OVERVIEW BILLS OF INTEREST. October 30, 2015

Transcription

1 Octber 30, 2015 OVERVIEW Gvernr Brwn finished signing and veting enrlled bills by the Octber 11, 2015, deadline. The vast majrity f measures signed by the Gvernr will becme law n January 1, The exceptins, which became law upn the Gvernr s signature, include measures with an urgency clause, which require a tw-thirds vte t pass, the budget bill, and the trailer bills that supprt the budget. Of the fifteen bills n which we had a psitin f supprt, the Gvernr signed eleven and veted fur. The bills signed int law included ur spnsred bill n cncurrent enrllment, Assembly Bill 288 by Assembly Member Chris Hlden. One f the fur supprted measures veted by Gvernr Brwn was Assembly Bill 82 by Assembly Member Cristina Garcia. AB 82 (Garcia) wuld have set up a system t register fr selective service thrugh the Department f Mtr Vehicles, but was amended by the Senate Apprpriatins Cmmittee in a way that prmpted the spnsr t request that the bill nt be signed int law. The Gvernr als veted tw measures we supprted that wuld have expanded participatin in Cal Grants, explaining in his vet messages that he did nt want t increase General Fund csts utside f the budget prcess. One f these measures, Assembly Bill 573 (Medina), wuld have prvided relief t students wh were affected by the Crinthian Clleges clsure, and the ther, Assembly Bill 1361 (Burke), wuld have eliminated the age cap f 28 years ld fr veterans fr the Cmmunity Cllege Cal Grant Transfer Entitlement grant. The Legislature adjurned n September 11, 2015, and will recnvene n January 4, Fr details and cpies f any bill, please cntact the External 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 an 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) was signed int law by the Gvernr. 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 117

2 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) was held in the Senate Apprpriatins Cmmittee. 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) 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 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. 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) was signed int law by the Gvernr. 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 (MOE) 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. Status: AB 340 (Weber) was veted by the Gvernr. Included in the Gvernr s vet message: While I understand the desire t create a mre vibrant, intellectually serius and inclusive campus envirnment at UC, CSU and the cmmunity clleges, each f their gverning bards has already taken steps aimed at achieving these imprtant gals. 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 immediate assistance f plice is necessary t cntact r detain the assailant. AB 1433 (Gatt), 118

3 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) was signed int law by the Gvernr. 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 clleges and lcal law enfrcement agencies t clarify peratinal respnsibilities fr investigatins t include sexual assault and hate crimes. Status: AB 913 (Santiag) was signed int law by the Gvernr. AB 967 (Williams) Student Safety. 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. Psitin: Neutral Status: AB 967 (Williams) was veted by the Gvernr. 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) was veted by the Gvernr. Included in the Gvernr s vet message: I dn't think it is necessary at this pint fr the state t directly insert itself int the disciplinary and gverning prcesses f all private nnprfit and public clleges in Califrnia. 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. Status: AB 969 (Williams) was placed in the Senate s inactive file. 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. Status: SB 186 (Jacksn) was signed int law by the Gvernr. 119

4 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) did nt 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) 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) was signed int law by the Gvernr. 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 system-wide 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) was signed int law by the Gvernr. 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 120

5 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) was placed in the Senate s inactive file. 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) was placed in the Senate s inactive file. 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. Psitin: Cncern Status: SB 42 (Liu) was veted by the Gvernr. Included in the Gvernr s vet message: While there is much wrk t be dne t imprve higher educatin, I am nt cnvinced we need a new ffice and an advisry bard, especially f the kind this bill prpses, t get the jb dne. 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 was referred t 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. 121

6 Psitin: Supprt Status: AB 176 (Bnta) was veted by the Gvernr. Included in the Gvernr s vet message: CSU, cmmunity clleges, and UC already prvide many ways in which t self-identify, including chsing amng several ethnic identities. In the case f CSU, there are 50 chices fr API applicants alne. Cdifying the cllectin and reprting f at least 12 API grups several years int the future appears unnecessary, r at least premature. AB 653 (Levine) Cmmunity Cllege Cntracting Practices. AB 653 (Levine) authrizes cmmunity cllege districts t share cntracts with University f Califrnia (UC) and Califrnia State University (CSU) by adding clarifying language t statute. This will prvide fr mre efficient cntracting practices and has the ptential fr cst savings fr all three segments. Status: AB 653 (Levine) was signed int law by the Gvernr. 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 t cmmunity cllege and CSU campuses which, with their lcal academic senates, develp and submit plans t increase the use f OER. Campuses that reach benchmarks will be eligible fr a bnus grant. The prgram wuld be administered by the Califrnia OER Cuncil, cmpsed f representatives f academic senates frm all three segments. Status: AB 798 (Bnilla) was signed int law by the Gvernr. 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) was signed int law by the Gvernr. 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) was placed in the Senate s inactive file. 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. Status: AB 1016 (Santiag) was signed int law by 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. 122

