BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 176
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 176 (Lara)
As Amended March 31, 2011
Majority vote
HIGHER EDUCATION 7-2
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|Ayes:|Block, Achadjian, | | |
| |Brownley, Fong, Galgiani, | | |
| |Lara, Portantino | | |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Donnelly, Miller | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Requires a test sponsor to provide alternative methods
to verify a test subject's identity for those test subjects who
are unable to provide the required identification (ID) for
purposes of admitting a test subject to take a standardized test
administered by the sponsor and allows a test sponsor to require
test subjects to obtain approval in advance of the test
registration deadline in order to be admitted to the test with
an alternate form of identification.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Establishes various requirements and procedures for test
sponsors to follow in administering standardized tests for
admission to, or placement in, postsecondary educational
institutions and programs and subjects any test sponsor who
violates the requirements or procedures of administering
standardized tests to a civil penalty of up to $750 per
violation.
2)Exempts specified nonresident students of California from
paying nonresident tuition at the California State University
(CSU) and the California Community Colleges (CCC) under the
provisions of AB 540 (Firebaugh), Chapter 814, Statutes of
2001. The University of California (UC), by resolution,
complies with existing law established by AB 540.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown. This bill has been keyed non-fiscal by
the Legislative Counsel.
AB 176
Page 2
COMMENTS : AB 540 was enacted in part to address circumstances
when a student, who was brought to the U.S. as a child by his or
her parents, was deemed a nonresident for tuition purposes when
attending UC, CSU, or CCC. Often, these students were unaware
that they were not legal United States residents, having spent
most of their lives in this country. AB 540 provides access to
in-state tuition based on high school attendance and other
factors rather than legal status, recognizing that the state and
its economy benefits from the educational successes of these
students. According to the author, undocumented students
attempting to take standardized tests to enter postsecondary
education graduate programs often find that they cannot meet the
identification requirements of test sponsors. This bill would
require test sponsors to establish an alternative ID
verification process that ensures undocumented students, who
wish to pursue graduate school, the opportunity to take the
tests required for admittance into these programs.
Analysis Prepared by : Laura Metune / HIGHER ED. / (916)
319-3960
FN: 0000146