BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1977
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Date of Hearing: April 9, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
AB 1977 (Hernandez) - As Amended: March 24, 2014
Policy Committee: Higher
EducationVote:10-1
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill appropriates $82.2 million from the General Fund for
the University of California (UC) to allocate, without regard to
fiscal year, to Student Academic Preparation and Educational
Partnerships (SAPEP), including a minimum allocation, in an
unspecified amount, to the Puente program.
FISCAL EFFECT
One-time $82,243,000 General Fund appropriation.
COMMENTS
1)Background . The SAPEP aims to prepare a higher proportion of
California's young people, including those who are first
generation, socioeconomically disadvantaged, and
English-language learners, for postsecondary education,
graduate and professional school opportunities, and/or success
in the workplace. Most high schools served by SAPEP programs
need assistance; of those schools, 65% are among the lowest
performing schools in the state, with Academic Performance
Index (API) rankings of 1-5 on a scale of 1-10. The SAPEP is
comprised of 13 programs: ArtsBridge; Community College
Transfer Programs - TransferPrep; Community College Transfer
Programs - Articulation; Community College Transfer Programs -
ASSIST; Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP); Graduate and
Professional School Programs; K-20 Regional Intersegmental
Alliances; Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement
(MESA); Puente Project; Student-Initiated Programs; UC Scout;
University Community Links (UC Links); and, University
Community Engagement.
AB 1977
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Participants in SAPEP programs have higher rates of enrollment
to each of the state's public college segments. In the
aggregate, SAPEP programs have leveraged the state and
university investment of $24.9 million by raising an
additional $37.2 million in support of K-20 efforts.
Due to the state's fiscal crisis over the last several years,
the SAPEP budget has been reduced. In 2011-12, the SAPEP
portfolio experienced an overall budget reduction of 16%, to
$25 million, and subsequent funding has remained at this
level.
2)Purpose . According to the author, "By increasing funding and
granting priority status to these [SAPEP] students, this bill
will give these students an opportunity to become more
competitive and achieve their goals while giving their talents
back to the state making California more economically
competitive and sound."
3)Appropriate Forum is the Budget . Notwithstanding the merits of
SAPEP, a significant allocation of General Fund monies, as
proposed in this bill, should be considered within the context
of the budget, so it can be weighed against other higher
education priorities and overall state spending in general.
The UC has no position on this measure because this bill lies
outside of the budget priorities established by the UC Regents
in November 2013.
Analysis Prepared by : Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081