California 2023-2024 Regular Session

California Assembly Bill AB2458 Compare Versions

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1-Assembly Bill No. 2458 CHAPTER 962An act to amend Section 66027.81 of, and to add Section 66027.82 to, the Education Code, relating to public postsecondary education. [ Approved by Governor September 29, 2024. Filed with Secretary of State September 29, 2024. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 2458, Berman. Public postsecondary education: student parents. Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California as the 3 public segments of postsecondary education in the state. The missions and functions of these segments are set forth in the Donahoe Higher Education Act.Existing law requires each campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges, and requests each campus of the University of California, to host on its internet website a student parent internet web page that contains information that clearly lists all on- and off-campus student parent services and resources, as specified, including, among other student parent services and resources, information on the California Earned Income Tax Credit and the Young Child Tax Credit.This bill would require the information on student parent internet web pages to include additional information on student parent services and resources, including several other federal and state tax credits, state and federal financial aid applications and programs, and the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program. The bill would require each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University, and would request each campus of the University of California to, on or before the start of the 202627 academic year, (1) implement a policy developed by the respective systemwide chancellor or president for estimating and adjusting cost of attendance information for student parents, as specified, (2) enter student parent data for specified uses into the respective systemwide data management information system, as revised to accommodate this data by the systemwide chancellor or president pursuant to the bill, and (3) update its campus net price calculator to include a baseline student parent cost estimate, as specified. By imposing new duties on community college districts, the 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 the statutory provisions noted above.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. (a) This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the Greater Accessibility, Information, Notice, and Support (GAINS) for Student Parents Act.(b) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(1) California has made great strides to reduce poverty among low-income families with children through efforts to increase receipt of state and federal aid.(2) A California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy study released in February 2021, titled Untapped Opportunity: Understanding and Advancing Prospects for Californians without a College Degree, found that California is home to approximately 3,900,000 residents with dependent children who lack a college degree, making it difficult to earn a family-sustaining wage.(3) California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economys analysis of the American Community Survey data from 2017 to 2021, inclusive, and National Postsecondary Student Aid Study administrative collection data from 2020 finds there are approximately 300,000 undergraduate student parents in California enrolled in college, 61 percent of whom are first-generation college students.(4) According to the Public Policy Institute of Californias report released in December 2021, titled Keeping College Affordable for California Students, helping students better afford college will help close persistent racial equity gaps in college readiness, access, completion, degree attainment, and workforce entry.(5) In its report released in January 2020, titled Clarifying the True Cost of College for Student Parents, California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy estimates student parents pay an annual additional cost of attendance of seven thousand five hundred ninety-two dollars ($7,592) more per child than nonparenting students attending college, once childcare and food costs are explicitly included.(6) To adequately plan their attendance, student parents need accurate estimates of the total cost of college, including tuition and fees, food, housing, books and supplies, transportation, and the additional costs related to parenting.(7) Colleges are federally required to disclose college costs through net price calculators that are based on the assumption that students are part of their parents household, and often they do not account for the additional costs related to parenting.(8) A Government Accountability Office report released on September 12, 2019, titled Higher Education: More Information Could Help Student Parents Access Additional Federal Student Aid, found the affordability of childcare was a top barrier to enrolling and attending postsecondary education.(9) The Government Accountability Offices Higher Education: More Information Could Help Student Parents Access Additional Federal Student Aid report also found student parents with dependent children were unaware of the ability to request a dependent care allowance adjustment to better afford college.(10) Further, the Government Accountability Offices Higher Education: More Information Could Help Student Parents Access Additional Federal Student Aid report found that two-thirds of campus internet websites lacked information about the dependent care allowance.(11) A Government Accountability Office report released on December 5, 2022, titled Financial Aid Officers: Action Needed to Improve Information on College Costs and Student Aid, found nearly two-thirds of colleges, in a nationally representative sample of colleges, follow one-half or fewer of the 10 best practices for providing clear and standard information in their financial aid offers.(12) Current federal regulations allow financial aid officers to adjust a students cost of attendance to include the estimated actual expenses incurred for dependent care.(13) Some postsecondary educational institutions that participate in state-funded financial aid programs do not take full advantage of federal flexibility related to adjusting the cost of attendance to include the dependent care allowance.(14) The federal FAFSA Simplification Act (Public Law 116-260) expands existing consumer information requirements by explicitly stating that each institution must make cost of attendance information publicly available on its internet website, which includes the dependent care allowance for childcare costs.(15) Helping student parents graduate and enter careers that pay a living wage sooner helps California as a whole, and offers student parents and their children a more prosperous future.(c) It is the intent of the Legislature to help Californians with children better afford college by ensuring that they obtain the financial aid that they are eligible to receive.SEC. 2. Section 66027.81 of the Education Code is amended to read:66027.81. Each campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, do all of the following:(a) By no later than February 1, 2023, host on its internet website a student parent internet web page that is clearly visible and easily accessible from a drop-down menu on the internet home page of the campuss internet website and include the information described in subdivision (b) conspicuously on both the internet website of the campus via the student parent internet web page, and on the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution.(b) (1) The student parent internet web page shall contain information that clearly lists all on- and off-campus student parent services and resources that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:(A) The description of the service or resource.(B) The location where the service or resource is provided.(C) The point of contact for the service or resource, including a name, telephone number, and email address.(D) Any eligibility restrictions on accessing the service or resource.(2) Of the services and resources provided on the student parent internet web page pursuant to paragraph (1), the student parent internet web page shall include, but is not limited to, information on the following on- and off-campus student parent services and resources:(A) Priority registration for a student parent established pursuant to Section 66025.81.(B) The CalFresh Program.(C) (i) Federal and state tax credits, including, but not limited to, all of the following:(I) The federal Earned Income Tax Credit.(II) The California Earned Income Tax Credit.(III) The Child Tax Credit.(IV) The Young Child Tax Credit.(V) The Foster Youth Tax Credit.(VI) The federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.(VII) The federal American Opportunity Tax Credit.(VIII) The federal Lifetime Learning Credit.(ii) Free tax filing services offered online through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance programs.(D) State and federal financial aid applications and programs, including, but not limited to, all of the following:(i) The Free Application for Federal Student Aid.(ii) The California Dream Act application.(iii) Awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42.(iv) Any other federal or state financial aid application or program available for students with dependent children.(E) The California Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children.(F) The California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program.(G) Cost of attendance adjustment information, including the dependent care allowance.(H) Resources, as determined by the institution to be most appropriate, for campus or local childcare providers.(I) Any other financial support or income available for student parents.(c) Provide the student parent internet web page link to students as a part of campus orientations.(d) Provide to faculty the student parent internet web page link and encourage faculty to include the student parent internet web page link in their syllabi.(e) To ensure that the student parent internet web page remains useful to student parents, the student parent internet web page shall be reviewed and updated no later than the first day of every fall and spring semester or no later than the first day of every fall and spring quarter.SEC. 3. Section 66027.82 is added to the Education Code, to read:66027.82. (a) For purposes of this section, student parent has the same meaning as defined in Section 66025.81.(b) On or before July 31, 2025, the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the office of the Chancellor of the California State University shall, and the office of the President of the University of California is requested to, develop and disseminate a policy to estimate and adjust cost of attendance information for student parents. The policy shall include student parent cost of attendance policy guidance that includes, but is not limited to, both of the following:(1) A financial aid methodology to calculate and update a student parents cost of attendance that includes the actual expected costs of food, housing, transportation, and dependent childcare. This methodology shall be based on available annual cost of attendance information that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:(A) Food plans developed by the United States Department of Agriculture.(B) The State Department of Social Services reimbursement ceilings for subsidized childcare, disaggregated by county, age, and types of care.(C) The actual cost of on-campus family housing, the cost of a student parents off-campus housing, and, if a student parent does not have safe or adequate housing, the fair market rent, as described in Section 888.113 of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations, for an apartment in the metropolitan area or nonmetropolitan county where the campus is located, disaggregated by student parent family size.(D) Transportation costs, disaggregated by student parent family size, that considers available information such as institutional survey responses and the Student Aid Commissions Student Expenses and Resources Survey.(2) Model instructions for purposes of all of the following:(A) Identifying a student parent for purposes of adjusting the student parents cost of attendance to include food, housing, transportation, and childcare expenses. The model instructions shall include, but are not limited to, confirmation by a financial aid officer based on information found in the student parents Free Application for Federal Student Aid or California Dream Act application.(B) Updating and posting cost of attendance and dependent care allowance information, using student-friendly language, on campus internet websites. The posted information shall include, but is not limited to, financial aid internet websites, and the student parent internet web page, as set forth in Section 66027.81.(C) Sharing cost of attendance information in admitted student materials.(D) Explaining the dependent care allowance to student parents.(E) Informing student parents of affordable childcare options offered by the campus or within the local community.(c) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, implement the policy developed and disseminated pursuant to subdivision (b).(d) (1) (A) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall establish a data element in the systemwide data management information system to identify student parents.(B) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, establish a data field in the campuss data management information system to identify student parents.(2) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, do all of the following:(A) Enter student parent data in the data field or the data element established pursuant to paragraph (1).(B) Report student parent data obtained pursuant to this subdivision to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, and the office of the President of the University of California, respectively, for their request of the governing board established pursuant to Section 10864 to include that student parent data in the California Cradle-to-Career Data System established pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 10850) of Chapter 8.5 of Part 7 of Division 1 of Title 1.(C) Use the data field or the data element established pursuant to paragraph (1) for additional purposes, which may include, but are not limited to, granting priority course registration and providing information about available public benefits to student parents.(e) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, update the campus net price calculator to include a baseline student parent cost estimate, disaggregated by age and number of dependent children, using the methodologies and information described in this section and any available federal guidance on best practices.SEC. 4. 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.
