Amended IN Assembly April 21, 2022 Amended IN Assembly March 24, 2022 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1958Introduced by Assembly Member Mike FongFebruary 10, 2022 An act to add Article 8 (commencing with Section 78090) to Chapter 1 of Part 48 of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code, relating to community colleges.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1958, as amended, Mike Fong. The Community College Student Access, Retention, and Debt Cancellation Program.Existing law appropriates $120,000,000 in the 202122 fiscal year to the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, for allocation by the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, to support efforts to increase student retention rates and enrollment by primarily engaging former community college students who may have withdrawn from a community college due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, current community college students who may be hesitant to remain enrolled at a community college due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and prospective community college students who may be hesitant to enroll at a community college due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Existing law authorizes a community college to use those funds to provide a fiscal incentive for students to reenroll, or for prospective students to enroll, at the community college.This bill would, contingent upon an appropriation for its purposes, establish the Community College Student Access, Retention, and Debt Cancellation Program for those same purposes, as provided. The bill would additionally authorize community colleges college districts to use funds allocated pursuant to the program to discharge student debt or unpaid balances owed by a student to a community college. college in the district and would additionally require the governing board of a community college district to prioritize the use of those funds for community colleges in the district with the largest declines in enrollment due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Article 8 (commencing with Section 78090) is added to Chapter 1 of Part 48 of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code, to read: Article 8. The Community College Student Access, Retention, and Debt Cancellation Program78090. (a) The Community College Student Access, Retention, and Debt Cancellation Program is hereby established.(b) Funds appropriated for purposes of the program shall be allocated by the office of the The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall allocate funds on a one-time basis to community colleges college districts to support efforts to increase student retention rates and enrollment by engaging former community college students who may have withdrawn from a community college district due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, current community college students who may be hesitant to remain enrolled at a community college district due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and prospective students who may be hesitant to enroll at a community college district due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.(c) (1) The governing board of a community college district shall prioritize the use of allocated funds received pursuant to subdivision (b) for community colleges in the district with the largest declines in enrollment due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.(2) A community college district may use funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (a) (b) to provide a fiscal incentive for students to reenroll, or for prospective students to enroll, at the community college.(2)(3) A community college district may use funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (a) (b) to discharge student debt or unpaid balances owed by a student to a community college. college in the district.(d) In considering the allocation methodology to community colleges, college districts, the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges chancellor shall consider a factor that allocates allocate additional funds to community colleges college districts that have observed the most significant percentage declines in enrollment due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. declines in unduplicated student headcount since Fall 2019.(e) The office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges chancellor may allocate up to 10 percent of the funds appropriated for purposes of the program to support statewide recruitment and retention efforts.(f) Implementation of the program established pursuant to this section is contingent upon an appropriation in the annual Budget Act or another statute for its purposes. Amended IN Assembly April 21, 2022 Amended IN Assembly March 24, 2022 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1958Introduced by Assembly Member Mike FongFebruary 10, 2022 An act to add Article 8 (commencing with Section 78090) to Chapter 1 of Part 48 of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code, relating to community colleges.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1958, as amended, Mike Fong. The Community College Student Access, Retention, and Debt Cancellation Program.Existing law appropriates $120,000,000 in the 202122 fiscal year to the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, for allocation by the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, to support efforts to increase student retention rates and enrollment by primarily engaging former community college students who may have withdrawn from a community college due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, current community college students who may be hesitant to remain enrolled at a community college due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and prospective community college students who may be hesitant to enroll at a community college due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Existing law authorizes a community college to use those funds to provide a fiscal incentive for students to reenroll, or for prospective students to enroll, at the community college.This bill would, contingent upon an appropriation for its purposes, establish the Community College Student Access, Retention, and Debt Cancellation Program for those same purposes, as provided. The bill would additionally authorize community colleges college districts to use funds allocated pursuant to the program to discharge student debt or unpaid balances owed by a student to a community college. college in the district and would additionally require the governing board of a community college district to prioritize the use of those funds for community colleges in the district with the largest declines in enrollment due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Amended IN Assembly April 21, 2022 Amended IN Assembly March 24, 2022 Amended IN Assembly April 21, 2022 Amended IN Assembly March 24, 2022 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1958 Introduced by Assembly Member Mike FongFebruary 10, 2022 Introduced by Assembly Member Mike Fong February 10, 2022 An act to add Article 8 (commencing with Section 78090) to Chapter 1 of Part 48 of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code, relating to community colleges. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST ## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1958, as amended, Mike Fong. The Community College Student Access, Retention, and Debt Cancellation Program. Existing law appropriates $120,000,000 in the 202122 fiscal year to the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, for allocation by the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, to support efforts to increase student retention rates and enrollment by primarily engaging former community college students who may have withdrawn from a community college due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, current community college students who may be hesitant to remain enrolled at a community college due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and prospective community college students who may be hesitant to enroll at a community college due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Existing law authorizes a community college to use those funds to provide a fiscal incentive for students to reenroll, or for prospective students to enroll, at the community college.This bill would, contingent upon an appropriation for its purposes, establish the Community College Student Access, Retention, and Debt Cancellation Program for those same purposes, as provided. The bill would additionally authorize community colleges college districts to use funds allocated pursuant to the program to discharge student debt or