OVERVIEW BILLS OF INTEREST. August 31, 2015

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1 August 31, 2015 OVERVIEW The Legislature is nearing the end f its 2015 calendar with the Interim Study Recess beginning upn adjurnment n September 11, 2015; the Legislature will then recnvene n January 4, The mst recent deadline was fr bills t pass ut f the fiscal (Apprpriatins) cmmittees by August 28, The final Apprpriatins Cmmittee hearing fr 2015 was held n August 27, ne day befre the deadline. A number f ur bills f interest passed with amendments in the Apprpriatins Cmmittees. The chairs f the cmmittees made brief statements describing the amendments; hwever, specific language fr the prpsed amendments may nt be available fr a few days fllwing the cmmittee s actins. Bills making it ut f the Apprpriatins Cmmittees have just a few mre steps befre being sent t the Gvernr. After actin taken n the huse flr, a bill may be sent thrugh the enrlling and engrssing prcess, the final, administrative step that the Legislature takes befre sending a bill t the Gvernr. All bills must be passed by the Legislature by September 11, 2015, in rder t be sent t the Gvernr during the regular sessin. The Gvernr will have until Octber 11, 2015, t sign r vet all bills in his pssessin. If the Gvernr des nt act n a measure, it autmatically becmes law. Fr details and cpies f any bill, please cntact the Gvernmental Relatins Divisin f the Chancellr s Office r visit the Legislative Cunsel s website at: r its new website at: The new website allws yu t cmpare prir versins f the measure, review prpsed changes in the law as amended, etc. BILLS OF INTEREST ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AB 288 (Hlden) Public Schls: Cllege and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) Partnerships. AB 288 (Hlden) encurages a mdest expansin f vluntary dual enrllment partnerships by reducing fiscal penalties and plicy barriers that currently limit such cllabratins. The bill authrizes a cmmunity cllege district and K-12 schl district t enter int a frmal CCAP partnership with the gal f develping seamless pathways frm high schl t cmmunity cllege fr career technical educatin r preparatin fr transfer, helping high schl students achieve cllege and career readiness, and imprving high schl graduatin rates. AB 288 (Hlden) passed in the Senate Apprpriatins Cmmittee with amendments t prevent versubscribed curses frm being ffered thrugh the partnership. Psitin: Spnsr/Supprt Status: AB 288 (Hlden) passed in the Assembly and the Senate Cmmittees and is headed t the Senate Flr. AB 542 (Wilk) Cmmunity Clleges: Early and Middle Cllege High Schls. AB 542 (Wilk) exempts Early Cllege High Schl (ECHS) and Middle Cllege High Schl (MCHS) students frm the lwest pririty enrllment cnsideratin. The bill allws a cmmunity cllege t claim state apprtinments fr MCHS and ECHS students enrlled in physical educatin curses beynd the 5 percent statutry cap and exempts these students frm the 10 percent cap regarding enrllment in cmmunity cllege summer curses. Status: AB 542 (Wilk) passed in the Assembly and the Senate Educatin Cmmittee but was held in the Senate Apprpriatins Cmmittee. 1 P a g e

2 AB 770 (Irwin) Cmmunity Clleges: Basic Skills and Innvatin Strategies. The Budget Act included language frm earlier versins f AB 770 (Irwin) t create the Cmmunity Clleges Basic Skills Innvatin Prgram. Fllwing enactment f the State Budget, AB 770 (Irwin) was amended t add clarificatins t this new prgram regarding applicatin criteria, administratin, and technical assistance. Status: AB 770 (Irwin) passed in the Assembly and the Senate Educatin Cmmittee but was held in the Senate Apprpriatins Cmmittee. SB 172 (Liu) Pupil Testing: High Schl Exit Examinatin: Suspensin. SB 172 (Liu) suspends the requirement t pass the Califrnia High Schl Exit Exam (CAHSEE) as a cnditin f receiving a high schl diplma thrugh the schl year. This actin was necessary because the CAHSEE exam is nt aligned with the new Cmmn Cre State Standards. The CAHSEE cntract was suspended as f