Legislative Actions

California's community colleges are encouraged to take action on the following bills during the 2021-22 California legislative cycle. For questions about any of the bills or suggested actions, contact Andrew Martinez, Director of Government Relations, at amartinez@ccleague.org.

AB 102

 
Assembly Bill 102
Author: Assemblymember Chris Holden
Title:  College and Career Access Pathways Partnerships

League Position: SUPPORT
Action due by: May 14, 2021 (Policy Deadline)
Click here to read the bill text

What does the bill do?

  • AB 102 removes the sunset on CCAP partnerships allowing our colleges to plan for the future as they work with their K-12 partners.
  • The current authorization for these programs has a sunset date of January 2027.
  • AB 102 ensures the success of CCAP by making this authority permanent.

Why does it matter to the colleges and districts?

  • Allows high school students who may not have as many opportunities to begin their college-level coursework
  • It helps prepare students academically for their time in higher education and decreases their time to degree.
  • Allows our colleges to partner with K-12 schools and create meaningful pathways for underrepresented student groups. 

What is the ask?

Please write a letter of support to your legislators in support of this bill. For a template letter, click here. To find your California representative, click here.

AB 927

 
Assembly Bill 927
Author: Assemblymember Jose Medina
Title: Community Colleges: Statewide Baccalaureate Degree Pilot Program

League Position: SUPPORT
Action due by: May 14, 2021 (Policy Deadline)
Click here to read the bill text

What does the bill do?

  • Removes the pilot program status for baccalaureate degrees offered by the community colleges and makes the authority permanent.
  • Removes the restrictions limiting only 15 districts to participate, with each district only being allowed to offer one degree.
  • It still requires consultation with the CSU and UC, including an assessment of the degree to determine if it is duplicative of an existing baccalaureate offering.

Why does it matter to the colleges and our communities?

  • Allows colleges to develop degrees that address regional needs and lead directly to employment opportunities.
  • Degrees would be affordable, half the price of a CSU degree at around $10,000 over four years and significantly less than comparable programs at for-profit institutions.
  • By allowing students to earn a baccalaureate degree, graduates would make more and have a greater chance to advance in their chosen profession.

What is the ask?

Please write a letter of support to your legislators in support of this bill. For a template letter, click here. To find your California representative, click here.

 

AB 1456

 
Assembly Bill 1456
Author: Assemblymember Jose Medina
Title: The Cal Grant Reform Act

League Position: SUPPORT
Action due by: May 14, 2021 (Policy Deadline)
Click here to read the bill text

What does the bill do?

  • AB 1456 establishes two streams of financial aid to focus on the specific needs of students at two-year colleges and four-year universities. The programs would be renamed as Cal Grant 2 and Cal Grant 4.
  • For students at the community college, AB 1456 (under Cal Grant 2) would increase the numbers eligible for aid from 124,000 to a little over 360,000. Students would receive the current $1,656 level of access award with an adjustment tied to inflation.
  • It would shift California’s financial aid system to student need model that removes eligibility requirements for age, GPA, and time out of high school.

What is significant for community colleges?

  • AB 1456 proposes a framework for financial aid using the total cost of attendance as the college affordability benchmark rather than solely tuition.
  • Cal Grant 2 would guarantee an access award (entitlement) for all California Community College (CCC) students with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $0 who do not have dependents.
  • AB 1456 would make it easier for non-traditional students like those who have families or have returned from the workforce seeking a college education to qualify for the award.
  • The bill recognizes that the cost to attend a CCC is not just tuition and that the total cost of attendance needs to be addressed as the state recovers financially.

What is the ask?

Support AB 1456 as amended. Use non-Proposition 98 General Fund dollars as a way of funding Cal Grant 2 and Cal Grant 4 .

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