unpaid balances owed by a student to a community college. college in the district and would additionally require the governing board of a community college district to prioritize the use of those funds for community colleges in the district with the largest declines in enrollment due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Existing law appropriates $120,000,000 in the 202122 fiscal year to the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, for allocation by the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, to support efforts to increase student retention rates and enrollment by primarily engaging former community college students who may have withdrawn from a community college due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, current community college students who may be hesitant to remain enrolled at a community college due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and prospective community college students who may be hesitant to enroll at a community college due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Existing law authorizes a community college to use those funds to provide a fiscal incentive for students to reenroll, or for prospective students to enroll, at the community college. This bill would, contingent upon an appropriation for its purposes, establish the Community College Student Access, Retention, and Debt Cancellation Program for those same purposes, as provided. The bill would additionally authorize community colleges college districts to use funds allocated pursuant to the program to discharge student debt or unpaid balances owed by a student to a community college. college in the district and would additionally require the governing board of a community college district to prioritize the use of those funds for community colleges in the district with the largest declines in enrollment due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. ## Digest Key ## Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Article 8 (commencing with Section 78090) is added to Chapter 1 of Part 48 of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code, to read: Article 8. The Community College Student Access, Retention, and Debt Cancellation Program78090. (a) The Community College Student Access, Retention, and Debt Cancellation Program is hereby established.(b) Funds appropriated for purposes of the program shall be allocated by the office of the The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall allocate funds on a one-time basis to community colleges college districts to support efforts to increase student retention rates and enrollment by engaging former community college students who may have withdrawn from a community college district due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, current community college students who may be hesitant to remain enrolled at a community college district due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and prospective students who may be hesitant to enroll at a community college district due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.(c) (1) The governing board of a community college district shall prioritize the use of allocated funds received pursuant to subdivision (b) for community colleges in the district with the largest declines in enrollment due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.(2) A community college district may use funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (a) (b) to provide a fiscal incentive for students to reenroll, or for prospective students to enroll, at the community college.(2)(3) A community college district may use funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (a) (b) to discharge student debt or unpaid balances owed by a student to a community college. college in the district.(d) In considering the allocation methodology to community colleges, college districts, the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges chancellor shall consider a factor that allocates allocate additional funds to community colleges college districts that have observed the most significant percentage declines in enrollment due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. declines in unduplicated student headcount since Fall 2019.(e) The office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges chancellor may allocate up to 10 percent of the funds appropriated for purposes of the program to support statewide recruitment and retention efforts.(f) Implementation of the program established pursuant to this section is contingent upon an appropriation in the annual Budget Act or another statute for its purposes. The people of the State of California do enact as follows: ## The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. Article 8 (commencing with Section 78090) is added to Chapter 1 of Part 48 of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code, to read: Article 8. The Community College Student Access, Retention, and Debt Cancellation Program78090. (a) The Community College Student Access, Retention, and Debt Cancellation Program is hereby established.(b) Funds appropriated for purposes of the program shall be allocated by the office of the The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall allocate funds on a one-time basis to community colleges college districts to support efforts to increase student retention rates and enrollment by engaging former community college students who may have withdrawn from a community college district due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, current community college students who may be hesitant to remain enrolled at a community college district due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and prospective students who may be hesitant to enroll at a community college district due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.(c) (1) The governing board of a community college district shall prioritize the use of allocated funds received pursuant to subdivision (b) for community colleges in the district with the largest declines in enrollment due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.(2) A community college district may use funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (a) (b) to provide a fiscal incentive for students to reenroll, or for prospective students to enroll, at the community college.(2)(3) A community college district may use funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (a) (b) to discharge student debt or unpaid balances owed by a student to a community college. college in the district.(d) In considering the allocation methodology to community colleges, college districts, the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges chancellor shall consider a factor that allocates allocate additional funds to community colleges college districts that have observed the most significant percentage declines in enrollment due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. declines in unduplicated student headcount since Fall 2019.(e) The office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges chancellor may allocate up to 10 percent of the funds appropriated for purposes of the program to support statewide recruitment and retention efforts.(f) Implementation of the program established pursuant to this section is contingent upon an appropriation in the annual Budget Act or another statute for its purposes. SECTION 1. Article 8 (commencing with Section 78090) is added to Chapter 1 of Part 48 of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code, to read: ### SECTION 1. Article 8. The Community College Student Access, Retention, and Debt Cancellation Program78090. (a) The Community College Student Access, Retention, and Debt Cancellation Program is hereby established.(b) Funds appropriated for purposes of the program shall be allocated by the office of the The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall allocate funds on a one-time basis to community colleges college districts to support efforts to increase student retention rates and enrollment by engaging former community college students who may have withdrawn from a community college district due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, current community college students who may be hesitant to remain enrolled at a community college district due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and prospective students who may be hesitant to enroll at a community college district due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.(c) (1) The governing board of a community college district shall prioritize the use of allocated funds received pursuant to subdivision (b) for community colleges in the district with the largest declines in enrollment due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.