consortia, who are primarily from low-income households, who would be the first in their families to attend college, or who are from schools or geographic regions with documented low college eligibility or college participation rates. (c) (1) The Student Opportunity and Access Program shall provide, in close collaboration with the personnel of the California Community Colleges who are responsible for advising students about transfer opportunities, each of the following direct student services under this section: (A) Provision of specialized academic and financial aid information related to a transfer to an institution that grants baccalaureate degrees. (B) Provision of personalized attention, such as one-on-one counseling and group workshops that inform students of opportunities to transfer to an institution that grants baccalaureate degrees. (C) Working closely with community college transfer centers in strengthening direct services and outreach provided to students who plan to transfer to an institution that grants baccalaureate degrees. (2) The services listed in paragraph (1) shall be offered to, but not necessarily limited to, students who indicate an interest in transferring to an institution that grants baccalaureate degrees. (d) (1) During the third year of the operation of the pilot program established by this section, the California Postsecondary Education Commission, in consultation with the Legislative Analysts' office, shall evaluate the program in order to determine its effectiveness. The evaluation shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, recommendations on both of the following: (A) How the program may improve the services it provides. (B) How the program may be expanded beyond those community colleges that participate in one of the Student Opportunity and Access Program consortia. (2) On or before December 1, 2004, the California Postsecondary Education Commission shall submit to the Governor and the Legislature a report including all of the findings and recommendations of its evaluation. (e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2006, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2006, deletes or extends that date. SEC. 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law: (a) In the 2000-01 fiscal year, the Student Aid Commission shall accomplish both of the following: (1) Expand the Student Opportunity and Access Program by adding up to five new consortia. (2) Allow existing Student Opportunity and Access Program consortia to expand their services as to the type of service rendered, the number of students served, and the geographic regions in which services are provided. (b) The Student Aid Commission may delay the local matching fund requirement for any new services established by existing consortia of the Student Opportunity and Access Program and any statewide multiconsortia activities that are established pursuant to this section. SEC. 3. It is the intent of the Legislature that, of the funds appropriated in schedule (a) of Item 7980-101-0001 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2000 for the purposes of the Student Opportunity and Access Program, up to one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) shall be expended by the Student Aid Commission for the purposes of Section 69561.5 of the Education Code. It is also the intent of the Legislature that the remaining three million five hundred thousand dollars ($3,500,000) of the funds appropriated in that schedule be expended for purposes of Section 2 of this act.