Bill Text: CA AB524 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Postsecondary education: Campus-Recognized Sorority and Fraternity Transparency Act.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Passed) 2022-09-13 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 268, Statutes of 2022. [AB524 Detail]
Download: California-2021-AB524-Introduced.html
Bill Title: Postsecondary education: Campus-Recognized Sorority and Fraternity Transparency Act.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Passed) 2022-09-13 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 268, Statutes of 2022. [AB524 Detail]
Download: California-2021-AB524-Introduced.html
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 524
| Introduced by Assembly Member Rodriguez |
February 10, 2021 |
An act to add Chapter 5.2 (commencing with Section 66310) to Part 40 of Division 5 of Title 3 of the Education Code, relating to postsecondary education.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 524, as introduced, Rodriguez.
Postsecondary education: Campus-Affiliated Sorority and Fraternity Transparency Act.
Existing law establishes the University of California, the California State University, the California Community Colleges, independent institutions of higher education, and private postsecondary educational institutions as the segments of postsecondary education in this state. Existing law requests the Trustees of the California State University, the Regents of the University of California, and the governing board of each community college district to adopt and publish policies on harassment, intimidation, and bullying to be included within the rules and regulations governing student behavior.
This bill would establish the Campus-Affiliated Sorority and Fraternity Transparency Act, which would require each institution of higher education to include in the institution’s requirements for campus recognition of a campus-affiliated sorority or
fraternity, as defined, a requirement that the institution collect from the sorority or fraternity on or before July 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, specified information, and a requirement that the institution suspend the campus recognition of any sorority or fraternity that does not comply with the collection requirements. The bill would require each institution with sororities or fraternities to compile the collected information into a publicly accessible report posted, and archived, on each respective campus’ internet website on or before August 1, 2022, and annually thereafter. To the extent this bill would impose 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: YESBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 5.2 (commencing with Section 66310) is added to Part 40 of Division 5 of Title 3 of the Education Code, to read:CHAPTER 5.2. Campus-Affiliated Sorority and Fraternity Transparency Act
66310.
This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Campus-Affiliated Sorority and Fraternity Transparency Act.66312.
(a) As used in this chapter, the following definitions apply:(1) “Academic year” has the same meaning as in Section 69432.7.
(2) (A) “Campus-affiliated sorority or fraternity” or “organization” means a sorority or fraternity recognized as an affiliated sorority or fraternity of the institution by the official authorizing body at the institution where it operates.
(B) As used in this chapter, this definition does not include a collegiate honor society.
(3) “Clery Act” means the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security
Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1092(f)).
(4) “Institution of higher education” or “institution” means a campus of the California Community Colleges, the California State University, or the University of California, a private postsecondary educational institution, or an independent institution of higher education.
(5) “Misconduct” means any conduct reportable under the Clery Act.
(6) “Sexual assault” has the same meaning as under the Clery Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1092(f)(6)(A)(v), as it read on January 1, 2021).
(b) Notwithstanding Section 67400, each institution of higher education shall include in the institution’s requirements for campus recognition of each campus-affiliated sorority or fraternity, both of the following
requirements:
(1) (A) A requirement that the institution shall collect from the organization on or before July 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, all of the following:
(i) The number of active members in the organization.
(ii) The number of new members added to the organization.
(iii) The average grade point average of the membership of the organization.
(iv) The total amount of money earned through fundraising by the organization.
(v) Any outcomes of allegations of misconduct by the organization or any member of the organization.
(vi) The
organization’s current recognition status by the campus.
(vii) The current conduct status of the organization, as determined by the institution.
(viii) The number of citations, or disciplinary actions taken, relating to sexual assault by a member of the organization.
(ix) Any additional information the institution may require.
(B) Unless otherwise specified, the information collected pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be for the academic year immediately preceding the reporting deadline.
(2) A requirement that any organization that does not comply with the institution’s collection of information pursuant to paragraph (1) be suspended from campus recognition.
(c) (1) The institution shall compile the information collected pursuant to subdivision (b) into a publicly accessible report published on each respective campus’ internet website on or before August 1, 2022, and annually thereafter. Each annual report shall be archived and remain available on the campus internet website.
(2) An institution that does not have any organization, as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), shall be exempt from the reporting requirement of this subdivision.
(3) The report shall not include any personally identifiable information and shall comply with all applicable state and federal privacy laws, including, but not limited to, the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1232g).
(d) On or before July 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, a fraternity or sorority chapter that is unaffiliated with the institution and has at least a majority of its membership made up of students enrolled at the institution is encouraged to provide information described in subdivision (b) to the institution.
(e) The Legislature finds and declares that the Clery Act, as it read on January 1, 2021, requires the institution to collect the information described in subdivision (b).