(2) A community college district may use funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (a) (b) to provide a fiscal incentive for students to reenroll, or for prospective students to enroll, at the community college.(2)(3) A community college district may use funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (a) (b) to discharge student debt or unpaid balances owed by a student to a community college. college in the district.(d) In considering the allocation methodology to community colleges, college districts, the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges chancellor shall consider a factor that allocates allocate additional funds to community colleges college districts that have observed the most significant percentage declines in enrollment due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. declines in unduplicated student headcount since Fall 2019.(e) The office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges chancellor may allocate up to 10 percent of the funds appropriated for purposes of the program to support statewide recruitment and retention efforts.(f) Implementation of the program established pursuant to this section is contingent upon an appropriation in the annual Budget Act or another statute for its purposes. Article 8. The Community College Student Access, Retention, and Debt Cancellation Program78090. (a) The Community College Student Access, Retention, and Debt Cancellation Program is hereby established.(b) Funds appropriated for purposes of the program shall be allocated by the office of the The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall allocate funds on a one-time basis to community colleges college districts to support efforts to increase student retention rates and enrollment by engaging former community college students who may have withdrawn from a community college district due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, current community college students who may be hesitant to remain enrolled at a community college district due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and prospective students who may be hesitant to enroll at a community college district due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.(c) (1) The governing board of a community college district shall prioritize the use of allocated funds received pursuant to subdivision (b) for community colleges in the district with the largest declines in enrollment due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.(2) A community college district may use funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (a) (b) to provide a fiscal incentive for students to reenroll, or for prospective students to enroll, at the community college.(2)(3) A community college district may use funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (a) (b) to discharge student debt or unpaid balances owed by a student to a community college. college in the district.(d) In considering the allocation methodology to community colleges, college districts, the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges chancellor shall consider a factor that allocates allocate additional funds to community colleges college districts that have observed the most significant percentage declines in enrollment due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. declines in unduplicated student headcount since Fall 2019.(e) The office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges chancellor may allocate up to 10 percent of the funds appropriated for purposes of the program to support statewide recruitment and retention efforts.(f) Implementation of the program established pursuant to this section is contingent upon an appropriation in the annual Budget Act or another statute for its purposes. Article 8. The Community College Student Access, Retention, and Debt Cancellation Program Article 8. The Community College Student Access, Retention, and Debt Cancellation Program 78090. (a) The Community College Student Access, Retention, and Debt Cancellation Program is hereby established.(b) Funds appropriated for purposes of the program shall be allocated by the office of the The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall allocate funds on a one-time basis to community colleges college districts to support efforts to increase student retention rates and enrollment by engaging former community college students who may have withdrawn from a community college district due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, current community college students who may be hesitant to remain enrolled at a community college district due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and prospective students who may be hesitant to enroll at a community college district due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.(c) (1) The governing board of a community college district shall prioritize the use of allocated funds received pursuant to subdivision (b) for community colleges in the district with the largest declines in enrollment due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.(2) A community college district may use funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (a) (b) to provide a fiscal incentive for students to reenroll, or for prospective students to enroll, at the community college.(2)(3) A community college district may use funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (a) (b) to discharge student debt or unpaid balances owed by a student to a community college. college in the district.(d) In considering the allocation methodology to community colleges, college districts, the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges chancellor shall consider a factor that allocates allocate additional funds to community colleges college districts that have observed the most significant percentage declines in enrollment due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. declines in unduplicated student headcount since Fall 2019.(e) The office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges chancellor may allocate up to 10 percent of the funds appropriated for purposes of the program to support statewide recruitment and retention efforts.(f) Implementation of the program established pursuant to this section is contingent upon an appropriation in the annual Budget Act or another statute for its purposes. 78090. (a) The Community College Student Access, Retention, and Debt Cancellation Program is hereby established. (b) Funds appropriated for purposes of the program shall be allocated by the office of the The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall allocate funds on a one-time basis to community colleges college districts to support efforts to increase student retention rates and enrollment by engaging former community college students who may have withdrawn from a community college district due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, current community college students who may be hesitant to remain enrolled at a community college district due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and prospective students who may be hesitant to enroll at a community college district due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. (c) (1) The governing board of a community college district shall prioritize the use of allocated funds received pursuant to subdivision (b) for community colleges in the district with the largest declines in enrollment due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) A community college district may use funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (a) (b) to provide a fiscal incentive for students to reenroll, or for prospective students to enroll, at the community college. (2) (3) A community college district may use funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (a) (b) to discharge student debt or unpaid balances owed by a student to a community college. college in the district. (d) In considering the allocation methodology to community colleges, college districts, the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges chancellor shall consider a factor that allocates allocate additional funds to community colleges college districts that have observed the most significant percentage declines in enrollment due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. declines in unduplicated student headcount since Fall 2019. (e) The office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges chancellor may allocate up to 10 percent of the funds appropriated for purposes of the program to support statewide recruitment and retention efforts. (f) Implementation of the program established pursuant to this section is contingent upon an appropriation in the annual Budget Act or another statute for its purposes.