July 1, 2015, which left apprximately 5,000 high schl graduates fr the 2015 schl year with n pprtunity t take the test. This utcme resulted in questins abut the impact f SB 172 (Liu) n admissin t cmmunity clleges, access t the BOG Fee Waiver, and access t the Cal Grant and Pell prgrams. The Chancellr s Office recently distributed guidance t cmmunity cllege persnnel regarding these issues. A related bill, SB 725 by Senatr Hancck, ffers a slutin fr the 5,000 students wh graduated in 2015 and are affected by the suspensin f CAHSEE exam. SB 725 (Hancck) remves the requirement that students pass the CAHSEE exam if they have met all ther high schl graduatin requirements. SB 725 (Hancck) cntains an urgency clause which allws the bill s prvisins t take effect immediately with the gvernr s signature. SB 172 (Liu) passed in the Senate Apprpriatins Cmmittee with amendments t authrize lcal educatin authrities t award degrees withut the exam requirement, and t add a sunset date. Status: SB 172 (Liu) passed in the Senate and Assembly Cmmittees and is headed t the Assembly Flr. SB 725 (Hancck) Pupil Testing: High Schl Exit Examinatin: Exemptin. SB 725 (Hancck) applies t the 2015 high schl graduating class and remves the requirement that senirs pass the Califrnia High Schl Exit Examinatin as a cnditin f graduatin frm high schl if they have met all ther requirements fr high schl graduatin. The bill cntains an urgency clause allwing the prvisins f this bill t take effect immediately. Status: SB 725 (Hancck) was signed int law by the Gvernr. SB 786 (Allen) Adult Educatin: Reginal Cnsrtia. SB 786 (Allen) prvides that specified jint pwers authrities which prvide adult career technical educatin be eligible fr Maintenance f Effrt funding thrugh adult educatin. Status: SB 786 (Allen) was held in the Assembly Apprpriatins Cmmittee. CAMPUS CLIMATE/CAMPUS SAFETY AB 340 (Weber) Pstsecndary Educatin: Campus Climate Reprt. AB 340 (Weber) declares the intent f the Legislature t enact legislatin requiring gverning bdies f the higher educatin systems t submit a reprt nce every tw years t the legislature n campus climate. The Chancellr's Office reprt is cntingent n infrmatin received frm clleges. Psitin: Supprt Status: AB 340 (Weber) passed in the Assembly and the Senate Cmmittees and is headed t the Senate Flr. AB 636 (Medina) Student Safety. AB 636 authrizes pstsecndary educatin institutins t disclse the identity f a student r emplyee wh is accused f a vilent crime, sexual assault, r hate crime t lcal law enfrcement if the institutin determines that the alleged assailant represents a serius and nging threat t the safety f persns r the institutin and if the 2 P a g e

3 immediate assistance f plice is necessary t cntact r detain the assailant. AB 1433 (Gatt), signed int law last year, requires clleges t reprt serius crimes t lcal law enfrcement if the crimes ccur n campus r invlve students r emplyees. While AB 1433 (Gatt) included language prhibiting the disclsure f the accused assailant s identity t lcal law enfrcement if the victim declined t be identified, AB 636 (Medina) allws clleges t identify the accused (nt the victim) if the cllege determines that the accused assailant pses a serius and nging threat t campus safety. Status: AB 636 (Medina) passed in the Assembly and the Senate Educatin and Public Safety Cmmittees and is n the Senate Flr. AB 767 (Santiag) Cmmunity Clleges: Emergency Preparedness Standards. AB 767 (Santiag) requires the Chancellr's Office t update emergency preparedness standards by January 1, 2017 and every 5 years thereafter and t cnsider including an active shter respnse plan. Status: AB 767 (Santiag) was signed int law by the Gvernr. AB 913 (Santiag) Student Safety. AB 913 (Santiag) expands written agreements between each cllege and lcal law enfrcement agency that clarify peratinal respnsibilities fr investigatins t include sexual assault and hate crimes. It als requires that these agreements be reviewed by July 1, 2016 and every five years thereafter. SB 913 (Santiag) passed in the Senate