7 Status: AB 1366 (Lpez) was placed in the Senate s inactive file. 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) was signed int law by the Gvernr. 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. The bill s statutes wuld nly be in effect if the Selective Service System prvided funding fr the prject. AB 82 (Garcia) passed ut f the Senate Apprpriatins Cmmittee with amendments requiring the registrant t pt-in instead f asking t pt-ut. The amendments t AB 82 (Garcia) were significant and prmpted the spnsr t ask the Gvernr t vet the bill if it reached his desk. Status: AB 82 (Garcia) was veted by the Gvernr. AB 449 (Irwin) Incme Taxatin: Savings Plans: Qualified ABLE Prgram. AB 449 (Irwin) partially cnfrms state persnal incme tax law t the federal Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act f ABLE prgrams help students with disabilities and their families save mney by significantly expanding the definitin f qualified educatin expenses, thus ensuring that ABLE accunt earnings and withdrawals fr qualified expenses are nt included in a student s incme fr purpses f state persnal incme tax reprting each year. AB 449 (Irwin) implements the state ABLE Act prgram, and directs the State Treasurer t administer ABLE accunts n behalf f qualified Califrnians. AB 449 (Irwin) cntains prvisins that were remved frm the final versin f SB 324 (Pavely) t prevent cnflicts. The final versins f these tw cmplementary measures prvide Califrnia with a cmprehensive statute that cnfrms t the federal ABLE Act. AB 440 (Irwin) is cntingent upn the enactment f SB 324 (Pavely), meaning bth bills must becme law t be in effect. Status: AB 449 (Irwin) was signed int law by the Gvernr. AB 573 (Medina) Student Financial Aid: Crinthian Clleges, Inc. (CCI) Clsures. 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 restres up t tw years f Cal Grant and Natinal Guard Educatin Assistance awards fr Heald Cllege students wh received awards in the r academic years and withdrew frm their cllege prgrams between July 1, 2014, and April 27, Psitin: Neutral Status: AB 573 (Medina) was veted by the Gvernr. Included in the Gvernr s vet message: While the bill's prvisins t extend Cal Grant eligibility fr Heald students are wellintentined, I am nt cmfrtable creating new General Fund csts utside f the budget prcess, particularly given the Cal Grant augmentatins already included in this year's budget. 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 123

8 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 U.S. Department f Educatin s website. Psitin: Neutral Status: AB 721 (Medina) was signed int law by 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. Status: AB 1091 (E. Garcia) was signed int law by the Gvernr. SB 150 (Nguyen) Persnal Incme Tax: Exclusin: Student Lan Debt. SB 150 (Nguyen) amends the state persnal incme tax cde t exclude frm grss incme in the amunt f student lans that are frgiven fr eligible students wh were enrlled at Crinthian schls n r after January 1, Status: SB 150 (Nguyen) was signed int law by the Gvernr. SB 324 (Pavley) Incme Taxatin: Savings Plans: ABLE Prgram. SB 324 (Pavley) partially cnfrms state persnal incme tax law t the federal Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act f ABLE prgrams help students with disabilities and their families save mney as a result f an expanded definitin f qualified educatin expenses, thus ensuring that ABLE accunt earnings and withdrawals fr qualified expenses are nt included in a student s incme fr purpses f state persnal incme tax reprting each year. This bill creates the ABLE Act Bard, specifies the cmpsitin f Bard membership, and expands the definitin f a qualified educatin expense. The expanded definitin includes: 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. Sme f the prvisins in SB 324 (Pavley) were remved t prevent cnflicts with AB 449 (Irwin). The final versins f these tw cmplementary measures prvide Califrnia with a cmprehensive statute that cnfrms t the federal ABLE Act. SB 324 (Pavley) is cntingent upn the enactment f AB 449 (Irwin), meaning bth bills must becme law t be in effect. Status: SB 324 (Pavley) was signed int law by the Gvernr. 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. Status: AB 1361 (Burke) was veted by the Gvernr. Included in the Gvernr s vet message: 124

9 I am nt cmfrtable creating new General Fund csts utside f the budget prcess, particularly given the Cal Grant augmentatins already included in this year's budget. 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. Status: AB 1401 (Baker) was signed int law by 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 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 may nw use AB 13 and AB 27 fr ther purpses. 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. 125