BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SJR 2|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SJR 2
Author: Liu (D)
Amended: As introduced
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 8-0, 4/1/09
AYES: Romero, Huff, Alquist, Hancock, Liu, Maldonado,
Padilla, Wyland
NO VOTE RECORDED: Simitian
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
SUBJECT : Higher education tax credit
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This joint resolution calls on the State of
California to adopt, when the state's economic conditions
improve, a higher education tax credit similar to the
federal American Opportunity Tax Credit to make college
more affordable for all California citizens.
ANALYSIS : The American Opportunity Tax Credit is
currently being proposed by President Obama to make college
more affordable by directly reducing the amount of money a
person owes in taxes. This tax credit is intended to
offset 2/3 of the costs of a four-year public college
education and would effectively make community college free
for most students.
CONTINUED
SJR 2
Page
2
This joint resolution:
1. Commends the United States President and Congress for
including the American Opportunity Tax Credit in the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 thereby
making college more affordable by providing financial
relief to students and their families.
2. Calls for the State of California, when the state's
economic conditions improve, to adopt a similar higher
education tax credit measure that will support efforts
to make college more affordable.
3. Includes a variety of findings and declarations
regarding college access, affordability, textbook cost,
and financial aid.
Comments
In August 2008, The California State Auditor released a
Fact Sheet titled "Affordability of College Textbooks."
They found, in part, that textbook prices have risen
significantly in the last four years, but some strategies
may help to control these costs for students. Some of
their key findings included that textbook price increase
have significantly outpaced median household income and
that textbook publishers charged retailers significantly
more than did publishers of all types of books.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: Yes
SUPPORT : (Verified 4/20/09)
California Postsecondary Education Committee
American Federation of State, County and Municipal
Employees
DLW:do 4/20/09 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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