Apprpriatins Cmmittee with amendments t allw clleges t add infrmatin when agreements are updated. Status: AB 913 (Santiag) passed in the Assembly and the Senate Cmmittees and is headed t the Senate Flr. AB 967 (Williams) Sexual Assault Case Prcedures. AB 967 (Williams) requires the gverning bard f each cmmunity cllege district t adpt and carry ut a unifrm prcess fr disciplinary prceedings relating t any claims f sexual assault. This unifrm prcess wuld be required t include a tw-year minimum suspensin fr specified vilatins. Recent amendments added an implementatin date f April 1, 2017 and a sunset date f December 31, The bill wuld additinally require the gverning bard f each cmmunity cllege district t reprt data relating t cases f alleged sexual assault, including: The number f sexual assault, dmestic vilence, dating vilence, and stalking cmplaints received by the institutin. The number f cmplaints investigated by the institutin and the number that were nt investigated. The number f investigatins in which the respndents were fund respnsible at the disciplinary prceedings f the institutin and the number f investigatins in which the respndents were nt fund respnsible. The number f disciplinary sanctins impsed n respndents wh were fund respnsible disaggregated by fllwing categries: expulsin, suspensin f at least tw years, suspensin f fewer than tw years, prbatin. Psitin: Neutral Status: AB 967 (Williams) passed in the Assembly and the Senate Cmmittees and is headed t the Senate Flr. AB 968 (Williams) Transcripts: Expulsin Nte. AB 968 (Williams) requires the gverning bard f each cmmunity cllege district t indicate n a student s transcript when the student is ineligible t reenrll due t suspensin r expulsin fr the perid f time the student is ineligible t reenrll. Status: AB 968 (Williams) passed in the Assembly and the Senate Cmmittees and is headed t the Senate Flr. 3 P a g e

4 AB 969 (Williams) Cmmunity Cllege: Remval, Suspensin, Expulsin. AB 969 (Williams) authrizes a district t deny r permit cnditinal access t a student fund respnsible fr sexual assault, dmestic vilence, dating vilence, r stalking. The bill wuld als allw a district t require a student seeking admissin t disclse any past expulsins fr sexual assault, dmestic vilence, dating vilence r stalking; failure t d s may be cnsidered by the cmmunity cllege district in determining whether t grant admissin. Psitin: Supprt Status: AB 969 (Williams) passed in the Assembly and the Senate and is back in the Assembly fr a vte f cncurrence with amendments taken in the Senate. SB 186 (Jacksn) Cmmunity Cllege Districts: Remval, Suspensin, r Expulsin. SB 186 (Jacksn) clarifies that state law des nt prhibit districts frm taking disciplinary actin against students fr ff campus behavir if the district is ding s t cmply with federal law, such as the Clery Act, Title IX, Vilence Against Wmen Act, etc. SB 186 (Jacksn) als adds sexual assault t the list f gd cause reasn t remve, suspend, r expel a student and defines sexual assault fr thse purpses. The definitins used in this bill are thse prvided by the White Huse s Task Frce n Campus Sexual Assault. Psitin: Supprt Status: SB 186 (Jacksn) passed in the Senate and the Assembly and is in the enrllment prcess t be sent t the Gvernr. FACULTY AB 626 (Lw) Cmmunity Cllege: Emplyees. AB 626 (Lw) requires the Califrnia Cmmunity Clleges Chancellr s Office t cnvene a grup f stakehlders n r befre July 1, 2016, and every fur years thereafter, t develp recmmendatins n funding strategies t enable the cmmunity clleges t achieve the 75 percent standard and increase district participatin in the supprt f part-time faculty. The bill requires the Chancellr's Office t reprt these recmmendatins t the Legislature. Status: AB 626 (Lw) passed the Assembly and was sent t the Senate Educatin Cmmittee but was nt heard in time t meet legislative deadlines. AB 1010 (Medina) Cmmunity Clleges: Part-Time, Temprary Emplyees. AB 1010 (Medina) specifies minimum standards fr the treatment f part-time, temprary faculty t be met by cmmunity