California Assembly Bill AB1385 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 1385AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2015 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Ting FEBRUARY 27, 2015  An act relating to community colleges.   An act to add Section 72218 to the Education Code, relating to community colleges.  LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1385, as amended, Ting. Community colleges: accreditation. Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law specifies the duties of the board of governors, including, among other duties, establishing minimum standards for the formation of community colleges and districts. Under existing regulatory authority, the board of governors requires each community college to be accredited.  This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would increase the transparency and fairness of the accreditation process for community colleges.   This bill would require the accrediting agency designated by the board of governors to notify the board of governors before increasing membership fees, special assessments, or other payments charged to a community college or community college district, and state in the notification the reasons for, and the amount of, the increase.  Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:  SECTION 1.   Section 72218 is added to the   Education Code   , to read:   72218. (a) The accrediting agency shall notify the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges before increasing membership fees, special assessments, or other payments charged to a community college or community college district, and state in the notification the reasons for, and the amount of, the increase. (b) This section does not apply to the accrediting agency's activities that are related to private educational institutions in the state or educational institutions outside of the state. (c) This section does not affect the authority of the United States Department of Education regarding educational institutions.   SECTION 1.   It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would increase the transparency and fairness of the accreditation process for California community colleges.