Current Legislative Priorities
2021 Legislative Priorities
AB 99: Cradle to Career Data System Governance and Support
Author: Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin
Status: Senate Education Committee
Campaign Position: Support
Would establish the Cradle-to-Career Data System Governing Board to ensure the data system is serving its intended purpose of guiding data-driven policy that places student success at the forefront. It would also establish an office within the Government Operations Agency and two advisory boards to ensure we are establishing and implementing equitable data-driven policy for our students.
AB 417: Rising Scholars Network
Author: Assemblymember Kevin McCarty
Status: Senate Education Committee
Campaign Position: Support
Would establish the Rising Scholar Network across California Community College campuses to provide support services for formerly incarcerated students.
Author: Assemblymember Jose Medina
Status: Two-Year Bill
Campaign Position: Position
Would establish clear criteria for how the CSU and UC consider, adopt, and implement new eligibility requirements by requiring collaboration with education entities that would be impacted by policy changes; an independent third-party study on the potential impact the policy change would have on students, especially low-income students and students of color; presentation of proposed policy changes to the Legislature; and development of a committee to oversee a multi-year plan, should a policy change be adopted.
AB 928: Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021
Author: Assemblymember Marc Berman
Status: Senate Education Committee
Campaign Position: Sponsor
Would enhance state-level accountability through the creation of an intersegmental committee, streamlining general education requirements across the California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) systems, and establishing the Associate Degree for Transfer as the preferred transfer pathway.
Author: Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes
Status: Senate Education Committee
Campaign Position: Support
AB 1111: Common Course Numbering
Author: Assemblymember Marc Berman
Status: Senate Education Committee
Campaign Position: Support
Would create a common course numbering system at California Community Colleges, giving comparable courses the same course number across all of community colleges and saving California’s college students unnecessary confusion, time, and money while also streamlining transfer, reducing excess credit accumulation, and making it easier and more accessible for students to pursue their higher education dreams.
AB 1456: Cal Grant Equity Framework
Author: Assemblymember Jose Medina
Status: Senate Education Committee
Campaign Position: Support
Would enact the Cal Grant Reform Act and provide needed restructuring to a Cal Grant system that currently lacks equity in aid disbursement by: 1. Aligning state and federal financial aid policies to create a more coordinated approach to college affordability to serve students most effectively. 2. Consolidating multiple Cal Grant programs into the two Cal Grant awards, guaranteeing access to an award for all CCC students with a $0 Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and the maintaining tuition/fee awards to all four-year institution students with Pell eligible status. 3. Enhancing access awards for Students with Dependent Children with $0 EFC to address basic needs. 4. Eliminating age limits, time-out-of high school limitations, and GPA thresholds.
SB 309: College for All: A-G Completion Grants
Author: Senator Connie Leyva
Status: Assembly Education Committee
Campaign Position: Support (Co-Sponsor via College for All Coalition)
Would establish a $200 million grant program to support California high schools in ensuring more students successfully complete high school A-G requirements, increasing four-year college access for thousands of students across the state.
SB 416: Incarcerated Student Bill of Rights
Author: Senator Ben Hueso
Status: Assembly Public Safety Committee
Campaign Position: Support
Would ensure that incarcerated students have access to a high-quality education, are protected from predatory for-profit institutions, and can pursue the educational and career pathway of their choice
SB 702: Gubernatorial Appointments Diversity Reports
Author: Senator Monique Limón
Status: Assembly Accountability & Admin. Review Committee
Campaign Position: Support
Would establish an annual report, published on the website of the Office of the Governor, on the demographic information of gubernatorial appointees and applicants and would establish a working group to discuss and make recommendations on the most effective way to ensure the state’s boards and commissions reflect the diversity of the state.
Previously Sponsored and Supported
2020 Legislative Priorities
AB 1930: Student Eligibility Policy Oversight at the CSU and UC
Author: Assemblymember Jose Medina
Status: Held in Senate Appropriations Suspense File
Campaign Position: Support
Would require the California State University (CSU) and request the University of California (UC) to coordinate student eligibility requirements, as well as utilize a protocol for assessing the impact of proposed changes to student eligibility policy and monitoring their implementation.
AB 2341: Rising Scholars Network at California Community Colleges
Author: Assemblymember Kevin McCarty
Status: Died in Senate Education Committee
Campaign Position: Support
Would authorize the California Community College Chancellor’s Office to establish the Rising Scholars Network, a program that provides college support services for justice-involved students.
AB 2884: California Community College Funding for Student Support Services
Author: Assemblymember Marc Berman
Status: Signed by Governor Newsom
Campaign Position: Support
Would allow California Community College districts to utilize restricted lottery funds to provide housing and food assistance directly to students.
AB 2972: Online Administrator Training to Support Undocumented Students
Author: Assemblymember Monique Limon
Status: Died in Senate Education
Campaign Position: Support
Would require the California Community Colleges and the California State Universities, and request the University of California, to create an online training program for campus administrators to complete annually relating to undocumented student support.
ACA 5: Repeal the Affirmative Action Ban in California
Author: Assemblymember Shirley Weber
Status: Passed by the Legislature. Ballot Measure (Proposition 16) failed in the November 2020 election.
Campaign Position: Support
Would establish ballot measure in the November election to repeal the statewide ban on affirmative action.