cllege cllective bargaining agreements. The bill urges cmmunity cllege districts withut a cllective bargaining agreement in effect as f January 1, 2016 t negtiate with the exclusive representatives fr part-time, temprary faculty regarding the terms and cnditins required by the bill. Status: AB 1010 (Medina) passed in the Assembly and the Senate Educatin Cmmittee but was held in the Senate Apprpriatins Cmmittee. FINANCE AND FUNDING SB 605 (Gaines) Cmmunity Clleges: Nnresident Tuitin Exemptin fr Nevada Students. SB 605 (Gaines) exempts up t 200 students in any academic year frm paying nnresident tuitin fees if they attend the Lake Tahe Cmmunity Cllege (LTCC) and reside in certain cmmunities in Nevada and permits the LTCC t cunt these persns as resident full-time equivalent students (FTES) fr purpses f determining apprtinment funding. This bill makes these prvisins cntingent upn the Bard f Gvernrs f the Califrnia Cmmunity Clleges entering int an interstate attendance agreement with the Nevada System f Higher Educatin prviding reciprcal rights t Califrnia residents attending Western Nevada Cllege. Status: SB 605 (Gaines) passed in the Senate and the Assembly Cmmittees and is n the Assembly Flr. 4 P a g e

5 GOVERNANCE AB 404 (Chiu) Cmmunity Clleges: Accreditatin. AB 404 (Chiu) requires the Califrnia Cmmunity Cllege Chancellr s Office t survey all 113 cmmunity clleges, regarding the evaluatin f the current reginal cmmunity cllege accrediting agency. The survey will be used by the Chancellr s Office t develp a reprt that reflects a systemwide evaluatin f the reginal accrediting agency based n the criteria used t determine an accreditr s status. The reprt will be sent t the U.S. Department f Educatin and the Natinal Advisry Cmmittee n Institutinal Quality and Integrity. Status: AB 404 (Chiu) passed in the Assembly and the Senate Cmmittees and is headed t the Senate Flr. AB 986 (Gipsn) Cmmunity Clleges: Cmptn Cmmunity Cllege District. AB 986 (Gipsn) requires the Chancellr t reprt t the Legislature cncerning the pririties identified in each Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team reprt and t prvide a respnse n hw the Chancellr intends t reslve the issues identified in the reprt in a timely manner. Status: AB 986 (Gipsn) passed in the Assembly and was sent t the Senate but was nt heard in a plicy cmmittee in time t meet legislative deadlines. AB 1385 (Ting) Cmmunity Cllege: Accreditatin. AB 1385 (Ting) prhibits the accrediting agency frm impsing a special assessment n cmmunity clleges t pay fr the accrediting agency's legal fees fr any lawsuit unless there has been an affirmative vte f the majrity f the chief executive fficers, r their designees, f all f the cmmunity clleges. The bill wuld excuse cmpliance with this prhibitin if the Chancellr f the Califrnia Cmmunity Clleges determines that the accrediting agency's cmpliance wuld vilate federal law. Status: AB 1385 (Ting) passed in the Assembly and the Senate Educatin Cmmittee and is n the Senate Flr. AB 1397 (Ting) Cmmunity Cllege: Accreditatin. AB 1397 (Ting) enacts the Califrnia Cmmunity Clleges Fair Accreditatin Act f It requires that at least 50 percent f each visiting accreditatin team frm the accrediting agency fr the Califrnia Cmmunity Clleges be cmpsed f academic persnnel as defined in the bill. The bill prhibits persns with a cnflict f interest frm serving n a visiting accreditatin team. The bill requires the accrediting agency t cnduct the meetings f its decisin-making bdy t ensure the ability f members f the public t attend thse meetings. AB 1397 (Ting) als requires the accrediting agency t preserve all dcuments generated during an accreditatin-related review. AB 1397 (Ting) requires the agency's accreditatin-related decisins t be based n written, published standards in accrdance with state and federal statutes and regulatins. Status: AB 1397 (Ting) passed the Assembly and the Senate Cmmittees and is n the Senate Flr. SB 42 (Liu) Cmmissin n Higher Educatin Perfrmance. Althugh Gvernr Brwn deleted funding fr the Califrnia