BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 620
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Date of Hearing: April 13, 2011
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
AB 620 (Block) - As Amended: March 31, 2011
Policy Committee: Higher
EducationVote:6-2
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
Yes Reimbursable: Yes
SUMMARY
This bill requires the state's public postsecondary institutions
to collect demographic data on, and provide professional
development and awareness training regarding, lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) faculty, staff, and students.
Specifically, this bill:
1)Requires the governing boards of the California State
University (CSU) and the California Community Colleges (CCC),
and requests the Regents of the University of California (UC),
in collecting demographic data to allow faculty, staff, and
students to identify their sexual orientation, gender
identify, and gender expression.
2)Requires the three segments to share information collected in
(1), without any individual identifying information, with the
California Postsecondary Education Committee (CPEC), if
release of the information is so authorized from individuals
who have provided the information.
3)Requires the CSU and CCC governing boards, and requests the UC
Regents to:
a) Develop and implement professional development and
awareness training programs that:
i) Train faculty in generating a curriculum inclusive
of all students.
ii) Provide strategies for addressing harassment of LGBT
persons.
iii) Train campus public safety officers regarding
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harassment and hate crimes directed at LGBT persons.
iv) Train financial aid advisors regarding the
availability of scholarships for LGBT persons and
training to assist parents of same-sex parents in
completing financial aid applications.
b) Designate at each campus an employee to address the
needs of LGBT faculty, staff, and students, and, at a
minimum, provide contact information of the designee on the
website and in printed and online campus directories.
c) Adopt policies on harassment, intimidation, and bullying
to be included in rules and regulations governing student
behavior.
4)Requires CPEC to:
a) Assess the three segments with respect to the quality of
life for LGBT persons at their campuses, and make
corresponding recommendations to the segments.
b) Convene focus groups to address the needs of LGBT
students and develop a list of best practices for improving
the quality of campus life for LGBT persons.
5)Adds the attributes of sexual orientation, gender identity,
and gender expression to the existing definition of "hate
violence" for purposes of reporting incidences of hate
violence on campuses, and to existing provisions prohibiting
discrimination in the awarding of Cal Grants, in state
administration of federal student loan programs, and in the
hiring of community college faculty.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)UC . One-time GF costs of $180,000 to develop training
materials and plan the implementation of training. This does
not include the cost for staff time to attend the training.
Ongoing costs of $50,000 to provide training for all
supervisors and for new employees. One-time cost of $30,000 to
update database in order to collect expanded demographic data.
2)CSU One-time GF development costs of approximately $300,000 to
develop the training materials and several million dollars
ongoing GF costs to conduct the training sessions systemwide.
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Also costs associated with updating databases and for
designating a person on each campus to address the needs of
LGBT persons.
3)CCC . One-time GF costs of $360,000 ($5,000 per district) to
modify database. One-time GF cost of $50,000 to develop
curriculum and ongoing GF costs of $650,000 for four positions
in the Chancellor's Office to provide training systemwide.
Reimbursable GF (Prop 98) costs for district staff to attend
training sessions and for the campus designee would be in the
millions of dollars systemwide.
4)CPEC . One-time GF costs of up to several hundred thousand
dollars for the assessment and focus group works.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . This bill includes recommendations from the June 2009
CPEC report, "Access and Equity for all Students: Meeting the
Needs of LGBT Students," which outlines policy recommendations
supported by research and by individual working in advocacy
for LGBT students in higher education. According to the
report, LGBT students face many challenges that require
additional campus services and resources for them to be
successful in college. Compared to heterosexual students,
LGBT students face higher rates of mental health problems,
sexual health risks, substance abuse, and family issues
leading to negative health outcomes. CPEC also identified the
lack of data and limitations as a significant issue in serving
LGBT students because, without consistent longitudinal data,
it is difficult to track and assess LGBT student persistence
and degree completion.
2)Tight Budget Times . The 2011-12 budget, as recently passed by
the Legislature, includes $500 million in General Fund
reductions to both UC and CSU and a $400 million General Fund
(Prop 98) reduction to the community college-all partially
offset by increased tuition and fees. Moreover, even these
reduced funding levels may not be sustainable if additional
revenues assumed as part of the budget are not realized. In
response to these cuts, the segments all plan to reduce
enrollments and course offerings. Give this austere
environment, the author may wish to explore ways to minimize
the cost impact of this proposal.
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Analysis Prepared by : Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081