February, 2021

In this Issue:

  • Governor’s Budget Emphasizes Equitable and Broad-Based Recovery
  • Legislation Impacting Community Colleges
  • California Community Colleges Meet with Congressional Leaders
  • Who’s Who in the Biden Administration
  • Capitol Weekly Podcast: Education at the Ballot Box
  • Join Us for our Next GR Webinar: Tuesday, February 16 at 11:00 a.m.
  • Federal Grant Opportunities
  • Upcoming Events

Governor’s Budget Emphasizes Equitable and Broad-Based Recovery

Amidst a pandemic, mounting unemployment claims, and social unrest, Governor Newsom’s 2021-22 January Budget Proposal reflects a $15 billion surplus in mostly one-time funds. Although smaller than the Legislative Analyst’s Office's earlier prediction of a $26 billion windfall, the $15 billion figure is still welcomed by those dependent upon state resources, particularly since the subsequent three fiscal years are all predicted as deficits.

Newsom’s spending blueprint reflects his theme for an “Equitable and Broad-Based Recovery,” which distinctly aligns with the League’s call to shift from a “K-Shaped Recovery,” where only a few benefit to that of an “E-Shape,” where targeted investments in education facilitate economic prosperity and social participation for all. Newsom’s priority to strengthen the linkages between higher education and gainful employment is also one that the League strongly supports.

For California Community Colleges, the Governor proposes $250 million of the one-time funds on direct student assistance through a combination of an early action plan and the regular budget process. Other aspects of the budget include funds for technology, mental health, apprenticeships, professional development, expansion of zero-cost textbook pathways, instructional equipment, and anti-racism initiatives. Of considerable note, the January budget proposes a $1.13 billion buy-down of the current year $1.45 billion in deferrals.

While the League is grateful to the Governor for his support of community colleges, it is critical that we advocate for the following three priorities:

  1. The need to infuse greater base resources for our districts to keep pace with increasing costs and to maintain capacity for their students and communities;
  2. The need to maximize flexibility and local control over funds designated for operational needs and student support;
  3. The need for lawmakers to thoroughly evaluate the interplay between state and federal support to ensure that some efforts are not duplicated while others are left behind.

In addition, the League has found considerable support for examining the wide disparity in the proposed COLA between California Community Colleges and K-12, 1.15 percent versus 3.84 percent, respectively. Lawmakers have also noted the absence of proposed funds for deferred maintenance.

Since the operations of the Legislature are still limited by COVID-19, there will be fewer hearings than normal on the budget. The League encourages participation at the major Budget Subcommittee hearings on community colleges as listed below. Please note that times and dates are subject to change.

  • Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education: Wednesday, February 17, 9:00 am
  • Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance: Tuesday, February 23, 9:00 am

Postscript: On February 4, Governor Newsom announced that state revenue collection is upwards of $10 billion more than anticipated with details on the nature of this money to be announced. Follow developments on this and other budget news at https://ccleague.org/advocacy/budget-analysis-and-talking-points.


Legislation Impacting Community Colleges

State lawmakers have introduced over 900 pieces of legislation. League staff is currently identifying legislation of interest to California Community Colleges. Legislators have until Friday, February 19th to introduce new bills.

The legislature appears to be focused on expanding broadband access, providing support for students during the pandemic, and closing equity gaps. Below is a preliminary list of community college related legislation that will impact your institution and/or students. For questions about legislation, contact to the League staff at advocacy@ccleague.org. For a full list, please click here.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

AB 275 (Medina) Classified Employees
Currently, colleges and collective bargaining units are permitted to negotiate the length of a probationary period for a newly hired employee for up to one year. This bill would reduce the maximum length of time from one year to six months.

AB 375 (Medina) Part Time Faculty Load
Would require that negotiation on reemployment preference for part-time, temporary faculty assignments be based on the minimum standards not exceeding 80% to 85% of a full-time equivalent load and would prohibit the community college district from restricting the terms of the negotiated agreement to less than that range, unless explicitly agreed upon by an individual part-time, temporary faculty member and the district.

AB 438 (Reyes) Classified Employees: Layoff Notices and Hearings
Would provide classified school employees with the same rights to a notice and hearing with respect to layoffs as is provided to certificated employees of school districts or academic employees at community colleges.