1+Enrolled September 05, 2024 Passed IN Senate August 30, 2024 Passed IN Assembly August 31, 2024 Amended IN Senate August 15, 2024 Amended IN Assembly May 16, 2024 Amended IN Assembly April 04, 2024 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 2458Introduced by Assembly Members Berman and Boerner(Coauthor: Assembly Member Arambula)(Coauthors: Senators Ashby and Limn)February 13, 2024An act to amend Section 66027.81 of, and to add Section 66027.82 to, the Education Code, relating to public postsecondary education. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 2458, Berman. Public postsecondary education: student parents. Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California as the 3 public segments of postsecondary education in the state. The missions and functions of these segments are set forth in the Donahoe Higher Education Act.Existing law requires each campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges, and requests each campus of the University of California, to host on its internet website a student parent internet web page that contains information that clearly lists all on- and off-campus student parent services and resources, as specified, including, among other student parent services and resources, information on the California Earned Income Tax Credit and the Young Child Tax Credit.This bill would require the information on student parent internet web pages to include additional information on student parent services and resources, including several other federal and state tax credits, state and federal financial aid applications and programs, and the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program. The bill would require each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University, and would request each campus of the University of California to, on or before the start of the 202627 academic year, (1) implement a policy developed by the respective systemwide chancellor or president for estimating and adjusting cost of attendance information for student parents, as specified, (2) enter student parent data for specified uses into the respective systemwide data management information system, as revised to accommodate this data by the systemwide chancellor or president pursuant to the bill, and (3) update its campus net price calculator to include a baseline student parent cost estimate, as specified. By imposing new duties on community college districts, the 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 the statutory provisions noted above.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. (a) This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the Greater Accessibility, Information, Notice, and Support (GAINS) for Student Parents Act.(b) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(1) California has made great strides to reduce poverty among low-income families with children through efforts to increase receipt of state and federal aid.(2) A California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy study released in February 2021, titled Untapped Opportunity: Understanding and Advancing Prospects for Californians without a College Degree, found that California is home to approximately 3,900,000 residents with dependent children who lack a college degree, making it difficult to earn a family-sustaining wage.(3) California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economys analysis of the American Community Survey data from 2017 to 2021, inclusive, and National Postsecondary Student Aid Study administrative collection data from 2020 finds there are approximately 300,000 undergraduate student parents in California enrolled in college, 61 percent of whom are first-generation college students.(4) According to the Public Policy Institute of Californias report released in December 2021, titled Keeping College Affordable for California Students, helping students better afford college will help close persistent racial equity gaps in college readiness, access, completion, degree attainment, and workforce entry.(5) In its report released in January 2020, titled Clarifying the True Cost of College for Student Parents, California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy estimates student parents pay an annual additional cost of attendance of seven thousand five hundred ninety-two dollars ($7,592) more per child than nonparenting students attending college, once childcare and food costs are explicitly included.(6) To adequately plan their attendance, student parents need accurate estimates of the total cost of college, including tuition and fees, food, housing, books and supplies, transportation, and the additional costs related to parenting.(7) Colleges are federally required to disclose college costs through net price calculators that are based on the assumption that students are part of their parents household, and often they do not account for the additional costs related to parenting.(8) A Government Accountability Office report released on September 12, 2019, titled Higher Education: More Information Could Help Student Parents Access Additional Federal Student Aid, found the affordability of childcare was a top barrier to enrolling and attending postsecondary education.(9) The Government Accountability Offices Higher Education: More Information Could Help Student Parents Access Additional Federal Student Aid report also found student parents with dependent children were unaware of the ability to request a dependent care allowance adjustment to better afford college.(10) Further, the Government Accountability Offices Higher Education: More Information Could Help Student Parents Access Additional Federal Student Aid report found that two-thirds of campus internet websites lacked information about the dependent care allowance.(11) A Government Accountability Office report released on December 5, 2022, titled Financial Aid Officers: Action Needed to Improve Information on College Costs and Student Aid, found nearly two-thirds of colleges, in a nationally representative sample of colleges, follow one-half or fewer of the 10 best practices for providing clear and standard information in their financial aid offers.(12) Current federal regulations allow financial aid officers to adjust a students cost of attendance to include the estimated actual expenses incurred for dependent care.(13) Some postsecondary educational institutions that participate in state-funded financial aid programs do not take full advantage of federal flexibility related to adjusting the cost of attendance to include the dependent care allowance.(14) The federal FAFSA Simplification Act (Public Law 116-260) expands existing consumer information requirements by explicitly stating that each institution must make cost of attendance information publicly available on its internet website, which includes the dependent care allowance for childcare costs.(15) Helping student parents graduate and enter careers that pay a living wage sooner helps California as a whole, and offers student parents and their children a more prosperous future.(c) It is the intent of the Legislature to help Californians with children better afford college by ensuring that they obtain the financial aid that they are eligible to receive.SEC. 2. Section 66027.81 of the Education Code is amended to read:66027.81. Each campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, do all of the following:(a) By no later than February 1, 2023, host on its internet website a student parent internet web page that is clearly visible and easily accessible from a drop-down menu on the internet home page of the campuss internet website and include the information described in subdivision (b) conspicuously on both the internet website of the campus via the student parent internet web page, and on the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution.(b) (1) The student parent internet web page shall contain information that clearly lists all on- and off-campus student parent services and resources that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:(A) The description of the service or resource.(B) The location where the service or resource is provided.(C) The point of contact for the service or resource, including a name, telephone number, and email address.(D) Any eligibility restrictions on accessing the service or resource.(2) Of the services and resources provided on the student parent internet web page pursuant to paragraph (1), the student parent internet web page shall include, but is not limited to, information on the following on- and off-campus student parent services and resources:(A) Priority registration for a student parent established pursuant to Section 66025.81.(B) The CalFresh Program.(C) (i) Federal and state tax credits, including, but not limited to, all of the following:(I) The federal Earned Income Tax Credit.(II) The California Earned Income Tax Credit.(III) The Child Tax Credit.(IV) The Young Child Tax Credit.(V) The Foster Youth Tax Credit.(VI) The federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.(VII) The federal American Opportunity Tax Credit.(VIII) The federal Lifetime Learning Credit.(ii) Free tax filing services offered online through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance programs.(D) State and federal financial aid applications and programs, including, but not limited to, all of the following:(i) The Free Application for Federal Student Aid.(ii) The California Dream Act application.(iii) Awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42.(iv) Any other federal or state financial aid application or program available for students with dependent children.(E) The California Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children.(F) The California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program.(G) Cost of attendance adjustment information, including the dependent care allowance.(H) Resources, as determined by the institution to be most appropriate, for campus or local childcare providers.(I) Any other financial support or income available for student parents.(c) Provide the student parent internet web page link to students as a part of campus orientations.(d) Provide to faculty the student parent internet web page link and encourage faculty to include the student parent internet web page link in their syllabi.(e) To ensure that the student parent internet web page remains useful to student parents, the student parent internet web page shall be reviewed and updated no later than the first day of every fall and spring semester or no later than the first day of every fall and spring quarter.SEC. 3. Section 66027.82 is added to the Education Code, to read:66027.82. (a) For purposes of this section, student parent has the same meaning as defined in Section 66025.81.(b) On or before July 31, 2025, the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the office of the Chancellor of the California State University shall, and the office of the President of the University of California is requested to, develop and disseminate a policy to estimate and adjust cost of attendance information for student parents. The policy shall include student parent cost of attendance policy guidance that includes, but is not limited to, both of the following:(1) A financial aid methodology to calculate and update a student parents cost of attendance that includes the actual expected costs of food, housing, transportation, and dependent childcare. This methodology shall be based on available annual cost of attendance information that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:(A) Food plans developed by the United States Department of Agriculture.(B) The State Department of Social Services reimbursement ceilings for subsidized childcare, disaggregated by county, age, and types of care.(C) The actual cost of on-campus family housing, the cost of a student parents off-campus housing, and, if a student parent does not have safe or adequate housing, the fair market rent, as described in Section 888.113 of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations, for an apartment in the metropolitan area or nonmetropolitan county where the campus is located, disaggregated by student parent family size.(D) Transportation costs, disaggregated by student parent family size, that considers available information such as institutional survey responses and the Student Aid Commissions Student Expenses and Resources Survey.(2) Model instructions for purposes of all of the following:(A) Identifying a student parent for purposes of adjusting the student parents cost of attendance to include food, housing, transportation, and childcare expenses. The model instructions shall include, but are not limited to, confirmation by a financial aid officer based on information found in the student parents Free Application for Federal Student Aid or California Dream Act application.(B) Updating and posting cost of attendance and dependent care allowance information, using student-friendly language, on campus internet websites. The posted information shall include, but is not limited to, financial aid internet websites, and the student parent internet web page, as set forth in Section 66027.81.(C) Sharing cost of attendance information in admitted student materials.(D) Explaining the dependent care allowance to student parents.(E) Informing student parents of affordable childcare options offered by the campus or within the local community.(c) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, implement the policy developed and disseminated pursuant to subdivision (b).(d) (1) (A) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall establish a data element in the systemwide data management information system to identify student parents.(B) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, establish a data field in the campuss data management information system to identify student parents.(2) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, do all of the following:(A) Enter student parent data in the data field or the data element established pursuant to paragraph (1).(B) Report student parent data obtained pursuant to this subdivision to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, and the office of the President of the University of California, respectively, for their request of the governing board established pursuant to Section 10864 to include that student parent data in the California Cradle-to-Career Data System established pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 10850) of Chapter 8.5 of Part 7 of Division 1 of Title 1.(C) Use the data field or the data element established pursuant to paragraph (1) for additional purposes, which may include, but are not limited to, granting priority course registration and providing information about available public benefits to student parents.(e) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, update the campus net price calculator to include a baseline student parent cost estimate, disaggregated by age and number of dependent children, using the methodologies and information described in this section and any available federal guidance on best practices.SEC. 4. 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.
