BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2093
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 10, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES
Jim Beall Jr., Chair
AB 2093 (Skinner) - As Introduced: February 23, 2012
SUBJECT : Foster Youth Higher Education Preparation and Support
Act of 2012
SUMMARY : Establishes the Foster Youth Higher Education
Preparation and Support Act of 2012 (Act). Specifically, this
bill :
1)Declares the intent of the Act to provide comprehensive
support to students who are current or former foster youth on
public college and university campuses.
2)Requires the California State University, and requests the
California Community Colleges and the University of
California, to establish foster youth campus support programs
to provide comprehensive support and outreach to current and
former foster youth to retain them in higher education.
3)Requests these public colleges and universities to designate a
foster youth campus support program coordinator using new or
existing resources.
4)Requires the Department of Social Services (DSS) to annually
notify foster youth 13 years of age or older, and their
caregivers, of the postsecondary educational support provided
them pursuant to the Act.
EXISTING LAW
1)Establishes a public postsecondary education system comprised
of the University of California, administered by the Regents
of the University of California; the California State
University, administered by the Trustees of the California
State University; and the California Community Colleges,
administered by the Board of Governors of the California
Community Colleges.
2)Establishes the Higher Education Outreach and Assistance Act
for Emancipated Foster Youth, providing comprehensive support
and outreach to current and former foster youth in an effort
AB 2093
Page 2
to retain foster youth in higher education. Education Code �
89340 et seq.
3)Establishes a system of child welfare services, including
foster care, for children who have been or are at risk of
being abused or neglected.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : According to the author,
Foster youth face barriers receiving the necessary
academic preparation for college and obtaining the
necessary information to complete college applications
and access to financial aid. Not surprisingly, fewer
than 10% of foster youth who graduate go on to college
and those that do often encounter significant
obstacles that hinder their ability to succeed.
Foster care students who transition from high school
to college campuses have needs that differ from those
of their non-foster peers. Student services personnel
at most post-secondary institutions are unfamiliar
with or unprepared to address the unique needs of this
population. Even programs that target low-income and
first-generation college students are not designed to
aid the specific challenges faced by former foster
youth.
Existing law establishes the Higher Education Outreach and
Assistance Act for Emancipated Foster Youth. The intent of that
act is to conduct outreach services to foster youth to encourage
their enrollment in a state university or a community college,
and to provide technical assistance to foster youth to assist
those prospective students in completing admission applications
and financial aid applications. It does not, however, address
the need to provide foster youth with support services once they
are admitted to a public college or university.
The author notes that only 5% of foster youth who go on to
college will attain a degree compared to 27% of the general
population. This bill, the author says, "will ensure that
foster youth will have the resources needed to help them succeed
in higher education." In support of this bill, the County
Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA) says that
"�e]mancipated or 'aged out' foster youth are without the
AB 2093
Page 3
traditional family supports that provide the crucial safety net
for young adults." CWDA further notes that:
Foster care students who transition from high school
to college campuses have needs that differ from those
of their peers who were not in foster care. Student
services personnel at most post-secondary institutions
are unfamiliar with and/or unprepared to address the
unique needs of this population. Even programs that
target low-income and first-generation college
students are not designed to aid the specific
challenges faced by former foster youth.
Existing foster youth campus support programs
Information provided by the author indicates that all University
of California (UC) campuses, 22 of 23 California State
University (CSU) campuses, and 53 of 112 community colleges have
foster youth programs. Thus, the primary need to establish such
programs is at the community colleges. The author acknowledges
the prevalence of on-campus foster youth support systems at all
UCs and all but one CSU but notes that where such programs exist
there is great variation on the types of services offered. The
author reportedly intends to amend this bill to give greater
specificity to the services that should be offered by these
programs, which will give more uniformity to the types of
services and supports offered throughout the state.
IT IS RECOMMENDED that, should this bill be passed by this
Committee, the author commit to amending this bill prior to its
hearing by the Higher Education Committee.
Prior legislation :
AB 194 (Beall), Chapter 458, Statutes of 2011 - Gives current
and former foster youth priority enrollment in classes and
public colleges and universities.
AB 1393 (Skinner), Chapter 391, Statutes of 2009 - Gives
priority in public university campus housing to current and
former foster youth.
AB 1578 (Leno 2007) - Would have established a grant program to
support foster youth who attend a California public college or
university, made foster youth eligible for certain financial
aid, and given foster youth priority in student housing at
AB 2093
Page 4
public institutions of higher education. AB 1578 was held in
the Senate Appropriations Committee.
AB 2489 (Leno 2006) - Would have made foster youth eligible for
certain financial aid and given them priority for housing at the
California State University and the University of California.
AB 2489 was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
DOUBLE REFERRAL . This bill has been double-referred. Should
this bill pass out of this committee, it will be referred to the
Assembly Committee on Higher Education.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
California Alliance of Child and Family Services
California Catholic Conference, Inc.
County Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA)
Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Eric Gelber / HUM. S. / (916) 319-2089