SB 205 (Leyva) Employee Sick Leave
Would require an employee, who exhausts all available sick leave and continues to be absent from duties on account of illness or accident for an additional period of 5 months to receive the employee’s full salary during those 5 months.

SB 270 (Durazo) Employee Information
Current law requires public employers to provide contact information of new employees to their collective bargaining agents. This bill would make public employers eligible for fines if they fail to provide accurate information to that agent.

CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION

AB 299 (Villapudua) Career Technical Education: Apprenticeship Grant Program
Would provide supplemental grants to students who qualify for the Federal Pell Grant or for state financial aid and who participate in approved apprenticeship programs through campuses of the California Community Colleges.

DUAL ENROLLMENT

AB 102 (Holden) College and Career Access Pathways: Sunset Date
Would remove the current sunset date of 2027 of College and Career Access Pathways program, which would significantly expand our college’s ability to provide dual enrollment opportunities to high school students.

AB 103 (Holden) College and Career Access Pathways: County Offices of Education
Would permit County Offices of Education to enter into College and Career Access Pathways agreements with community colleges.

FACILITY CONSTRUCTION

AB 75 (O’Donnell) Statewide K-14 Facilities Bond
Would authorize a statewide facilities bond to fund construction and modernization of facilities at K-12 and community colleges to go before voters in 2022. It does not specify an amount or how the funds would be allocated amongst systems.

SB 22 (Glazer) Statewide K-12, Community Colleges, CSU and UC Facilities Bond
Would authorize a statewide facilities bond to fund construction and modernization of facilities at K-12 community colleges, the CSU and the UC to go before voters in 2022. If passed it would generate $15 billion for facilities construction, $3 billion of which would go to community colleges.

AB 337 (Medina) Board of Governors Student Members
Currently, there are two student members on the Board of Governors, one of which cannot vote on board actions. This bill would provide the second student member a vote.


California Community Colleges Meet with Congressional Leaders 

ACCT’s National Legislative Summit, held February 8-10, shines a spotlight on the importance of our nation’s community colleges. The event is designed to inform and educate community college leaders on federal policy issues that impact postsecondary institutions and students. A key component of the National Legislative Summit is the opportunity for California Community College advocates to meet with their federal representatives in Washington, D.C.

Due to the pandemic, this year’s summit was held virtually, and community college leaders met with their congressional representatives via Zoom, phone, or other video conferencing communication. Leadership from the Community College League of California, the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges, and the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office met with over 15 congressional offices, including chairs of critical committees related to our colleges, and also leaders in our California Congressional Delegation.

Many of the meetings focused on the impact of COVID-19 on our students and how a stimulus package could help them further their educational goals. Other topics included, how we can best preserve the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, increasing the Pell Grant, and how to provide consumer protections for students at for-profits.

Rather than having an in-person breakfast, the League and the Chancellor’s Office hosted a virtual briefing featuring a keynote by Martha Kanter, CEO of College Promise. Prior to her current position, Dr. Kanter served as the U.S. Under Secretary of Education for the Obama Administration and Chancellor of Foothill-De Anza Community College District. She spoke about how colleges can be involved in a pro-equity agenda. If you missed the event, click here to view the recording.


Who’s Who in the Biden Administration

With the inauguration of President Joe Biden, there will be numerous changes to our federal government. Below is a quick summary of some of the more significant changes to key positions in the new Administration.

Key Biden-Harris Cabinet Members

Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services –Served as California Attorney General and U.S. Congressman representing Los Angeles.
Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of Transportation – A former Presidential candidate, while Mayor of Fort Wayne, Indiana he was the commencement speaker at Ivy Tech Community College.
Miguel Cardona, Secretary of Education – Connecticut Education Commissioner.
Marcia Fudge, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development – As U.S. Congresswoman representing Cleveland, Ohio, she was a champion of Cuyahoga Community College initiatives.
Jennifer Granholm, Secretary of Energy – During her previous service as Governor of Michigan, community college enrollment in the state increased 50 percent.
Deb Haaland, Secretary of the Interior – U.S. Congresswoman from Albuquerque, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo.
Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security – Served as Deputy Homeland Security Secretary during the Obama administration.
Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs – Served as White House Chief of Staff during the Obama administration.
Gina Raimondo, Secretary of Commerce – While Governor of Rhode Island, she promoted free community college.
Michael Regan, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator – Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.
Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture – While serving as President Obama’s Agriculture Secretary, he brought the White House Rural Economic Forum to community college campuses.
Marty Walsh, Secretary of Labor – While serving as Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, he promoted free community college.