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3- Assembly Bill No. 2458 CHAPTER 962An act to amend Section 66027.81 of, and to add Section 66027.82 to, the Education Code, relating to public postsecondary education. [ Approved by Governor September 29, 2024. Filed with Secretary of State September 29, 2024. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 2458, Berman. Public postsecondary education: student parents. Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California as the 3 public segments of postsecondary education in the state. The missions and functions of these segments are set forth in the Donahoe Higher Education Act.Existing law requires each campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges, and requests each campus of the University of California, to host on its internet website a student parent internet web page that contains information that clearly lists all on- and off-campus student parent services and resources, as specified, including, among other student parent services and resources, information on the California Earned Income Tax Credit and the Young Child Tax Credit.This bill would require the information on student parent internet web pages to include additional information on student parent services and resources, including several other federal and state tax credits, state and federal financial aid applications and programs, and the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program. The bill would require each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University, and would request each campus of the University of California to, on or before the start of the 202627 academic year, (1) implement a policy developed by the respective systemwide chancellor or president for estimating and adjusting cost of attendance information for student parents, as specified, (2) enter student parent data for specified uses into the respective systemwide data management information system, as revised to accommodate this data by the systemwide chancellor or president pursuant to the bill, and (3) update its campus net price calculator to include a baseline student parent cost estimate, as specified. By imposing new duties on community college districts, the 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 the statutory provisions noted above.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES
3+ Enrolled September 05, 2024 Passed IN Senate August 30, 2024 Passed IN Assembly August 31, 2024 Amended IN Senate August 15, 2024 Amended IN Assembly May 16, 2024 Amended IN Assembly April 04, 2024 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 2458Introduced by Assembly Members Berman and Boerner(Coauthor: Assembly Member Arambula)(Coauthors: Senators Ashby and Limn)February 13, 2024An act to amend Section 66027.81 of, and to add Section 66027.82 to, the Education Code, relating to public postsecondary education. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 2458, Berman. Public postsecondary education: student parents. Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California as the 3 public segments of postsecondary education in the state. The missions and functions of these segments are set forth in the Donahoe Higher Education Act.Existing law requires each campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges, and requests each campus of the University of California, to host on its internet website a student parent internet web page that contains information that clearly lists all on- and off-campus student parent services and resources, as specified, including, among other student parent services and resources, information on the California Earned Income Tax Credit and the Young Child Tax Credit.This bill would require the information on student parent internet web pages to include additional information on student parent services and resources, including several other federal and state tax credits, state and federal financial aid applications and programs, and the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program. The bill would require each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University, and would request each campus of the University of California to, on or before the start of the 202627 academic year, (1) implement a policy developed by the respective systemwide chancellor or president for estimating and adjusting cost of attendance information for student parents, as specified, (2) enter student parent data for specified uses into the respective systemwide data management information system, as revised to accommodate this data by the systemwide chancellor or president pursuant to the bill, and (3) update its campus net price calculator to include a baseline student parent cost estimate, as specified. By imposing new duties on community college districts, the 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 the statutory provisions noted above.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES
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5- Assembly Bill No. 2458 CHAPTER 962
5+ Enrolled September 05, 2024 Passed IN Senate August 30, 2024 Passed IN Assembly August 31, 2024 Amended IN Senate August 15, 2024 Amended IN Assembly May 16, 2024 Amended IN Assembly April 04, 2024
66
7- Assembly Bill No. 2458
7+Enrolled September 05, 2024
8+Passed IN Senate August 30, 2024
9+Passed IN Assembly August 31, 2024
10+Amended IN Senate August 15, 2024
11+Amended IN Assembly May 16, 2024
12+Amended IN Assembly April 04, 2024
813
9- CHAPTER 962
14+ CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION
15+
16+ Assembly Bill
17+
18+No. 2458
19+
20+Introduced by Assembly Members Berman and Boerner(Coauthor: Assembly Member Arambula)(Coauthors: Senators Ashby and Limn)February 13, 2024
21+
22+Introduced by Assembly Members Berman and Boerner(Coauthor: Assembly Member Arambula)(Coauthors: Senators Ashby and Limn)
23+February 13, 2024
1024
1125 An act to amend Section 66027.81 of, and to add Section 66027.82 to, the Education Code, relating to public postsecondary education.
12-
13- [ Approved by Governor September 29, 2024. Filed with Secretary of State September 29, 2024. ]
1426
1527 LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
1628
1729 ## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
1830
1931 AB 2458, Berman. Public postsecondary education: student parents.
2032
2133 Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California as the 3 public segments of postsecondary education in the state. The missions and functions of these segments are set forth in the Donahoe Higher Education Act.Existing law requires each campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges, and requests each campus of the University of California, to host on its internet website a student parent internet web page that contains information that clearly lists all on- and off-campus student parent services and resources, as specified, including, among other student parent services and resources, information on the California Earned Income Tax Credit and the Young Child Tax Credit.This bill would require the information on student parent internet web pages to include additional information on student parent services and resources, including several other federal and state tax credits, state and federal financial aid applications and programs, and the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program. The bill would require each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University, and would request each campus of the University of California to, on or before the start of the 202627 academic year, (1) implement a policy developed by the respective systemwide chancellor or president for estimating and adjusting cost of attendance information for student parents, as specified, (2) enter student parent data for specified uses into the respective systemwide data management information system, as revised to accommodate this data by the systemwide chancellor or president pursuant to the bill, and (3) update its campus net price calculator to include a baseline student parent cost estimate, as specified. By imposing new duties on community college districts, the 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 the statutory provisions noted above.
2234
2335 Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California as the 3 public segments of postsecondary education in the state. The missions and functions of these segments are set forth in the Donahoe Higher Education Act.
2436
2537 Existing law requires each campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges, and requests each campus of the University of California, to host on its internet website a student parent internet web page that contains information that clearly lists all on- and off-campus student parent services and resources, as specified, including, among other student parent services and resources, information on the California Earned Income Tax Credit and the Young Child Tax Credit.
2638
2739 This bill would require the information on student parent internet web pages to include additional information on student parent services and resources, including several other federal and state tax credits, state and federal financial aid applications and programs, and the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program. The bill would require each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University, and would request each campus of the University of California to, on or before the start of the 202627 academic year, (1) implement a policy developed by the respective systemwide chancellor or president for estimating and adjusting cost of attendance information for student parents, as specified, (2) enter student parent data for specified uses into the respective systemwide data management information system, as revised to accommodate this data by the systemwide chancellor or president pursuant to the bill, and (3) update its campus net price calculator to include a baseline student parent cost estimate, as specified. By imposing new duties on community college districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
2840
2941 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.
3042
3143 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 the statutory provisions noted above.