Pstsecndary Educatin Cmmissin (CPEC) years ag, statutes referring t CPEC remain. SB 42 (Liu) revises these statutes and creates the Califrnia Office f Higher Educatin Perfrmance and Accuntability. The executive directr f the prpsed ffice wuld be appinted by the Gvernr and subject t cnfirmatin by the Senate. A six-member advisry bard wuld be established with three members each appinted by the Assembly Speaker and Senate Rules Cmmittee. SB 42 (Liu) excludes representatives frm pstsecndary institutins frm serving n the advisry bard. SB 42 (Liu) passed ut f the Assembly Apprpriatins Cmmittee with amendments that stipulate the advisry bard members will nt be paid; that the Assembly Higher Educatin Chair and Senate Educatin Cmmittee Chair be appinted t the advisry bard; that require an annual reprt t the gvernr n higher educatin; that require an annual perfrmance review f the executive directr; and that require the ffice t review crss segmental initiatives fr future study. 5 P a g e

6 Psitin: Cncern Status: SB 42 (Liu) passed in the Senate and Assembly Cmmittees and is headed t the Assembly Flr. SCA 1 (Lara) University f Califrnia: Legislative Cntrl. SCA 1 prpses an amendment t the State Cnstitutin t repeal the cnstitutinal prvisins relating t the University f Califrnia and the regents. This measure subjects the university and the regents t legislative cntrl as may be prvided by statute. SCA 1 prhibits the Legislature frm enacting any law that restrains academic freedm r impses educatinal r curricular requirements n students. A Senate Cnstitutinal Amendment, r SCA, is a measure that places an initiative n the statewide ballt t change the Califrnia Cnstitutin and it is nt subject t the same legislative deadlines as Assembly r Senate Bills. Status: SCA 1 has been referred t bth the Senate Educatin and Electins and Cnstitutinal Amendments Cmmittees. MISCELLANEOUS AB 176 (Bnta) Data Cllectin. AB 176 (Bnta) requires the segments f higher educatin t pst specified data n Asian and Pacific Islander (API) subgrups by July 2016 and t expand the number f subgrups after the 2020 Census. The bill als impses specified data cllectin requirements n the Department f Managed Health Care. AB 176 (Bnta) passed ut f the Senate Apprpriatins Cmmittee with amendments t remve the Department f Healthcare Services. Psitin: Supprt Status: AB 176 (Bnta) passed in the Assembly and the Senate Cmmittees and is headed t the Senate Flr. AB 653 (Levine): Intersegmental Crdinatin: Infrmatin Technlgy. AB 653 (Levine) makes cntracting practices amng the segments f higher educatin mre efficient by imprving the ability f cmmunity cllege districts t share cntracts with University f Califrnia (UC) and Califrnia State University (CSU). Specifically, AB 653 (Levine) adds clarifying language t statute which specifies that districts can share, r piggyback, nt cntracts with UC and CSU fr the purchase f gds and services. This will prvide fr mre efficient cntracting practices and ptential cst savings t all three segments. Psitin: Supprt Status: AB 653 (Levine) passed in the Assembly and Senate Cmmittees and is n the Senate Flr. AB 798 (Bnilla): Cllege Textbk Affrdability Act. AB 798 (Bnilla) seeks t lwer textbk expenses fr students by creating incentives fr campuses t use Open Educatinal Resurces (OER). AB 798 (Bnilla) prvides that the Califrnia OER Cuncil may utilize its funding as designated in SB 1052 f 2012 t prvide grants in the amunt f $10,000 t cmmunity cllege and CSU campuses which, with their lcal academic senates, develp and submit plans t increase the use f OER. Campuses that receive grant awards wuld als be eligible fr bnus grants f $10,000 fr up t 3 subsequent years if they reach specified benchmarks. The prgram wuld be administered by the Califrnia OER Cuncil, cmpsed f representatives f academic senates frm all three segments. AB 798 (Bnilla) passed ut f the Senate Apprpriatins Cmmittee with amendments t eliminate nging cst pressure and make clarifying changes. Psitin: Supprt Status: AB 798 (Bnilla) passed in the Assembly and the Senate Cmmittees and is headed t the Senate Flr. 6 P a g e

