BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2297
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 2297 (Brownley)
As Amended April 8, 2010
Majority vote
HIGHER EDUCATION 9-0 APPROPRIATIONS 16-1
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|Ayes:|Block, Norby, Adams, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Conway, Ammiano, |
| |Chesbro, Fong, Fuller, | |Bradford, Charles |
| |Galgiani, Portantino, | |Calderon, Coto, Davis, |
| |Ruskin | |Nava, Hall, Harkey, |
| | | |Nielsen, Norby, Skinner, |
| | | |Solorio, Torlakson, |
| | | |Torrico |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | |Nays:|Miller |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Allows the governing board of a California Community
College (CCC) to use an alternative method for calculating
nonresident fee amounts. Specifically, this bill allows a CCC
governing board:
1)To adopt a nonresident fee that is no greater than the average of
the nonresident fees of public community colleges of 12 states that
are comparable to California in cost-of-living. Provides that the
determination of comparable states must be based on a composite
cost-of-living index as determined by the United States Department
of Labor or cooperating government agency.
2)That calculates its nonresident fees based on the statewide average
expense of education to set the nonresident fee at the greater of
the current or any of the four immediately preceding fiscal year
(FY) amounts, if the amount calculated for the succeeding FY is
less than the amount calculated for the current FY.
EXISTING LAW requires CCC district governing boards to adopt
nonresident student fees, with exceptions. Establishes a number of
requirements for CCC districts nonresident student fees amounts
including that nonresident fee increases be gradual, moderate, and
predictable and that one of four outlined calculation methods be used
in establishing nonresident fee amounts.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee,
AB 2297
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use of the alternative methodology provided in this bill would allow
CCC districts considerable flexibility to increase nonresident fees
and could result in additional fee revenues in the tens of millions
of dollars to CCC districts.
COMMENTS : Public colleges and universities throughout the country
have additional charges for out-of-state students as a way to ensure
residents do not assume the financial burden of educating students
whose presence in the state is not intended to be permanent and who
did not pay taxes to support the public higher education systems. In
2009-10, the statewide average CCC nonresident fee was $190 per
semester unit. According to data published by the Missouri Economic
Research & Information Center and the Washington Higher Education
Coordinating Board, community college nonresident student tuition and
fees in the 12 states most comparable to California in cost-of-living
averages about $310 per credit. According to the author, this bill
would give CCCs greater authority to charge nonresidents a fee that
could be used to increase the quality of education.
Analysis Prepared by : Laura Metune / HIGHER ED. / (916) 319-3960
FN: 0003989