3244
3345 ## Digest Key
3446
3547 ## Bill Text
3648
3749 The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. (a) This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the Greater Accessibility, Information, Notice, and Support (GAINS) for Student Parents Act.(b) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(1) California has made great strides to reduce poverty among low-income families with children through efforts to increase receipt of state and federal aid.(2) A California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy study released in February 2021, titled Untapped Opportunity: Understanding and Advancing Prospects for Californians without a College Degree, found that California is home to approximately 3,900,000 residents with dependent children who lack a college degree, making it difficult to earn a family-sustaining wage.(3) California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economys analysis of the American Community Survey data from 2017 to 2021, inclusive, and National Postsecondary Student Aid Study administrative collection data from 2020 finds there are approximately 300,000 undergraduate student parents in California enrolled in college, 61 percent of whom are first-generation college students.(4) According to the Public Policy Institute of Californias report released in December 2021, titled Keeping College Affordable for California Students, helping students better afford college will help close persistent racial equity gaps in college readiness, access, completion, degree attainment, and workforce entry.(5) In its report released in January 2020, titled Clarifying the True Cost of College for Student Parents, California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy estimates student parents pay an annual additional cost of attendance of seven thousand five hundred ninety-two dollars ($7,592) more per child than nonparenting students attending college, once childcare and food costs are explicitly included.(6) To adequately plan their attendance, student parents need accurate estimates of the total cost of college, including tuition and fees, food, housing, books and supplies, transportation, and the additional costs related to parenting.(7) Colleges are federally required to disclose college costs through net price calculators that are based on the assumption that students are part of their parents household, and often they do not account for the additional costs related to parenting.(8) A Government Accountability Office report released on September 12, 2019, titled Higher Education: More Information Could Help Student Parents Access Additional Federal Student Aid, found the affordability of childcare was a top barrier to enrolling and attending postsecondary education.(9) The Government Accountability Offices Higher Education: More Information Could Help Student Parents Access Additional Federal Student Aid report also found student parents with dependent children were unaware of the ability to request a dependent care allowance adjustment to better afford college.(10) Further, the Government Accountability Offices Higher Education: More Information Could Help Student Parents Access Additional Federal Student Aid report found that two-thirds of campus internet websites lacked information about the dependent care allowance.(11) A Government Accountability Office report released on December 5, 2022, titled Financial Aid Officers: Action Needed to Improve Information on College Costs and Student Aid, found nearly two-thirds of colleges, in a nationally representative sample of colleges, follow one-half or fewer of the 10 best practices for providing clear and standard information in their financial aid offers.(12) Current federal regulations allow financial aid officers to adjust a students cost of attendance to include the estimated actual expenses incurred for dependent care.(13) Some postsecondary educational institutions that participate in state-funded financial aid programs do not take full advantage of federal flexibility related to adjusting the cost of attendance to include the dependent care allowance.(14) The federal FAFSA Simplification Act (Public Law 116-260) expands existing consumer information requirements by explicitly stating that each institution must make cost of attendance information publicly available on its internet website, which includes the dependent care allowance for childcare costs.(15) Helping student parents graduate and enter careers that pay a living wage sooner helps California as a whole, and offers student parents and their children a more prosperous future.(c) It is the intent of the Legislature to help Californians with children better afford college by ensuring that they obtain the financial aid that they are eligible to receive.SEC. 2. Section 66027.81 of the Education Code is amended to read:66027.81. Each campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, do all of the following:(a) By no later than February 1, 2023, host on its internet website a student parent internet web page that is clearly visible and easily accessible from a drop-down menu on the internet home page of the campuss internet website and include the information described in subdivision (b) conspicuously on both the internet website of the campus via the student parent internet web page, and on the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution.(b) (1) The student parent internet web page shall contain information that clearly lists all on- and off-campus student parent services and resources that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:(A) The description of the service or resource.(B) The location where the service or resource is provided.(C) The point of contact for the service or resource, including a name, telephone number, and email address.(D) Any eligibility restrictions on accessing the service or resource.(2) Of the services and resources provided on the student parent internet web page pursuant to paragraph (1), the student parent internet web page shall include, but is not limited to, information on the following on- and off-campus student parent services and resources:(A) Priority registration for a student parent established pursuant to Section 66025.81.(B) The CalFresh Program.(C) (i) Federal and state tax credits, including, but not limited to, all of the following:(I) The federal Earned Income Tax Credit.(II) The California Earned Income Tax Credit.(III) The Child Tax Credit.(IV) The Young Child Tax Credit.(V) The Foster Youth Tax Credit.(VI) The federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.(VII) The federal American Opportunity Tax Credit.(VIII) The federal Lifetime Learning Credit.(ii) Free tax filing services offered online through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance programs.(D) State and federal financial aid applications and programs, including, but not limited to, all of the following:(i) The Free Application for Federal Student Aid.(ii) The California Dream Act application.(iii) Awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42.(iv) Any other federal or state financial aid application or program available for students with dependent children.(E) The California Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children.(F) The California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program.(G) Cost of attendance adjustment information, including the dependent care allowance.(H) Resources, as determined by the institution to be most appropriate, for campus or local childcare providers.(I) Any other financial support or income available for student parents.(c) Provide the student parent internet web page link to students as a part of campus orientations.(d) Provide to faculty the student parent internet web page link and encourage faculty to include the student parent internet web page link in their syllabi.(e) To ensure that the student parent internet web page remains useful to student parents, the student parent internet web page shall be reviewed and updated no later than the first day of every fall and spring semester or no later than the first day of every fall and spring quarter.SEC. 3. Section 66027.82 is added to the Education Code, to read:66027.82. (a) For purposes of this section, student parent has the same meaning as defined in Section 66025.81.(b) On or before July 31, 2025, the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the office of the Chancellor of the California State University shall, and the office of the President of the University of California is requested to, develop and disseminate a policy to estimate and adjust cost of attendance information for student parents. The policy shall include student parent cost of attendance policy guidance that includes, but is not limited to, both of the following:(1) A financial aid methodology to calculate and update a student parents cost of attendance that includes the actual expected costs of food, housing, transportation, and dependent childcare. This methodology shall be based on available annual cost of attendance information that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:(A) Food plans developed by the United States Department of Agriculture.(B) The State Department of Social Services reimbursement ceilings for subsidized childcare, disaggregated by county, age, and types of care.(C) The actual cost of on-campus family housing, the cost of a student parents off-campus housing, and, if a student parent does not have safe or adequate housing, the fair market rent, as described in Section 888.113 of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations, for an apartment in the metropolitan area or nonmetropolitan county where the campus is located, disaggregated by student parent family size.(D) Transportation costs, disaggregated by student parent family size, that considers available information such as institutional survey responses and the Student Aid Commissions Student Expenses and Resources Survey.(2) Model instructions for purposes of all of the following:(A) Identifying a student parent for purposes of adjusting the student parents cost of attendance to include food, housing, transportation, and childcare expenses. The model instructions shall include, but are not limited to, confirmation by a financial aid officer based on information found in the student parents Free Application for Federal Student Aid or California Dream Act application.(B) Updating and posting cost of attendance and dependent care allowance information, using student-friendly language, on campus internet websites. The posted information shall include, but is not limited to, financial aid internet websites, and the student parent internet web page, as set forth in Section 66027.81.(C) Sharing cost of attendance information in admitted student materials.(D) Explaining the dependent care allowance to student parents.(E) Informing student parents of affordable childcare options offered by the campus or within the local community.(c) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, implement the policy developed and disseminated pursuant to subdivision (b).(d) (1) (A) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall establish a data element in the systemwide data management information system to identify student parents.(B) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, establish a data field in the campuss data management information system to identify student parents.(2) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, do all of the following:(A) Enter student parent data in the data field or the data element established pursuant to paragraph (1).(B) Report student parent data obtained pursuant to this subdivision to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, and the office of the President of the University of California, respectively, for their request of the governing board established pursuant to Section 10864 to include that student parent data in the California Cradle-to-Career Data System established pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 10850) of Chapter 8.5 of Part 7 of Division 1 of Title 1.(C) Use the data field or the data element established pursuant to paragraph (1) for additional purposes, which may include, but are not limited to, granting priority course registration and providing information about available public benefits to student parents.(e) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, update the campus net price calculator to include a baseline student parent cost estimate, disaggregated by age and number of dependent children, using the methodologies and information described in this section and any available federal guidance on best practices.SEC. 4. 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.
