California Assembly Bill AB1836

California 2019-2020 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/6/20
• Refer: 1/17/20

Caption

Public postsecondary education: California State University: reporting.

Impact

One significant change under AB1836 involves the requirement for the Chancellor's Office to provide annual reports to the Legislature outlining the surplus accumulation for discretionary spending on operations and instruction. This measure is intended to help assess how tuition fees contribute to the university's financial surplus while providing insight into the management of resources within the CSU system. Additionally, campuses will have to justify any proposed new parking facilities through a detailed cost-benefit analysis, which compares construction and operation costs against alternative transportation solutions.

Summary

Assembly Bill 1836, introduced by Assembly Members Quirk-Silva and McCarty, seeks to enhance transparency and accountability in the operations of the California State University (CSU) system concerning transportation and financial reporting. The bill requires the CSU Board of Trustees to detail in their Five-Year Capital Plan the projected costs and usage of parking facilities as well as any alternative transportation strategies considered by each campus. By mandating this reporting, the bill aims to ensure that the financial implications of transportation infrastructure and its usage are clearly understood and evaluated.

Contention

While the bill aims to promote efficient use of resources, it may also sow contention around how transportation policies are managed at the campus level. Opponents might argue that these stringent reporting requirements could impose unnecessary bureaucracy on campuses already struggling with funding challenges. Moreover, discussions may arise regarding the balance between expanding physical infrastructure for parking versus investing in sustainable transportation options that align with broader environmental goals. These debates will likely influence how campuses prioritize their transportation strategies and financial decisions moving forward.