7 AB 963 (Bnilla) Teachers' Retirement Law. AB 963 (Bnilla) revises the definitin f creditable service fr purpses f the Defined Benefit Prgram and the Cash Balance Benefit Prgram. Status: AB 963 (Bnilla) passed the Assembly and the Senate Public Emplyment and Retirement Cmmittee and is n the Senate Flr. STUDENT SERVICES AB 801 (Blm) Success fr Hmeless Yuth in Higher Educatin Act. AB 801 (Blm) establishes pririty enrllment fr hmeless students and makes them eligible fr a Bard f Gvernrs fee waiver. A hmeless student must be verified as being withut a residence in the last six years. The bill als establishes a liaisn fr hmeless students that can be a current emplyee, rather than requiring clleges t hire a new staff persn. AB 801 (Blm) passed in the Senate Apprpriatins Cmmittee with amendments t remve nging cst pressure. Status: AB 801 (Blm) passed in the Assembly and the Senate Cmmittees and is headed t the Senate Flr. AB 1016 (Santiag) Public Pstsecndary Educatin: Student Transfer Achievement Refrm Act. AB 1016 (Santiag) wuld require the Chancellr s Office t reprt t the Legislature n the status f each cmmunity cllege s cmpliance with statutry requirements related t creating Assciate Degrees fr Transfer. Psitin: Supprt Status: AB 1016 (Santiag) passed the Assembly and the Senate and has been enrlled t the Gvernr. AB 1366 (Lpez) Public Pstsecndary Educatin: Dream Resurce Centers. AB 1366 (Lpez) authrizes the gverning bards f cmmunity cllege districts t designate a Dream Resurce Liaisn n each campus t assist AB 540 students with infrmatin abut financial aid and academic pprtunities. AB 1366 (Lpez) passed in the Senate Apprpriatins Cmmittee with amendments t remve the mandate. Status: AB 1366 (Lpez) passed the Assembly and the Senate Educatin Cmmittees and is headed t the Senate Flr. TUITION, FEES, FINANCIAL AID AB 25 (Gipsn) Financial Aid: Cal Grant Prgram: Renewal. AB 25 (Gipsn) requires the Student Aid Cmmissin t establish an appeal prcess fr an therwise qualified institutin that fails t satisfy the 3-year chrt default rate and graduatin rate requirements under the Cal Grant prgram. Status: AB 25 (Gipsn) passed in the Assembly and in the Senate Cmmittees and was sent t the Senate Flr. AB 82 (Garcia) US Selective Service: Financial Aid Ineligibility. Similar t last year s AB 2201 (Chávez), AB 82 (Garcia) establishes a prgram thrugh the Department f Mtr Vehicles t register males between 18 and 26 years ld fr Selective Service when they submit an applicatin fr an riginal r a renewal f a driver s license. AB 82 (Garcia) passed ut f the Senate Apprpriatins Cmmittee with amendments t allw the registrant t pt-in. Psitin: Supprt Status: AB 82 (Garcia) passed in the Assembly and the Senate Cmmittees and is headed t the Senate Flr. AB 449 (Irwin) Incme Taxatin: Savings Plans: Qualified ABLE Prgram. AB 449 (Irwin) mdifies state tax law t cnfrm t the federal Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act f ABLE prgrams help students with disabilities and their families save mney t pay fr cllege csts. In cntrast t the existing state prgram fr cllege savings accunts, called 7 P a g e

8 "Schlarshare r 529 accunts, Califrnia s ABLE prgram wuld significantly expand the definitin f a qualified educatin expense fr students with disabilities, thereby, ensuring that ABLE accunt earnings and withdrawals fr qualified expenses are nt included in a student s incme fr state tax purpses. This bill wuld benefit disabled students attending cmmunity clleges and imprve degree, certificate, and transfer cmpletin by reducing educatin csts. Status: AB 449 (Irwin) passed in the Assembly and the Senate Cmmittees and is headed t the Senate Flr. AB 573 (Medina) Student Financial Aid: Crinthian Clleges, Inc. (CCI) Clsures. AB 573 (Medina) prvides financial and ther educatinal assistance t students affected by the April 27, 2015 clsure f CCI campuses in Califrnia, including Heald, Everest, and WyTech campuses. The bill authrizes a CCI student with demnstrated