3850
3951 The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
4052
4153 ## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
4254
4355 SECTION 1. (a) This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the Greater Accessibility, Information, Notice, and Support (GAINS) for Student Parents Act.(b) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(1) California has made great strides to reduce poverty among low-income families with children through efforts to increase receipt of state and federal aid.(2) A California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy study released in February 2021, titled Untapped Opportunity: Understanding and Advancing Prospects for Californians without a College Degree, found that California is home to approximately 3,900,000 residents with dependent children who lack a college degree, making it difficult to earn a family-sustaining wage.(3) California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economys analysis of the American Community Survey data from 2017 to 2021, inclusive, and National Postsecondary Student Aid Study administrative collection data from 2020 finds there are approximately 300,000 undergraduate student parents in California enrolled in college, 61 percent of whom are first-generation college students.(4) According to the Public Policy Institute of Californias report released in December 2021, titled Keeping College Affordable for California Students, helping students better afford college will help close persistent racial equity gaps in college readiness, access, completion, degree attainment, and workforce entry.(5) In its report released in January 2020, titled Clarifying the True Cost of College for Student Parents, California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy estimates student parents pay an annual additional cost of attendance of seven thousand five hundred ninety-two dollars ($7,592) more per child than nonparenting students attending college, once childcare and food costs are explicitly included.(6) To adequately plan their attendance, student parents need accurate estimates of the total cost of college, including tuition and fees, food, housing, books and supplies, transportation, and the additional costs related to parenting.(7) Colleges are federally required to disclose college costs through net price calculators that are based on the assumption that students are part of their parents household, and often they do not account for the additional costs related to parenting.(8) A Government Accountability Office report released on September 12, 2019, titled Higher Education: More Information Could Help Student Parents Access Additional Federal Student Aid, found the affordability of childcare was a top barrier to enrolling and attending postsecondary education.(9) The Government Accountability Offices Higher Education: More Information Could Help Student Parents Access Additional Federal Student Aid report also found student parents with dependent children were unaware of the ability to request a dependent care allowance adjustment to better afford college.(10) Further, the Government Accountability Offices Higher Education: More Information Could Help Student Parents Access Additional Federal Student Aid report found that two-thirds of campus internet websites lacked information about the dependent care allowance.(11) A Government Accountability Office report released on December 5, 2022, titled Financial Aid Officers: Action Needed to Improve Information on College Costs and Student Aid, found nearly two-thirds of colleges, in a nationally representative sample of colleges, follow one-half or fewer of the 10 best practices for providing clear and standard information in their financial aid offers.(12) Current federal regulations allow financial aid officers to adjust a students cost of attendance to include the estimated actual expenses incurred for dependent care.(13) Some postsecondary educational institutions that participate in state-funded financial aid programs do not take full advantage of federal flexibility related to adjusting the cost of attendance to include the dependent care allowance.(14) The federal FAFSA Simplification Act (Public Law 116-260) expands existing consumer information requirements by explicitly stating that each institution must make cost of attendance information publicly available on its internet website, which includes the dependent care allowance for childcare costs.(15) Helping student parents graduate and enter careers that pay a living wage sooner helps California as a whole, and offers student parents and their children a more prosperous future.(c) It is the intent of the Legislature to help Californians with children better afford college by ensuring that they obtain the financial aid that they are eligible to receive.
4456
4557 SECTION 1. (a) This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the Greater Accessibility, Information, Notice, and Support (GAINS) for Student Parents Act.(b) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(1) California has made great strides to reduce poverty among low-income families with children through efforts to increase receipt of state and federal aid.(2) A California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy study released in February 2021, titled Untapped Opportunity: Understanding and Advancing Prospects for Californians without a College Degree, found that California is home to approximately 3,900,000 residents with dependent children who lack a college degree, making it difficult to earn a family-sustaining wage.(3) California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economys analysis of the American Community Survey data from 2017 to 2021, inclusive, and National Postsecondary Student Aid Study administrative collection data from 2020 finds there are approximately 300,000 undergraduate student parents in California enrolled in college, 61 percent of whom are first-generation college students.(4) According to the Public Policy Institute of Californias report released in December 2021, titled Keeping College Affordable for California Students, helping students better afford college will help close persistent racial equity gaps in college readiness, access, completion, degree attainment, and workforce entry.(5) In its report released in January 2020, titled Clarifying the True Cost of College for Student Parents, California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy estimates student parents pay an annual additional cost of attendance of seven thousand five hundred ninety-two dollars ($7,592) more per child than nonparenting students attending college, once childcare and food costs are explicitly included.(6) To adequately plan their attendance, student parents need accurate estimates of the total cost of college, including tuition and fees, food, housing, books and supplies, transportation, and the additional costs related to parenting.(7) Colleges are federally required to disclose college costs through net price calculators that are based on the assumption that students are part of their parents household, and often they do not account for the additional costs related to parenting.(8) A Government Accountability Office report released on September 12, 2019, titled Higher Education: More Information Could Help Student Parents Access Additional Federal Student Aid, found the affordability of childcare was a top barrier to enrolling and attending postsecondary education.(9) The Government Accountability Offices Higher Education: More Information Could Help Student Parents Access Additional Federal Student Aid report also found student parents with dependent children were unaware of the ability to request a dependent care allowance adjustment to better afford college.(10) Further, the Government Accountability Offices Higher Education: More Information Could Help Student Parents Access Additional Federal Student Aid report found that two-thirds of campus internet websites lacked information about the dependent care allowance.(11) A Government Accountability Office report released on December 5, 2022, titled Financial Aid Officers: Action Needed to Improve Information on College Costs and Student Aid, found nearly two-thirds of colleges, in a nationally representative sample of colleges, follow one-half or fewer of the 10 best practices for providing clear and standard information in their financial aid offers.(12) Current federal regulations allow financial aid officers to adjust a students cost of attendance to include the estimated actual expenses incurred for dependent care.(13) Some postsecondary educational institutions that participate in state-funded financial aid programs do not take full advantage of federal flexibility related to adjusting the cost of attendance to include the dependent care allowance.(14) The federal FAFSA Simplification Act (Public Law 116-260) expands existing consumer information requirements by explicitly stating that each institution must make cost of attendance information publicly available on its internet website, which includes the dependent care allowance for childcare costs.(15) Helping student parents graduate and enter careers that pay a living wage sooner helps California as a whole, and offers student parents and their children a more prosperous future.(c) It is the intent of the Legislature to help Californians with children better afford college by ensuring that they obtain the financial aid that they are eligible to receive.
4658
4759 SECTION 1. (a) This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the Greater Accessibility, Information, Notice, and Support (GAINS) for Student Parents Act.
4860
4961 ### SECTION 1.
5062
5163 (b) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
5264
5365 (1) California has made great strides to reduce poverty among low-income families with children through efforts to increase receipt of state and federal aid.
5466
5567 (2) A California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy study released in February 2021, titled Untapped Opportunity: Understanding and Advancing Prospects for Californians without a College Degree, found that California is home to approximately 3,900,000 residents with dependent children who lack a college degree, making it difficult to earn a family-sustaining wage.
5668
5769 (3) California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economys analysis of the American Community Survey data from 2017 to 2021, inclusive, and National Postsecondary Student Aid Study administrative collection data from 2020 finds there are approximately 300,000 undergraduate student parents in California enrolled in college, 61 percent of whom are first-generation college students.
5870
5971 (4) According to the Public Policy Institute of Californias report released in December 2021, titled Keeping College Affordable for California Students, helping students better afford college will help close persistent racial equity gaps in college readiness, access, completion, degree attainment, and workforce entry.
6072
6173 (5) In its report released in January 2020, titled Clarifying the True Cost of College for Student Parents, California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy estimates student parents pay an annual additional cost of attendance of seven thousand five hundred ninety-two dollars ($7,592) more per child than nonparenting students attending college, once childcare and food costs are explicitly included.
6274
6375 (6) To adequately plan their attendance, student parents need accurate estimates of the total cost of college, including tuition and fees, food, housing, books and supplies, transportation, and the additional costs related to parenting.
6476
6577 (7) Colleges are federally required to disclose college costs through net price calculators that are based on the assumption that students are part of their parents household, and often they do not account for the additional costs related to parenting.
6678
6779 (8) A Government Accountability Office report released on September 12, 2019, titled Higher Education: More Information Could Help Student Parents Access Additional Federal Student Aid, found the affordability of childcare was a top barrier to enrolling and attending postsecondary education.
6880
6981 (9) The Government Accountability Offices Higher Education: More Information Could Help Student Parents Access Additional Federal Student Aid report also found student parents with dependent children were unaware of the ability to request a dependent care allowance adjustment to better afford college.
7082
7183 (10) Further, the Government Accountability Offices Higher Education: More Information Could Help Student Parents Access Additional Federal Student Aid report found that two-thirds of campus internet websites lacked information about the dependent care allowance.
7284
7385 (11) A Government Accountability Office report released on December 5, 2022, titled Financial Aid Officers: Action Needed to Improve Information on College Costs and Student Aid, found nearly two-thirds of colleges, in a nationally representative sample of colleges, follow one-half or fewer of the 10 best practices for providing clear and standard information in their financial aid offers.
7486
7587 (12) Current federal regulations allow financial aid officers to adjust a students cost of attendance to include the estimated actual expenses incurred for dependent care.
7688
7789 (13) Some postsecondary educational institutions that participate in state-funded financial aid programs do not take full advantage of federal flexibility related to adjusting the cost of attendance to include the dependent care allowance.
7890
7991 (14) The federal FAFSA Simplification Act (Public Law 116-260) expands existing consumer information requirements by explicitly stating that each institution must make cost of attendance information publicly available on its internet website, which includes the dependent care allowance for childcare costs.
