California 2021 2021-2022 Regular Session

California Assembly Bill AB1958 Amended / Bill

Filed 08/01/2022

                    Amended IN  Senate  August 01, 2022 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to increase student retention rates and enrollment by primarily engaging former community college students who may have withdrawn from a community college due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, current community college students who may be hesitant to remain enrolled at a community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 college districts to use funds allocated pursuant to the program to discharge student debt or unpaid balances fees due or owed by a student to a community 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) The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall allocate funds on a one-time basis to community 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 (b) to provide a fiscal incentive for students to reenroll, or for prospective students to enroll, at the community college.(3) A community college district may use funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (b) to discharge student debt or unpaid balances fees due or owed by a student to a community college in the district.(d) In considering the allocation methodology to community college districts, the chancellor shall allocate additional funds to community college districts that have the most significant declines in unduplicated student headcount since Fall 2019.(e) The 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  Senate  August 01, 2022 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 college districts to use funds allocated pursuant to the program to discharge student debt or unpaid balances fees due or owed by a student to a community 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  Senate  August 01, 2022 Amended IN  Assembly  April 21, 2022 Amended IN  Assembly  March 24, 2022

Amended IN  Senate  August 01, 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 college districts to use funds allocated pursuant to the program to discharge student debt or unpaid balances fees due or owed by a student to a community 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 college districts to use funds allocated pursuant to the program to discharge student debt or unpaid balances fees due or owed by a student to a community 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) The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall allocate funds on a one-time basis to community 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 (b) to provide a fiscal incentive for students to reenroll, or for prospective students to enroll, at the community college.(3) A community college district may use funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (b) to discharge student debt or unpaid balances fees due or owed by a student to a community college in the district.(d) In considering the allocation methodology to community college districts, the chancellor shall allocate additional funds to community college districts that have the most significant declines in unduplicated student headcount since Fall 2019.(e) The 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) The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall allocate funds on a one-time basis to community 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 (b) to provide a fiscal incentive for students to reenroll, or for prospective students to enroll, at the community college.(3) A community college district may use funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (b) to discharge student debt or unpaid balances fees due or owed by a student to a community college in the district.(d) In considering the allocation methodology to community college districts, the chancellor shall allocate additional funds to community college districts that have the most significant declines in unduplicated student headcount since Fall 2019.(e) The 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) The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall allocate funds on a one-time basis to community 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 (b) to provide a fiscal incentive for students to reenroll, or for prospective students to enroll, at the community college.(3) A community college district may use funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (b) to discharge student debt or unpaid balances fees due or owed by a student to a community college in the district.(d) In considering the allocation methodology to community college districts, the chancellor shall allocate additional funds to community college districts that have the most significant declines in unduplicated student headcount since Fall 2019.(e) The 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) The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall allocate funds on a one-time basis to community 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 (b) to provide a fiscal incentive for students to reenroll, or for prospective students to enroll, at the community college.(3) A community college district may use funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (b) to discharge student debt or unpaid balances fees due or owed by a student to a community college in the district.(d) In considering the allocation methodology to community college districts, the chancellor shall allocate additional funds to community college districts that have the most significant declines in unduplicated student headcount since Fall 2019.(e) The 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) The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall allocate funds on a one-time basis to community 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 (b) to provide a fiscal incentive for students to reenroll, or for prospective students to enroll, at the community college.(3) A community college district may use funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (b) to discharge student debt or unpaid balances fees due or owed by a student to a community college in the district.(d) In considering the allocation methodology to community college districts, the chancellor shall allocate additional funds to community college districts that have the most significant declines in unduplicated student headcount since Fall 2019.(e) The 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) The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall allocate funds on a one-time basis to community 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 (b) to provide a fiscal incentive for students to reenroll, or for prospective students to enroll, at the community college.

(3) A community college district may use funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (b) to discharge student debt or unpaid balances fees due or owed by a student to a community college in the district.

(d) In considering the allocation methodology to community college districts, the chancellor shall allocate additional funds to community college districts that have the most significant declines in unduplicated student headcount since Fall 2019.

(e) The 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.