need as determined by a cmmunity cllege t receive a Bard f Gvernrs Fee Waiver thrugh July 1, This benefit applies t CCI students wh were unable t cmplete their educatin prgram due t schl clsures r wh withdrew within 120 days prir t CCI campus clsures. AB 573 (Medina) prvides an additinal $100,000 t the Chancellr s Office t supprt a statewide media campaign t infrm CCI students f educatinal pprtunities at cmmunity clleges. Heald Cllege students wuld have tw years f eligibility restred fr the Cal Grant prgram and the Califrnia Natinal Guard Educatin Award Assistance prgram. AB 573 (Medina) adds new requirements regarding BPPE grant disbursements t legal aid rganizatins that serve CCI students, and specifies the type f legal aid assistance t be prvided. Recent amendments replace the prpsed clsed schl task frce with a dedicated single pint f cntact within the Attrney General s Office fr students harmed by fr-prfit schl clsures and remve CCI distance educatin prgrams frm the bill.. Psitin: Supprt Status: AB 573 (Medina) passed the Assembly and Senate Cmmittees and is headed t the Senate Flr. AB 721 (Medina) Student Financial Aid: Private Student Lans. AB 721(Medina) requires cmmunity clleges t cmply with federal student lan disclsure requirements, including ntifying students if a cllege des nt participate in the federal lan prgram, advising students that they may be eligible fr federal lans at ther cmmunity clleges, and prviding students with infrmatin regarding the Califrnia Student Aid Cmmissin s website and the Federal Student Aid web link n the United States Department f Educatin s website. Psitin: Neutral Status: AB 721 (Medina) passed the Assembly and Senate and has been enrlled t the Gvernr. AB 1091 (E. Garcia) Student Financial Aid: Cal Grant Prgram. AB 1091 (E. Garcia) authrizes the Califrnia Student Aid Cmmissin (CSAC) t require public schls and schl districts t electrnically submit verificatin f high schl graduatin. AB 1091 (E. Garcia) wuld als require CSAC t develp a standardized frm fr electrnic submissin f GPA infrmatin. AB 1091 (E. Garcia) builds upn previus legislatin, AB 2160 (Ting, 2014), that required all public schls and districts t electrnically submit student GPA infrmatin t CSAC. If AB 1091 (E. Garcia) becmes law, the electrnic verificatin f high schl graduatin wuld be added t the same standardized frm used fr GPA infrmatin. Recent research cnfirms that these practices are highly effective and wuld allw many mre students t cmplete their financial aid applicatins in a timely manner. Psitin: Supprt Status: AB 1091 (E. Garcia) passed the Assembly and the Senate Cmmittees and is headed t the Senate Flr. SB 150 (Nguyen) Persnal Incme Tax: Exclusin: Student Lan Debt. SB 150 (Nguyen) wuld amend the state persnal incme tax cde t exclude frm grss incme in the amunt f 8 P a g e

9 student lans that are frgiven fr eligible students wh were enrlled at Crinthian schls n r after January 1, Because SB 150 (Nguyen) is a tax levy it des nt have the same deadlines as ther measures. Psitin: Supprt Status: SB 150 (Nguyen) passed in the Senate Gvernance and Finance Cmmittee and the Senate Apprpriatins Cmmittee and is headed t the Senate Flr. SB 324 (Pavley) Incme Taxatin: Savings Plans: ABLE Prgram. SB 324 (Pavley) mdifies state tax law t cnfrm t federal tax law regarding the Califrnia Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act f SB 324 (Pavley) wuld ensure that ABLE accunt earnings and withdrawals fr qualified expenses are nt included in a student s incme fr state tax purpses. The bill als directs the State Treasurer t administer ABLE accunts n behalf f qualified Califrnians. ABLE accunt withdrawals wuld nt be cunted as incme as lng as funds are used t pay fr qualified expenses and d nt exceed the cst f qualified expenses. Cnsistent with the ABLE Act, SB 324 (Pavley) wuld impse a 10 percent tax n distributins that exceed qualified expenses. This bill wuld benefit disabled students attending cmmunity clleges and imprve degree, certificate, and transfer cmpletin by reducing