BILL NUMBER: AB 421INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Calderon FEBRUARY 19, 2015 An act to amend Section 87356 of, and to add Section 72620.1 to, the Education Code, relating to community colleges. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 421, as introduced, Calderon. Community colleges: veterans counselor. 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 establishes community college districts throughout the state, and authorizes them to operate campuses and provide instruction to students. Existing law authorizes the governing board of a community college district to provide a counseling program. Existing law requires the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges to adopt regulations to establish and maintain minimum qualifications for the hiring of certain community college faculty and staff members. This bill would require the governing board of a community college district to provide in each college within the district a veterans counselor. The bill would also require the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges to adopt regulations to establish and maintain minimum qualifications for veterans counselors. By requiring community colleges to have a veterans counselor, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 72620.1 is added to the Education Code, to read: 72620.1. The governing board of a community college district shall provide in each college within the district a veterans counselor. SEC. 2. Section 87356 of the Education Code is amended to read: 87356. (a) The board of governors shall adopt regulations to establish and maintain the minimum qualifications for service as a faculty member teaching credit instruction, a faculty member teaching noncredit instruction, a librarian, a counselor, a veterans counselor, an educational administrator, an extended opportunity programs and services worker, a disabled students programs and services worker, an apprenticeship instructor, and a supervisor of health. (b) The Legislature finds and declares that this section does not create a state-mandated local program because compensation of faculty will continue to be determined through the collective bargaining process or meet and confer sessions. SEC. 3. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.