Bill Text: CA AB2648 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Public postsecondary education: dedicated revenue source.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-02-27 - Read first time. [AB2648 Detail]

Download: California-2011-AB2648-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 2648	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Williams

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2012

   An act relating to public postsecondary education.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2648, as introduced, Williams. Public postsecondary education:
dedicated revenue source.
   Existing law establishes the system of public postsecondary
education in this state, which consists of 3 segments: the University
of California, under the administration of the Regents of the
University of California, the California State University, under the
administration of the Trustees of the California State University,
and the California Community Colleges, under the administration of
the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges.
   This bill would express findings and declarations of the
Legislature with respect to the funding of public postsecondary
education in this state. The bill would express the intent of the
Legislature to enact legislation that would increase the state's
investment in public postsecondary education and to find a dedicated
revenue source to fund public postsecondary education in California.

   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (1) Each year, millions of Californians pursue degrees and
certificates at the state's institutions of higher education.
   (2) The University of California educates approximately 237,800
undergraduate and graduate students at its 10 campuses, and is the
primary institution authorized to independently award doctoral
degrees and professional degrees in law, medicine, business,
dentistry, veterinary medicine, and other programs.
   (3) The California State University has 23 campuses and
approximately 412,000 students, and is the largest, most diverse, and
affordable university system in the country.
   (4) The California Community Colleges provides educational,
vocational, and transfer programs to approximately 2,600,000
students, and is the largest system of higher education in the world.

   (5) General Fund support for higher education has declined since
the 2007-08 fiscal year.
   (6) Increases in student tuition and fees, and declining course
offerings, have made it difficult for students to complete their
certifications and degrees in a timely manner.
   (7) Graduates from the state's public postsecondary education
system contribute to industries that drive the state's economy.
   (8) Funding public postsecondary education is an investment in
California's economy.
   (b) Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation that would increase the state's investment in public
postsecondary education and to find a dedicated revenue source to
fund public postsecondary education in California.