educatin csts. In cntrast t the existing state prgram fr cllege savings accunts, called "SchlarShare r 529 accunts, the ABLE Act significantly expands the definitin f a qualified educatin expense. Fr example, students wuld be able t claim the fllwing new items as qualified expenses: the full cst f husing and fd; transprtatin; emplyment training and supprt; cmputers, assistive technlgy and persnal supprt services; health preventin and wellness; financial management and administrative services; legal fees; versight and mnitring; and funeral and burial services. Psitin: Supprt Status: SB 324 (Pavley) passed in the Senate and Assembly Cmmittees and is headed t the Senate Flr. VETERANS AB 1361 (Burke) Student Financial Aid Cal Grant Prgram: Veterans. AB 1361 (Burke) eliminates the age limit f 28 years ld fr veterans applying fr the Califrnia Cmmunity Cllege Transfer Cal Grant Entitlement Prgram. It is spnsred by the Califrnia Student Aid Cmmissin. Psitin: Supprt Status: AB 1361 (Burke) passed in the Assembly and the Senate Cmmittees and is headed t the Senate Flr. AB 1401 (Baker) Veterans Student Financial Aid. AB 1401 (Baker) reinstates expired prvisins f state law that requires financial aid infrmatin, including the Bard f Gvernrs (BOG) fee waiver and the Free Applicatin fr Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) t be made available t each member f the Califrnia Natinal Guard, the State Military Reserve, and the Naval Militia wh d nt have a baccalaureate degree. Psitin: Supprt Status: AB 1401 (Baker) passed in the Assembly and the Senate and has been enrlled t the Gvernr. SB 81 (Cmmittee n Budget and Fiscal Review) Pstsecndary Educatin: Budget Trailer Bill. During this legislative sessin, tw bills by Assembly Member Chávez, AB 13 and AB 27, were intrduced t align state law with the federal law knwn as the Veterans Access, Chice, and Accuntability Act f 2014 (VACA). VACA requires the state's public pstsecndary educatinal institutins t exempt qualifying nnresident veterans and cvered individuals frm paying nnresident tuitin and fees. Because the University f Califrnia (UC) has autnmy thrugh the state Cnstitutin and authrity t set its fees, UC was able t address cmpliance 9 P a g e

10 with VACA by amending their Educatinal Plicy thrugh the UC Bard f Regents. The Califrnia Cmmunity Clleges (CCC) and the Califrnia State University (CSU) d nt have the same authrity t set fees. Therefre, while the CCC Bard f Gvernrs supprted prir legislatin t prvide instate tuitin t veterans and cntinued that precedent by supprting AB 13 and AB 27, withut a change in state law VACA wuld have prevented the US Veterans Administratin frm prviding GI Bill educatin benefits t veterans attending CCC and CSU. While AB 13 and AB 27 were ging thrugh the legislative prcess, SB 81 was intrduced as a budget trailer bill. SB 81 included an additin t Educatin Cde t address the issue f aligning state law with VACA t authrize and require districts t charge instate tuitin t individuals cvered by VACA. SB 81 als allws the clleges t cunt students affected by VACA as Califrnia residents fr the purpses f state funding. SB 81 was signed by the Gvernr as part f the budget bill package n June 24, 2015 and was effective immediately upn signature. Hwever, as stated in VACA, SB 81 applies fr terms beginning n r after July 1, Assembly Member Chavez will nw use AB 13 and AB 27 fr ther purpses. Psitin: Supprt Status: SB 81 was signed int law by the Gvernr. ADVOCATES LIST SERVE Gvernment Relatins infrmatin is rutinely distributed using the list serve: ADVOCATES@LISTSERV.CCCNEXT.NET. If yu have nt already subscribed yu are welcme t jin. Please fllw the instructins belw: T subscribe send an frm the address t be subscribed t LISTSERV@LISTSERV.CCCNEXT.NET and put SUBSCRIBE ADVOCATES in the bdy f a BLANK, NON-HTML . NO SUBJECT OR SIGNATURES. T unsubscribe frm the listserv, send frm the subscribed address t: LISTSERV@LISTSERV.CCCNEXT.NET and put UNSUBSCRIBE NETADMIN in the bdy f a BLANK, NON- HTML . NO SUBJECT OR SIGNATURES. 10 P a g e