BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 1023
Page 1
Date of Hearing: August 6, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
SB 1023 (Liu) - As Amended: June 19, 2014
Policy Committee: Human
ResourcesVote: 7-0
Higher Education 13-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill authorizes the California Community College (CCC)
Chancellor's Office to enter into agreements with up to 10
districts to provide additional funding and services, as
specified, in support of foster youth at the CCC. Specifically,
this bill:
1)States that the program-the Cooperating Agencies Foster Youth
Educational Support Program-must expand the number of foster
youth participating in the CCC's Extended Opportunity Programs
and Services (EOPS) and not displace other students.
2)Requires a district's application to the CCC Board of
Governors (BOG) to participate in the program to estimate the
number of foster youth to be served and requires the board, if
more than 10 districts seek to participate, to give priority
to those with the higher number of eligible students.
3)Stipulates that, to be eligible for participation, a student's
dependency must have been established or continued on or after
the student's 16th birthday and the student must not exceed 25
years of age.
4)Requires the BOG to adopt regulations authorizing students
enrolling in at least nine units to participate in the
program, and to adopt regulations, in consultation with the
Department of Social Services (DSS) program regulations.
5)Requires the BOG to report on the program to the Legislature,
the Governor, and the California Child Welfare Council by
SB 1023
Page 2
March 31, 2018 and every two years thereafter.
6)Stipulates that the program is operative only in fiscal years
when funding is appropriated for this purpose, and that two
percent of funds may be used for program administration and
three percent may be used for program development and
accountability.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)There are approximately 13,000 self-identified foster youth
and former foster youth enrolled in CCC courses statewide. The
number of those who would meet the additional requirements to
be eligible for services is unknown, but it is likely to be
much less than half. The 2014-15 base funding level for EOPS
services is $859 per student, and the support envisioned in
this bill is more extensive. If roughly 1 in 7 districts
participate, as authorized, and serve about 1,000 students at
twice the cost of EOP services, the annual cost would be about
$1.7 million. (GF, Prop. 98)
2)The Chancellor's Office would incur initial General Fund costs
of around $175,000 for two positions and travel costs to
establish program guidelines, receive and review applications,
and provide technical assistance. Ongoing costs should be
somewhat less.
COMMENTS
1)Background . The Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012
is intended to increase overall CCC student access and success
by providing effective core matriculation services, including
orientation, assessment and placement, counseling and other
education planning services and academic interventions. EOPS
is a supplemental CCC program to increase the enrollment of
students who are affected by language, social and economic
disadvantages, to improve the delivery of programs and
services to the disadvantaged, and to increase the number of
students who successfully complete their chosen educational
objectives.
The Chafee Education Training Voucher program (ETV), provides
up to $5,000 annually to current and former foster youth to
assist in covering educationally related costs. The ETV is
administered by the California Student Aid Commission under a
SB 1023
Page 3
memorandum of understanding with DSS. The program is funding
by state and federal dollars and totaled about $11 million in
2013-14, and served approximately 3,350 current and former
foster youth out of 17,761 eligible applications at all
educational segments in the state.
2)Purpose . According to the author, "SB 1023 is needed to
provide an additional layer of support that meets the unique
needs of foster youth to enable those students to meet the
requirements of the Student Success Act. SB 1023 creates
under the umbrella of EOPS an additional component that is
similar in concept to existing Cooperative Agencies Resources
for Education (CARE) program for single parents receiving
public assistance. In addition to establishing support
services that are specific to current and former foster youth,
SB 1023 authorizes these students to participate with a
minimum of 9 units rather than the full load of 12 units, at
the discretion of the EOPS director. This is consistent with
existing options related to students participating in Disabled
Student Programs and Services, and does not affect a student's
eligibility for financial aid."
Analysis Prepared by : Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081