8092
8193 (15) Helping student parents graduate and enter careers that pay a living wage sooner helps California as a whole, and offers student parents and their children a more prosperous future.
8294
8395 (c) It is the intent of the Legislature to help Californians with children better afford college by ensuring that they obtain the financial aid that they are eligible to receive.
8496
8597 SEC. 2. Section 66027.81 of the Education Code is amended to read:66027.81. Each campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, do all of the following:(a) By no later than February 1, 2023, host on its internet website a student parent internet web page that is clearly visible and easily accessible from a drop-down menu on the internet home page of the campuss internet website and include the information described in subdivision (b) conspicuously on both the internet website of the campus via the student parent internet web page, and on the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution.(b) (1) The student parent internet web page shall contain information that clearly lists all on- and off-campus student parent services and resources that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:(A) The description of the service or resource.(B) The location where the service or resource is provided.(C) The point of contact for the service or resource, including a name, telephone number, and email address.(D) Any eligibility restrictions on accessing the service or resource.(2) Of the services and resources provided on the student parent internet web page pursuant to paragraph (1), the student parent internet web page shall include, but is not limited to, information on the following on- and off-campus student parent services and resources:(A) Priority registration for a student parent established pursuant to Section 66025.81.(B) The CalFresh Program.(C) (i) Federal and state tax credits, including, but not limited to, all of the following:(I) The federal Earned Income Tax Credit.(II) The California Earned Income Tax Credit.(III) The Child Tax Credit.(IV) The Young Child Tax Credit.(V) The Foster Youth Tax Credit.(VI) The federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.(VII) The federal American Opportunity Tax Credit.(VIII) The federal Lifetime Learning Credit.(ii) Free tax filing services offered online through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance programs.(D) State and federal financial aid applications and programs, including, but not limited to, all of the following:(i) The Free Application for Federal Student Aid.(ii) The California Dream Act application.(iii) Awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42.(iv) Any other federal or state financial aid application or program available for students with dependent children.(E) The California Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children.(F) The California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program.(G) Cost of attendance adjustment information, including the dependent care allowance.(H) Resources, as determined by the institution to be most appropriate, for campus or local childcare providers.(I) Any other financial support or income available for student parents.(c) Provide the student parent internet web page link to students as a part of campus orientations.(d) Provide to faculty the student parent internet web page link and encourage faculty to include the student parent internet web page link in their syllabi.(e) To ensure that the student parent internet web page remains useful to student parents, the student parent internet web page shall be reviewed and updated no later than the first day of every fall and spring semester or no later than the first day of every fall and spring quarter.
8698
8799 SEC. 2. Section 66027.81 of the Education Code is amended to read:
88100
89101 ### SEC. 2.
90102
91103 66027.81. Each campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, do all of the following:(a) By no later than February 1, 2023, host on its internet website a student parent internet web page that is clearly visible and easily accessible from a drop-down menu on the internet home page of the campuss internet website and include the information described in subdivision (b) conspicuously on both the internet website of the campus via the student parent internet web page, and on the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution.(b) (1) The student parent internet web page shall contain information that clearly lists all on- and off-campus student parent services and resources that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:(A) The description of the service or resource.(B) The location where the service or resource is provided.(C) The point of contact for the service or resource, including a name, telephone number, and email address.(D) Any eligibility restrictions on accessing the service or resource.(2) Of the services and resources provided on the student parent internet web page pursuant to paragraph (1), the student parent internet web page shall include, but is not limited to, information on the following on- and off-campus student parent services and resources:(A) Priority registration for a student parent established pursuant to Section 66025.81.(B) The CalFresh Program.(C) (i) Federal and state tax credits, including, but not limited to, all of the following:(I) The federal Earned Income Tax Credit.(II) The California Earned Income Tax Credit.(III) The Child Tax Credit.(IV) The Young Child Tax Credit.(V) The Foster Youth Tax Credit.(VI) The federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.(VII) The federal American Opportunity Tax Credit.(VIII) The federal Lifetime Learning Credit.(ii) Free tax filing services offered online through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance programs.(D) State and federal financial aid applications and programs, including, but not limited to, all of the following:(i) The Free Application for Federal Student Aid.(ii) The California Dream Act application.(iii) Awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42.(iv) Any other federal or state financial aid application or program available for students with dependent children.(E) The California Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children.(F) The California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program.(G) Cost of attendance adjustment information, including the dependent care allowance.(H) Resources, as determined by the institution to be most appropriate, for campus or local childcare providers.(I) Any other financial support or income available for student parents.(c) Provide the student parent internet web page link to students as a part of campus orientations.(d) Provide to faculty the student parent internet web page link and encourage faculty to include the student parent internet web page link in their syllabi.(e) To ensure that the student parent internet web page remains useful to student parents, the student parent internet web page shall be reviewed and updated no later than the first day of every fall and spring semester or no later than the first day of every fall and spring quarter.
92104
93105 66027.81. Each campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, do all of the following:(a) By no later than February 1, 2023, host on its internet website a student parent internet web page that is clearly visible and easily accessible from a drop-down menu on the internet home page of the campuss internet website and include the information described in subdivision (b) conspicuously on both the internet website of the campus via the student parent internet web page, and on the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution.(b) (1) The student parent internet web page shall contain information that clearly lists all on- and off-campus student parent services and resources that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:(A) The description of the service or resource.(B) The location where the service or resource is provided.(C) The point of contact for the service or resource, including a name, telephone number, and email address.(D) Any eligibility restrictions on accessing the service or resource.(2) Of the services and resources provided on the student parent internet web page pursuant to paragraph (1), the student parent internet web page shall include, but is not limited to, information on the following on- and off-campus student parent services and resources:(A) Priority registration for a student parent established pursuant to Section 66025.81.(B) The CalFresh Program.(C) (i) Federal and state tax credits, including, but not limited to, all of the following:(I) The federal Earned Income Tax Credit.(II) The California Earned Income Tax Credit.(III) The Child Tax Credit.(IV) The Young Child Tax Credit.(V) The Foster Youth Tax Credit.(VI) The federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.(VII) The federal American Opportunity Tax Credit.(VIII) The federal Lifetime Learning Credit.(ii) Free tax filing services offered online through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance programs.(D) State and federal financial aid applications and programs, including, but not limited to, all of the following:(i) The Free Application for Federal Student Aid.(ii) The California Dream Act application.(iii) Awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42.(iv) Any other federal or state financial aid application or program available for students with dependent children.(E) The California Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children.(F) The California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program.(G) Cost of attendance adjustment information, including the dependent care allowance.(H) Resources, as determined by the institution to be most appropriate, for campus or local childcare providers.(I) Any other financial support or income available for student parents.(c) Provide the student parent internet web page link to students as a part of campus orientations.(d) Provide to faculty the student parent internet web page link and encourage faculty to include the student parent internet web page link in their syllabi.(e) To ensure that the student parent internet web page remains useful to student parents, the student parent internet web page shall be reviewed and updated no later than the first day of every fall and spring semester or no later than the first day of every fall and spring quarter.
94106
95107 66027.81. Each campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, do all of the following:(a) By no later than February 1, 2023, host on its internet website a student parent internet web page that is clearly visible and easily accessible from a drop-down menu on the internet home page of the campuss internet website and include the information described in subdivision (b) conspicuously on both the internet website of the campus via the student parent internet web page, and on the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution.(b) (1) The student parent internet web page shall contain information that clearly lists all on- and off-campus student parent services and resources that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:(A) The description of the service or resource.(B) The location where the service or resource is provided.(C) The point of contact for the service or resource, including a name, telephone number, and email address.(D) Any eligibility restrictions on accessing the service or resource.(2) Of the services and resources provided on the student parent internet web page pursuant to paragraph (1), the student parent internet web page shall include, but is not limited to, information on the following on- and off-campus student parent services and resources:(A) Priority registration for a student parent established pursuant to Section 66025.81.(B) The CalFresh Program.(C) (i) Federal and state tax credits, including, but not limited to, all of the following:(I) The federal Earned Income Tax Credit.(II) The California Earned Income Tax Credit.(III) The Child Tax Credit.(IV) The Young Child Tax Credit.(V) The Foster Youth Tax Credit.(VI) The federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.(VII) The federal American Opportunity Tax Credit.(VIII) The federal Lifetime Learning Credit.(ii) Free tax filing services offered online through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance programs.(D) State and federal financial aid applications and programs, including, but not limited to, all of the following:(i) The Free Application for Federal Student Aid.(ii) The California Dream Act application.(iii) Awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42.(iv) Any other federal or state financial aid application or program available for students with dependent children.(E) The California Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children.(F) The California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program.(G) Cost of attendance adjustment information, including the dependent care allowance.(H) Resources, as determined by the institution to be most appropriate, for campus or local childcare providers.(I) Any other financial support or income available for student parents.(c) Provide the student parent internet web page link to students as a part of campus orientations.(d) Provide to faculty the student parent internet web page link and encourage faculty to include the student parent internet web page link in their syllabi.(e) To ensure that the student parent internet web page remains useful to student parents, the student parent internet web page shall be reviewed and updated no later than the first day of every fall and spring semester or no later than the first day of every fall and spring quarter.
