California Assembly Bill AB2822 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 2822AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 17, 2016 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Chiu FEBRUARY 19, 2016 An act to amend Section  69506   78212  of the Education Code, relating to student financial aid. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2822, as amended, Chiu. Student financial  aid.   aid: Student Success and Support Program: emergency student financial assistance.   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, known as the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012, defines "matriculation" as a process that brings a college and a student who enrolls for credit into an agreement for the purpose of realizing the student's educational objectives. The act specifies the matriculation services that community colleges are required to provide.   This bill would authorize the use of Student Success and Support Program funds for the provision of emergency student financial assistance, as defined, to eligible students, as defined, if emergency student financial assistance is included in an institution' s plan for interventions to students.   Existing law establishes various state-funded student financial aid programs, including, among others, the Ortiz-Pacheco-Poochigian-Vasconcellos Cal Grant Program, administered by the Student Aid Commission. Existing law provides that the methodology set forth in federal law or regulation serves as the formula for determining the expected family contribution of students seeking any state-funded financial assistance and that, for purposes of determining the dependent and independent status of students, the definition set forth in the federal law or regulation serves as the definition for students seeking any state-funded financial assistance.   This bill would make a nonsubstantive change in this provision.  Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no   yes  . State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:  SECTION 1.   Section 78212 of the   Education Code   is amended to read:  78212. (a) (1) For purposes of this article, "matriculation" means a process that brings a college and a student into an agreement for the purpose of achieving the student's educational goals and completing the student's course of study. The agreement involves the responsibilities of both parties to attain those objectives through the college's established programs, policies, and requirements including those established by the board of governors pursuant to Section 78215. (2) The institution's responsibility under the agreement includes the provision of student services to provide a strong foundation and support for their academic success and ability to achieve their educational goals. The program of services funded through the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012, which shall be known and may be cited as the Student Success and Support Program, shall include, but are not necessarily limited to, all of the following: (A) Orientation services designed to provide to students, on a timely basis, information concerning campus procedures, academic expectations, financial assistance, and any other matters the college or district finds appropriate. (B) Assessment before course registration, as defined in Section 78213. (C) Counseling and other education planning services, which shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, all of the following: (i) Counseling and advising. (ii) Assistance to students in the exploration of educational and career interests and aptitudes and identification of educational objectives, including, but not limited to, preparation for transfer, associate degrees, and career technical education certificates and licenses. (iii) The provision of information, guided by sound counseling principles and practices, using a broad array of delivery mechanisms, including technology-based strategies to serve a continuum of student needs and abilities, that will enable students to make informed choices. (iv) Development of an education plan leading to a course of study and guidance on course selection that is informed by, and related to, a student's academic and career goals. (D) Referral to specialized support services as needed and available, including, but not necessarily limited to, federal, state, and local financial assistance; health services; career services; veteran support services; foster youth services; extended opportunity programs and services provided pursuant to Article 8 (commencing with Section 69640) of Chapter 2 of Part 42 of Division 5; campus child care services provided pursuant to  Article 4 (commencing with Section 8225) of Chapter 2 of Part 6 of Division 1 of Title 1;   Article 6 (commencing with Section 66060) of Chapter 2 of Part 40 of Division 5;  programs that teach basic skills education and English as a second language; and disabled student services provided pursuant to Chapter 14 (commencing with Section 67300) of Part 40 of Division 5. (E) Evaluation of each student's progress and referral to appropriate interventions for students who are enrolled in basic skills courses, who have not declared an educational goal as required, or who are on academic probation, as defined by standards adopted by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges and community college districts. (3) The student's responsibilities under the agreement include, but are not necessarily limited to, the identification of an academic and career goal upon application, the declaration of a specific course of study after a specified time period or unit accumulation, as defined by the board of governors, diligence in class attendance and completion of assigned coursework, and the completion of courses and maintenance of academic progress toward an educational goal and course of study identified in the student's education plan. To ensure that students are not unfairly impacted by the requirements of this chapter, the board of governors shall establish a reasonable implementation period that is phased in as resources are available to provide nonexempt students with the core services pursuant to this section. (b) Funding for the Student Success and Support Program shall be targeted to fully implement orientation, assessment, counseling and advising, and other education planning services needed to assist a student in making an informed decision about his or her educational goal and course of study and in the development of an education plan.  (c) (1) Funding for the Student Success and Support Program may be used for provision of emergency student financial assistance to help eligible students to overcome unforeseen financial challenges, including, but not necessarily limited to, the immediate need for shelter or food.   (2) In order for emergency student financial assistance to be an allowable use of Student Success and Support Program funds, emergency student financial assistance shall be included in the institution's plan for interventions to students.   (3) For purposes of this subdivision, the following terms are defined as follows:   (A) "Eligible student" means a student who has experienced an unforeseen financial challenge, who currently meets satisfactory academic progress of the institution he or she attends, and who is at risk of not persisting in his or her course of study due to the unforeseen financial challenge.   (B) "Emergency student financial assistance" means financial support in the form of financial assistance to support a student to help overcome unforeseen financial challenges so that the student can continue his or her course of study.   SECTION 1.   Section 69506 of the Education Code is amended to read: 69506. (a) The methodology set forth in federal law or regulation shall serve as the formula for determining the expected family contribution of students seeking any state-funded financial assistance. (b) For purposes of determining the dependent and independent status of students, the definition set forth in the federal law or regulation shall serve as the definition for students seeking any state-funded financial assistance.