BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  SB 292
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   August 17, 2011

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Felipe Fuentes, Chair

                   SB 292 (Padilla) - As Amended:  August 15, 2011 

          Policy Committee:                              Higher 
          EducationVote:7-1

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program: 
          Yes    Reimbursable:              Yes

           SUMMARY  

          This bill modifies the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act 
          (STAR program), enacted last year, by requiring, rather than 
          encouraging a community college to accept credits earned at 
          other community colleges toward an associate degree for 
          transfer.

           FISCAL EFFECT 

          By requiring, rather than encouraging, colleges to accept 
          credits earned at other colleges, the bill creates a 
          reimbursable state mandate that could cost in the hundreds of 
          thousands to over one million dollars annually. With this bill, 
          colleges may seek state reimbursement for staff time associated 
          with reviewing and determining the compatibility of student 
          courses taken at other community colleges.

          It is estimated 40% of the 50,000 community college students 
          transferring to the California State University (CSU) each year 
          earn credits at more than one campus. For every 10,000 such 
          students seeking a transfer degree under the STAR program, 
          assuming one hour of staff time for review and processing at $60 
          per hour, statewide (Proposition 98) costs would be $600,000.

          To extent this mandate leads to increased acceptance by colleges 
          of credits earned by students at other colleges, students will 
          take less time to qualify for a transfer degree and thus should 
          be able to complete their educational goals in less time.

           COMMENTS  









                                                                  SB 292
                                                                  Page  2

           Background and Purpose  . SB 1440 (Padilla)/Chapter 428 of 2010, 
          enacted the STAR program, which requires a California Community 
          College (CCC) district to grant an associate degree that deems 
          the student eligible for transfer into the California State 
          University (CSU), subject to specified requirements, and 
          requires the CSU to guarantee admission with junior status to 
          CCC students meeting those requirements.  

          Additionally, under SB 1440, CCC districts are encouraged, but 
          not required, to facilitate the acceptance of credits earned at 
          other CCCs toward the degree for transfer. However, at SB 1440 
          implementation task force meetings, this issue has arisen as a 
          point of contention. The author believes it is therefore 
          necessary to add language mandating CCC reciprocity in the 
          acceptance of credits. 
           Analysis Prepared by  :    Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081