BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1393
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 1393 (Skinner)
As Amended April 23, 2009
Majority vote
HIGHER EDUCATION 9-0 APPROPRIATIONS 16-0
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|Ayes:|Portantino, Conway, |Ayes:|De Leon, Nielsen, |
| |Block, Cook, Fong, | |Ammiano, |
| |Galgiani,, Huber, Ma, | |Charles Calderon, |
| |Ruskin | |Krekorian, Duvall, |
| | | |Fuentes, Monning, Harkey, |
| | | |Miller, John A. Perez, |
| | | |Price, Skinner, Solorio, |
| | | |Audra Strickland, |
| | | |Torlakson |
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SUMMARY : Requests the California Community Colleges (CCC) and
the University of California (UC), and requires the California
State University (CSU), in order to ensure stable housing for
current and former foster youth, to give priority for campus
housing to current and former foster youth with first priority
for housing open for uninterrupted year-round occupation and
next priority for housing open for occupation most days during
the calendar year.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, CSU indicates no fiscal impact. To the extent UC and
CCC decide to give priority for campus housing to former foster
youth, administrative costs should be minor and absorbable.
COMMENTS : It is estimated that more than 20,000 youth aged 16
and older transition from the foster care system each year.
According to a 2007 report by the Children's Advocacy Institute,
65% of foster youth emancipate from the system without a place
to live, 51% are unemployed, and 46% have not completed high
school. A college degree is one of the best roads to
self-sufficiency; however, few foster youth continue education
after high school and those that do often encounter significant
barriers that hinder their ability to succeed. Fewer than 10%
of foster youth who graduate from high school go on to college,
and fewer than 3% of foster youth who go on to college ever
AB 1393
Page 2
graduate. This bill seeks to provide priority housing for
former and current foster youth on CCC, CSU, and UC campuses.
Many former foster youth lack permanent relationships after
leaving care, and even if they are fortunate enough to obtain
campus housing, they have no place to live between semesters and
school years. Providing priority housing and first priority for
housing open year-round will help provide former and current
foster youth with added stability in their quest to succeed in
college.
Why request CCC and UC to comply? While CSU is required to
comply with the provisions of this bill, CCC and UC are only
requested to comply. Ten CCC campuses maintain dormitories,
thus the author believes the CCCs should provide priority
housing to foster youth. However, requesting rather than
requiring the CCCs to comply avoids a state-mandated cost
associated with this bill. The author requests UC to comply
with the provisions of this bill as the California Constitution
(Section 9 of Article IX) establishes that the UC is subject to
legislative control only to the degree necessary to ensure the
security of its funds and compliance with the terms of its
endowments.
Analysis Prepared by: Laura Metune / HIGHER ED. / (916)
319-3960
FN: 0000487