Key White House Staff Members

Ron Klain, White House Chief of Staff – Was Vice President Biden’s Chief of Staff during the Obama administration.
Cedric Richmond, Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement – While serving as U.S. Congressman from New Orleans, Louisiana, Richmond hosted an Annual Small Business Expo at Delgado Community College.
Julie Chávez Rodriguez, Director, White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs – A Californian, she is the granddaughter of labor and Latino civil rights activist César Chávez.
Julissa Reynoso Pantaleon, Chief of Staff to the First Lady – Pantaleon served at the State Department during the Obama administration.
Anthony Bernal, Senior Advisor to the First Lady – Bernal was Second Lady Jill Biden’s staffer for the White House Community College Initiative during the Obama administration.


Capitol Weekly Podcast: Education at the Ballot Box

Thank you again to everyone who attended the League's 2021 Annual Legislative Conference: Advocating for an Equity-Based Economy. During the virtual conference, we were pleased to be joined by an esteemed list of speakers.

Monday, January 25
Tolani Britton, Assistant Professor Graduate School of Education, University of California, Berkeley
Assemblymember Kevin McCarty, Assembly District 7, California State Assembly
Senator John Laird, Senate District 17, California State Senate
Gabriel Petek, Legislative Analyst
Paul Steenhausen, Principal Fiscal & Policy Analyst, Legislative Analyst’s Office

Tuesday, January 26
John Howard, Editor, Capitol Weekly
Tim Foster, Executive Director, Open California (Capitol Weekly)
Senator Connie Leyva, Senate District 20, California State Senate and Chair of the Senate Education Committee
Assemblymember Jose Medina, Assembly District 61, California State Assembly and Chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee

Our Tuesday morning session Education at the Ballot Box: A Moderated Conversation with Veteran Campaign Consultant Gale Kaufman was featured on the Capitol Weekly Podcast. A special thanks to John Howard and Tim Foster for joining us at the Annual Legislative Conference and for leading the discussion.

Click Here to Listen to the Podcast Episode


Join Us for our Next Webinar: Tuesday, February 16 at 11:00 a.m.

The Biden Administration is negotiating with Congressional leaders on another stimulus package to assist our nation in its recovery from the pandemic. Join the League's Monthly Government Relations Webinar on Tuesday, February 16 at 11:00 am for a federal update on current stimulus efforts. Get questions answered like...

  • How will the current proposal affect higher education and your institution?
  • How quickly will there be an agreement?
  • And what do you need to know as higher education leaders?

This session is your opportunity to hear from our Washington DC-based consultant Tom Downs and to learn how your college can advocate for further federal funding.

2021 Webinar Schedule
Every third Tuesday of the month, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Tuesday, February 16
Tuesday, March 16
Tuesday, April 20
Tuesday, May 18
Tuesday, June 15
Tuesday, July 20
Tuesday, August 17
Tuesday, September 21
Tuesday, October 19

Webinar Details
Telephone Number: (646) 876-9923 or (669) 900-6833
Zoom Meeting ID: 623 780 059
Passcode: 550660

Registration
Be sure to register in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about joining the webinar.


Federal Grant Opportunities

Presented by Downs Government Affairs

The League, in partnership with Downs Government Affairs, provides a list of federal grants to assist your community college in improving its programs and services. If you have any questions about the following grants, please feel free to reach out to Thomas Downs at TCDowns@downsgovaffairs.com.

For a full list of federal grants available to community colleges, visit our Federal Grants page at www.ccleague.org/federal-grant-opportunites


Upcoming Events

Consultation Council
February 18

ACCCA 2021 Summit
February 17-18 | Virtual Conference

CEO Symposium
February 25-26 | Virtual Conference

Innovation in the Energy Workforce
Every Wednesday in March | Webinar Series

Board of Governors Meeting
March 22-23

CCPRO Conference
April 9, 16, 23, 30 | Virtual Conference

Black Student Success Week
April 26-30 | Daily Webinars (12:00-1:00 p.m.)


For more information, contact the League's Government Relations and Communications staff: advocacy@ccleague.org

Follow League Tracked Bills at: www.ccleague.org/advocacy/bill-tracking
For news related to the State Budget and Policy visit: www.ccleague.org/advocacy

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