BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2385
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 19, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
AB 2385 (John A. Perez) - As Amended: April 22, 2010
Policy Committee: Higher
EducationVote:9-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill establishes a five-year pilot program in the community
colleges to facilitate early graduation of students in nursing
and allied health care programs by reducing the time necessary
to earn a degree. Specifically, this bill:
1) Requires the Chancellor's Office of the California
Community Colleges (CCCCO) to determine criteria, including
that specified in the bill, and select five community
college campuses to participate in the pilot program
commencing with the 2012-13 academic year.
2) Requires that the pilot program provide accelerated
learning and specified student services to facilitate
program completion in no more than 18 months or three
semesters.
3) Requires that the pilot program include online and
distance learning courses and intensive weekend and evening
course modules.
4) Requires the CCCCO to make every effort to secure
federal and private sector funding for the pilot program,
and to evaluate the program's effectiveness and report to
the Legislature by January 1, 2017.
5) Sunset the pilot on January 1, 2018.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)Assuming costs ranging from $350,000 to $500,000 per
AB 2385
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participating college, annual costs for five programs would
total $1.75 million to $2.5 million for the five years of the
pilot, presumably from a combination of private funds, federal
funds, General Fund (Prop. 98), and student fees.
2)The Chancellor's Office would require one position for the
first two years to start-up the pilot program.
COMMENTS
Purpose . The author notes that the CCC system offers
educational programs in a variety of allied health care
professions and trains approximately 70% of registered nurses
statewide. These are among the most costly community college
programs, which in recent years have been subjected to budget
cuts. Colleges have thus been forced to limit enrollment and are
struggling to keep pace with program demand. Most associate
degree nursing and allied health care profession programs are
offered over two academic years and require completion of 70
units in program courses, assuming the student has met all
prerequisite requirements. According to the author, this bill is
intended to create an accelerated program that would allow
students to attend programs full-time and earn degrees in
18-months or less. The author believes a successful accelerated
program could be a center of innovation and testing for the
newest educational technology and curricular ideas.
Analysis Prepared by : Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081