BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2534
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 2534 (Block)
As Amended March 29, 2012
Majority vote
HIGHER EDUCATION 9-0 APPROPRIATIONS 17-0
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|Ayes:|Block, Olsen, Achadjian, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Harkey, |
| |Brownley, Fong, Galgiani, | |Blumenfield, Bradford, |
| |Lara, Miller, Portantino | |Charles Calderon, Campos, |
| | | |Davis, Donnelly, Gatto, |
| | | |Ammiano, Hill, Lara, |
| | | |Mitchell, Nielsen, Norby, |
| | | |Solorio, Wagner |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Extends the sunset date on the California Private
Postsecondary Education Act from January 1, 2015, to January 1,
2016.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, requires funding the Bureau for Private Postsecondary
Education (Bureau) for one additional year. For 2012-13, the
Governor's budget proposes special fund expenditures of $8.3
million, and 57 positions, to operate the Bureau. �Private
Postsecondary Education Administration Fund]
COMMENTS : California has a long and arduous history of
attempted oversight of the private postsecondary education
sector. On January 1, 2007, the former law authorizing the
regulation of the private postsecondary education sector was
allowed to sunset. Between 2007 and 2009, several attempts to
establish a new regulatory structure failed. In 2009, AB 48
(Portantino), Chapter 310, Statutes of 2009, established a new
Bureau within the Department of Consumer Affairs to enforce the
provisions of the new Act, which are scheduled to sunset on
January 1, 2015.
A February 2012 joint hearing of the Assembly Higher Education
Committee and the Senate Business, Professions, and Economic
Development Committee focused on private postsecondary
oversight. According to the author, the results of that hearing
AB 2534
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made clear that the Bureau is both effective and important but
has been hindered by a slower than expected funding stream and
staff hiring. (The Bureau is only expected to become
fully-staffed in the current fiscal year.) This bill extends
the Bureau's sunset by one year so that it may become fully
operational.
Analysis Prepared by : Sandra Fried / HIGHER ED. / (916)
319-3960
FN: 0003900