96108
97109
98110
99111 66027.81. Each campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, do all of the following:
100112
101113 (a) By no later than February 1, 2023, host on its internet website a student parent internet web page that is clearly visible and easily accessible from a drop-down menu on the internet home page of the campuss internet website and include the information described in subdivision (b) conspicuously on both the internet website of the campus via the student parent internet web page, and on the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution.
102114
103115 (b) (1) The student parent internet web page shall contain information that clearly lists all on- and off-campus student parent services and resources that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
104116
105117 (A) The description of the service or resource.
106118
107119 (B) The location where the service or resource is provided.
108120
109121 (C) The point of contact for the service or resource, including a name, telephone number, and email address.
110122
111123 (D) Any eligibility restrictions on accessing the service or resource.
112124
113125 (2) Of the services and resources provided on the student parent internet web page pursuant to paragraph (1), the student parent internet web page shall include, but is not limited to, information on the following on- and off-campus student parent services and resources:
114126
115127 (A) Priority registration for a student parent established pursuant to Section 66025.81.
116128
117129 (B) The CalFresh Program.
118130
119131 (C) (i) Federal and state tax credits, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
120132
121133 (I) The federal Earned Income Tax Credit.
122134
123135 (II) The California Earned Income Tax Credit.
124136
125137 (III) The Child Tax Credit.
126138
127139 (IV) The Young Child Tax Credit.
128140
129141 (V) The Foster Youth Tax Credit.
130142
131143 (VI) The federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.
132144
133145 (VII) The federal American Opportunity Tax Credit.
134146
135147 (VIII) The federal Lifetime Learning Credit.
136148
137149 (ii) Free tax filing services offered online through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance programs.
138150
139151 (D) State and federal financial aid applications and programs, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
140152
141153 (i) The Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
142154
143155 (ii) The California Dream Act application.
144156
145157 (iii) Awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42.
146158
147159 (iv) Any other federal or state financial aid application or program available for students with dependent children.
148160
149161 (E) The California Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
150162
151163 (F) The California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program.
152164
153165 (G) Cost of attendance adjustment information, including the dependent care allowance.
154166
155167 (H) Resources, as determined by the institution to be most appropriate, for campus or local childcare providers.
156168
157169 (I) Any other financial support or income available for student parents.
158170
159171 (c) Provide the student parent internet web page link to students as a part of campus orientations.
160172
161173 (d) Provide to faculty the student parent internet web page link and encourage faculty to include the student parent internet web page link in their syllabi.
162174
163175 (e) To ensure that the student parent internet web page remains useful to student parents, the student parent internet web page shall be reviewed and updated no later than the first day of every fall and spring semester or no later than the first day of every fall and spring quarter.
164176
165177 SEC. 3. Section 66027.82 is added to the Education Code, to read:66027.82. (a) For purposes of this section, student parent has the same meaning as defined in Section 66025.81.(b) On or before July 31, 2025, the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the office of the Chancellor of the California State University shall, and the office of the President of the University of California is requested to, develop and disseminate a policy to estimate and adjust cost of attendance information for student parents. The policy shall include student parent cost of attendance policy guidance that includes, but is not limited to, both of the following:(1) A financial aid methodology to calculate and update a student parents cost of attendance that includes the actual expected costs of food, housing, transportation, and dependent childcare. This methodology shall be based on available annual cost of attendance information that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:(A) Food plans developed by the United States Department of Agriculture.(B) The State Department of Social Services reimbursement ceilings for subsidized childcare, disaggregated by county, age, and types of care.(C) The actual cost of on-campus family housing, the cost of a student parents off-campus housing, and, if a student parent does not have safe or adequate housing, the fair market rent, as described in Section 888.113 of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations, for an apartment in the metropolitan area or nonmetropolitan county where the campus is located, disaggregated by student parent family size.(D) Transportation costs, disaggregated by student parent family size, that considers available information such as institutional survey responses and the Student Aid Commissions Student Expenses and Resources Survey.(2) Model instructions for purposes of all of the following:(A) Identifying a student parent for purposes of adjusting the student parents cost of attendance to include food, housing, transportation, and childcare expenses. The model instructions shall include, but are not limited to, confirmation by a financial aid officer based on information found in the student parents Free Application for Federal Student Aid or California Dream Act application.(B) Updating and posting cost of attendance and dependent care allowance information, using student-friendly language, on campus internet websites. The posted information shall include, but is not limited to, financial aid internet websites, and the student parent internet web page, as set forth in Section 66027.81.(C) Sharing cost of attendance information in admitted student materials.(D) Explaining the dependent care allowance to student parents.(E) Informing student parents of affordable childcare options offered by the campus or within the local community.(c) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, implement the policy developed and disseminated pursuant to subdivision (b).(d) (1) (A) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall establish a data element in the systemwide data management information system to identify student parents.(B) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, establish a data field in the campuss data management information system to identify student parents.(2) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, do all of the following:(A) Enter student parent data in the data field or the data element established pursuant to paragraph (1).(B) Report student parent data obtained pursuant to this subdivision to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, and the office of the President of the University of California, respectively, for their request of the governing board established pursuant to Section 10864 to include that student parent data in the California Cradle-to-Career Data System established pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 10850) of Chapter 8.5 of Part 7 of Division 1 of Title 1.(C) Use the data field or the data element established pursuant to paragraph (1) for additional purposes, which may include, but are not limited to, granting priority course registration and providing information about available public benefits to student parents.(e) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, update the campus net price calculator to include a baseline student parent cost estimate, disaggregated by age and number of dependent children, using the methodologies and information described in this section and any available federal guidance on best practices.
166178
167179 SEC. 3. Section 66027.82 is added to the Education Code, to read:
168180
169181 ### SEC. 3.
170182
171183 66027.82. (a) For purposes of this section, student parent has the same meaning as defined in Section 66025.81.(b) On or before July 31, 2025, the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the office of the Chancellor of the California State University shall, and the office of the President of the University of California is requested to, develop and disseminate a policy to estimate and adjust cost of attendance information for student parents. The policy shall include student parent cost of attendance policy guidance that includes, but is not limited to, both of the following:(1) A financial aid methodology to calculate and update a student parents cost of attendance that includes the actual expected costs of food, housing, transportation, and dependent childcare. This methodology shall be based on available annual cost of attendance information that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:(A) Food plans developed by the United States Department of Agriculture.(B) The State Department of Social Services reimbursement ceilings for subsidized childcare, disaggregated by county, age, and types of care.(C) The actual cost of on-campus family housing, the cost of a student parents off-campus housing, and, if a student parent does not have safe or adequate housing, the fair market rent, as described in Section 888.113 of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations, for an apartment in the metropolitan area or nonmetropolitan county where the campus is located, disaggregated by student parent family size.(D) Transportation costs, disaggregated by student parent family size, that considers available information such as institutional survey responses and the Student Aid Commissions Student Expenses and Resources Survey.(2) Model instructions for purposes of all of the following:(A) Identifying a student parent for purposes of adjusting the student parents cost of attendance to include food, housing, transportation, and childcare expenses. The model instructions shall include, but are not limited to, confirmation by a financial aid officer based on information found in the student parents Free Application for Federal Student Aid or California Dream Act application.(B) Updating and posting cost of attendance and dependent care allowance information, using student-friendly language, on campus internet websites. The posted information shall include, but is not limited to, financial aid internet websites, and the student parent internet web page, as set forth in Section 66027.81.(C) Sharing cost of attendance information in admitted student materials.(D) Explaining the dependent care allowance to student parents.(E) Informing student parents of affordable childcare options offered by the campus or within the local community.(c) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, implement the policy developed and disseminated pursuant to subdivision (b).(d) (1) (A) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall establish a data element in the systemwide data management information system to identify student parents.(B) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, establish a data field in the campuss data management information system to identify student parents.(2) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, do all of the following:(A) Enter student parent data in the data field or the data element established pursuant to paragraph (1).(B) Report student parent data obtained pursuant to this subdivision to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, and the office of the President of the University of California, respectively, for their request of the governing board established pursuant to Section 10864 to include that student parent data in the California Cradle-to-Career Data System established pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 10850) of Chapter 8.5 of Part 7 of Division 1 of Title 1.(C) Use the data field or the data element established pursuant to paragraph (1) for additional purposes, which may include, but are not limited to, granting priority course registration and providing information about available public benefits to student parents.(e) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, update the campus net price calculator to include a baseline student parent cost estimate, disaggregated by age and number of dependent children, using the methodologies and information described in this section and any available federal guidance on best practices.
