BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1955
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Date of Hearing: March 27, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Marty Block, Chair
AB 1955 (Block) - As Introduced: February 23, 2012
SUBJECT : Public postsecondary education: campus law
enforcement agency and student liaison.
SUMMARY : Requires the California State University (CSU) Board
of Trustees and requests the University of California (UC) Board
of Regents, to designate an individual at each campus to serve
as a liaison between campus law enforcement agencies and
students exercising rights guaranteed by the United States
Constitution and the California Constitution.
EXISTING LAW prohibits the UC Regents, CSU Trustees, and the
governing board of any community college district from making or
enforcing a rule subjecting a student to disciplinary sanction
solely on the basis of conduct that is speech or other
communication that is protected by specified provisions of the
United States or California Constitutions.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : Background . On December 14, 2011, the Assembly
Higher Education Committee and the Senate Education Committee
held a joint oversight hearing into the policies, procedures,
and responses of campus police to recent student protests,
including UC Davis police officers' use of pepper spray on
nonviolent student protesters on November 18, 2011. Numerous
investigations are underway that can inform campuses' responses
to future student protests. One theme that emerged from the
hearing was the lack of communication between members of the
university police departments, the university administrators
that oversee those departments, and the students and
demonstrators protesting on campus.
Need for this bill . According to the author, this bill "? opens
the lines of communication between university campuses and
student protestors by mandating the appointment of an individual
who would serve as a liaison between campus police departments
and students who are exercising their first amendment rights."
CSU and UC policies . CSU has systemwide policies and guidelines
AB 1955
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related to campus demonstrations, including activation requests,
operational plans, reporting requirements, arrest procedures,
and "use of force" guidelines. UC does not appear to have
detailed system-wide policies; however, as mentioned previously,
UC is conducting a review of campus police policies that is
expected to result in best practices recommendations for
policing protests. Further, the Chairs of the December 14,
2011, hearing requested UC develop a systemwide policy that
offers a clear and consistent definition of the "use of force,"
that clarifies the command when "use of force" is authorized,
and that clearly outlines the responsibility and accountability
of both the campus administration and the campus police.
Current practices . CSU campuses do not appear to have liaisons
as envisioned in this bill. At UC campuses, only San Diego
appears to require a liaison who is responsible for coordinating
with its Office of Student Affairs to ensure health and safety.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
National Association of Social Workers
Opposition
>
Analysis Prepared by : Sandra Fried / HIGHER ED. / (916)
319-3960