BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 1369
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Date of Hearing: August 6, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
SB 1369 (Block) - As Amended: August 4, 2014
Policy Committee: Higher
EducationVote:13-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
Yes Reimbursable: Yes
SUMMARY
This bill renames the provision of services to community college
students with disabilities as the Disability Services Program
(DSP) and makes several program modifications. Specifically,
this bill:
1)Changes the purpose of program funds provided to each
district, from offsetting the direct excess cost of "providing
specialized support services and instruction" to "ensuring
that these students receive academic adjustments, auxiliary
aids, and services required under federal and state
non-discrimination laws" including the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA).
2)Requires community college districts to prioritize the use of
funds received under the program to ensure that federal and
state nondiscrimination law requirements are satisfied for
those students with disabilities who are enrolled to e arn
degrees, career technical certificates, transfer preparation,
or career development or advancement.
3)Prohibits a district from using DSP funds to assist students
in courses or educational programs that do not receive state
support.
4)Requires the Chancellor of California Community Colleges (CCC)
to use the lesser of $300,000 or 0.25% of annual DSP funding
to evaluate the program's effectiveness, including whether the
requirements of this bill are being met.
5)Requires each district operating a DSP program to participate
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in a peer-based evaluation during the self-study year of each
accreditation cycle.
6)Authorizes the CCC Board of Governors to allocate up to 2.75%
of DSP funds for program development and program
accountability.
7)States legislative intent that adequate funding shall be
provided to DSP to ensure that each college is able to provide
students with disabilities the services needed to meet the
requirements of federal and state nondiscrimination laws and
to further their participation in the Student Success and
Support Program.
FISCAL EFFECT
Fulfilling legislative intent to adequately fund DSP creates
significant cost pressure to maintain or increase funding for
this program at the expense of other CCC programs and funding,
even in difficult budget years. During the state's economic
downturn, appropriations for DSP declined by 40%, to $69
million. With the state's recovery, DSP funding has rebounded to
$114.2 million for 2014-15.
Ongoing costs of almost $300,000 to the Chancellor's Office for
three staff to visit and evaluate campus DSP programs every five
years (about 19 per year), and ongoing total costs of around
$125,000 to visited campuses. (An existing state mandate and
BOG-adopted regulations requiring an evaluation of each campus's
DSP program at least once every five years. The Chancellor's
Office has not been meeting this mandate due to budget
reductions.)
COMMENTS
1)Background . The Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS)
provide support services and educational accommodations to
students with disabilities so that they can have full and
equal access to the community college experience.
Additionally, many colleges provide specialized instruction as
part of their DSPS program. Examples include: test-proctoring;
assessment for learning disabilities; specialized counseling;
interpreter or captioning services for hearing-impaired or
deaf students; mobility assistance; note-taker, reader, speech
and transcription services; on-campus transportation;
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specialized tutoring; access to adaptive equipment; job
development/placement; and registration assistance.
2)Purpose . This bill updates antiquated terminology and
re-designates the DSPS programs as the DSP. According to the
author, this bill is intended to align statutes regarding the
provision of services to students with disabilities with the
federal ADA. It would also align the DSPS program with the
Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012 by requiring
colleges to give priority to serving students with
disabilities who enroll to earn degrees, career technical
certificates, transfer preparation or career advancement.
Analysis Prepared by : Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081