172184
173185 66027.82. (a) For purposes of this section, student parent has the same meaning as defined in Section 66025.81.(b) On or before July 31, 2025, the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the office of the Chancellor of the California State University shall, and the office of the President of the University of California is requested to, develop and disseminate a policy to estimate and adjust cost of attendance information for student parents. The policy shall include student parent cost of attendance policy guidance that includes, but is not limited to, both of the following:(1) A financial aid methodology to calculate and update a student parents cost of attendance that includes the actual expected costs of food, housing, transportation, and dependent childcare. This methodology shall be based on available annual cost of attendance information that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:(A) Food plans developed by the United States Department of Agriculture.(B) The State Department of Social Services reimbursement ceilings for subsidized childcare, disaggregated by county, age, and types of care.(C) The actual cost of on-campus family housing, the cost of a student parents off-campus housing, and, if a student parent does not have safe or adequate housing, the fair market rent, as described in Section 888.113 of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations, for an apartment in the metropolitan area or nonmetropolitan county where the campus is located, disaggregated by student parent family size.(D) Transportation costs, disaggregated by student parent family size, that considers available information such as institutional survey responses and the Student Aid Commissions Student Expenses and Resources Survey.(2) Model instructions for purposes of all of the following:(A) Identifying a student parent for purposes of adjusting the student parents cost of attendance to include food, housing, transportation, and childcare expenses. The model instructions shall include, but are not limited to, confirmation by a financial aid officer based on information found in the student parents Free Application for Federal Student Aid or California Dream Act application.(B) Updating and posting cost of attendance and dependent care allowance information, using student-friendly language, on campus internet websites. The posted information shall include, but is not limited to, financial aid internet websites, and the student parent internet web page, as set forth in Section 66027.81.(C) Sharing cost of attendance information in admitted student materials.(D) Explaining the dependent care allowance to student parents.(E) Informing student parents of affordable childcare options offered by the campus or within the local community.(c) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, implement the policy developed and disseminated pursuant to subdivision (b).(d) (1) (A) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall establish a data element in the systemwide data management information system to identify student parents.(B) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, establish a data field in the campuss data management information system to identify student parents.(2) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, do all of the following:(A) Enter student parent data in the data field or the data element established pursuant to paragraph (1).(B) Report student parent data obtained pursuant to this subdivision to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, and the office of the President of the University of California, respectively, for their request of the governing board established pursuant to Section 10864 to include that student parent data in the California Cradle-to-Career Data System established pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 10850) of Chapter 8.5 of Part 7 of Division 1 of Title 1.(C) Use the data field or the data element established pursuant to paragraph (1) for additional purposes, which may include, but are not limited to, granting priority course registration and providing information about available public benefits to student parents.(e) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, update the campus net price calculator to include a baseline student parent cost estimate, disaggregated by age and number of dependent children, using the methodologies and information described in this section and any available federal guidance on best practices.
174186
175187 66027.82. (a) For purposes of this section, student parent has the same meaning as defined in Section 66025.81.(b) On or before July 31, 2025, the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the office of the Chancellor of the California State University shall, and the office of the President of the University of California is requested to, develop and disseminate a policy to estimate and adjust cost of attendance information for student parents. The policy shall include student parent cost of attendance policy guidance that includes, but is not limited to, both of the following:(1) A financial aid methodology to calculate and update a student parents cost of attendance that includes the actual expected costs of food, housing, transportation, and dependent childcare. This methodology shall be based on available annual cost of attendance information that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:(A) Food plans developed by the United States Department of Agriculture.(B) The State Department of Social Services reimbursement ceilings for subsidized childcare, disaggregated by county, age, and types of care.(C) The actual cost of on-campus family housing, the cost of a student parents off-campus housing, and, if a student parent does not have safe or adequate housing, the fair market rent, as described in Section 888.113 of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations, for an apartment in the metropolitan area or nonmetropolitan county where the campus is located, disaggregated by student parent family size.(D) Transportation costs, disaggregated by student parent family size, that considers available information such as institutional survey responses and the Student Aid Commissions Student Expenses and Resources Survey.(2) Model instructions for purposes of all of the following:(A) Identifying a student parent for purposes of adjusting the student parents cost of attendance to include food, housing, transportation, and childcare expenses. The model instructions shall include, but are not limited to, confirmation by a financial aid officer based on information found in the student parents Free Application for Federal Student Aid or California Dream Act application.(B) Updating and posting cost of attendance and dependent care allowance information, using student-friendly language, on campus internet websites. The posted information shall include, but is not limited to, financial aid internet websites, and the student parent internet web page, as set forth in Section 66027.81.(C) Sharing cost of attendance information in admitted student materials.(D) Explaining the dependent care allowance to student parents.(E) Informing student parents of affordable childcare options offered by the campus or within the local community.(c) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, implement the policy developed and disseminated pursuant to subdivision (b).(d) (1) (A) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall establish a data element in the systemwide data management information system to identify student parents.(B) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, establish a data field in the campuss data management information system to identify student parents.(2) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, do all of the following:(A) Enter student parent data in the data field or the data element established pursuant to paragraph (1).(B) Report student parent data obtained pursuant to this subdivision to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, and the office of the President of the University of California, respectively, for their request of the governing board established pursuant to Section 10864 to include that student parent data in the California Cradle-to-Career Data System established pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 10850) of Chapter 8.5 of Part 7 of Division 1 of Title 1.(C) Use the data field or the data element established pursuant to paragraph (1) for additional purposes, which may include, but are not limited to, granting priority course registration and providing information about available public benefits to student parents.(e) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, update the campus net price calculator to include a baseline student parent cost estimate, disaggregated by age and number of dependent children, using the methodologies and information described in this section and any available federal guidance on best practices.
176188
177189
178190
179191 66027.82. (a) For purposes of this section, student parent has the same meaning as defined in Section 66025.81.
180192
181193 (b) On or before July 31, 2025, the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the office of the Chancellor of the California State University shall, and the office of the President of the University of California is requested to, develop and disseminate a policy to estimate and adjust cost of attendance information for student parents. The policy shall include student parent cost of attendance policy guidance that includes, but is not limited to, both of the following:
182194
183195 (1) A financial aid methodology to calculate and update a student parents cost of attendance that includes the actual expected costs of food, housing, transportation, and dependent childcare. This methodology shall be based on available annual cost of attendance information that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
184196
185197 (A) Food plans developed by the United States Department of Agriculture.
186198
187199 (B) The State Department of Social Services reimbursement ceilings for subsidized childcare, disaggregated by county, age, and types of care.
188200
189201 (C) The actual cost of on-campus family housing, the cost of a student parents off-campus housing, and, if a student parent does not have safe or adequate housing, the fair market rent, as described in Section 888.113 of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations, for an apartment in the metropolitan area or nonmetropolitan county where the campus is located, disaggregated by student parent family size.
190202
191203 (D) Transportation costs, disaggregated by student parent family size, that considers available information such as institutional survey responses and the Student Aid Commissions Student Expenses and Resources Survey.
192204
193205 (2) Model instructions for purposes of all of the following:
194206
195207 (A) Identifying a student parent for purposes of adjusting the student parents cost of attendance to include food, housing, transportation, and childcare expenses. The model instructions shall include, but are not limited to, confirmation by a financial aid officer based on information found in the student parents Free Application for Federal Student Aid or California Dream Act application.
196208
197209 (B) Updating and posting cost of attendance and dependent care allowance information, using student-friendly language, on campus internet websites. The posted information shall include, but is not limited to, financial aid internet websites, and the student parent internet web page, as set forth in Section 66027.81.
198210
199211 (C) Sharing cost of attendance information in admitted student materials.
200212
201213 (D) Explaining the dependent care allowance to student parents.
202214
203215 (E) Informing student parents of affordable childcare options offered by the campus or within the local community.
204216
205217 (c) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, implement the policy developed and disseminated pursuant to subdivision (b).
206218
207219 (d) (1) (A) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall establish a data element in the systemwide data management information system to identify student parents.
208220
209221 (B) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, establish a data field in the campuss data management information system to identify student parents.
210222
211223 (2) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, do all of the following:
212224
213225 (A) Enter student parent data in the data field or the data element established pursuant to paragraph (1).
214226
215227 (B) Report student parent data obtained pursuant to this subdivision to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, and the office of the President of the University of California, respectively, for their request of the governing board established pursuant to Section 10864 to include that student parent data in the California Cradle-to-Career Data System established pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 10850) of Chapter 8.5 of Part 7 of Division 1 of Title 1.
216228
217229 (C) Use the data field or the data element established pursuant to paragraph (1) for additional purposes, which may include, but are not limited to, granting priority course registration and providing information about available public benefits to student parents.
218230
219231 (e) On or before the start of the 202627 academic year, each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, update the campus net price calculator to include a baseline student parent cost estimate, disaggregated by age and number of dependent children, using the methodologies and information described in this section and any available federal guidance on best practices.
220232
221233 SEC. 4. 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.
222234
223235 SEC. 4. 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.
224236
225237 SEC. 4. 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.
226238
227239 ### SEC. 4.