Bill Text: CA SB181 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Public postsecondary education: student fee policy.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-01-31 - Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [SB181 Detail]
Download: California-2011-SB181-Introduced.html
BILL NUMBER: SB 181 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Senator Liu
FEBRUARY 7, 2011
An act to add Article 3.5 (commencing with Section 66027) to
Chapter 2 of Part 40 of Division 5 of Title 3 of the Education Code,
relating to public postsecondary education.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 181, as introduced, Liu. Public postsecondary education:
student fee policy.
Existing law, known as the Donahoe Higher Education Act, provides
for a public postsecondary education system in this state. This
system consists of the University of California, the California State
University, and the California Community Colleges. Existing law
authorizes these institutions to require that mandatory systemwide
fees, among other fees, be paid by students at these institutions.
The provisions of the Donahoe Higher Education Act apply to the
University of California only to the extent that the Regents of the
University of California act by resolution to make them applicable.
This bill would prohibit any increase in the mandatory systemwide
fees charged to a resident undergraduate student enrolled in the
University of California or the California State University adopted
on or after July 1, 2012, from being effective before 3 months have
elapsed after the date on which the fee increase is adopted. The bill
would also require the regents and the Trustees of the California
State University to develop methodologies for the adjustment of fees
in accordance with a prescribed procedure. The bill, commencing with
the 2012-13 academic year, would require the Legislative Analyst's
Office to annually review, and report to the Legislature, its
findings, conclusions, or recommendations regarding the
implementation of policies implemented pursuant to the bill.
This bill would provide that its provisions would not apply to the
University of California, except to the extent that the regents
adopt a resolution making them applicable. The bill would request the
regents to adopt policies that are consistent with this bill.
These provisions would become operative on July 1, 2012.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
(a) The state has long recognized the value of providing broad
access to postsecondary education to the state's citizens. It has
demonstrated that commitment by investing in postsecondary education
and maintaining public student fee levels that are fiscally
responsible and affordable. The student fee principles expressed
herein seek to continue the state's historic commitment to ensuring
access and maintaining quality throughout the state's public
universities while recognizing the fiscal challenges that confront
both the state and postsecondary education.
(b) Historically, the state has borne the preponderance of
responsibility for providing the fiscal resources necessary to ensure
that all eligible state residents have access to high-quality
educational opportunities at the state's public colleges and
universities. Further, the state bears the principal and overarching
responsibility for ensuring that all financially needy students have
the financial assistance necessary for them to enroll in institutions
of higher education and complete their postsecondary education
objectives.
(c) Changes in resident student fees or in student financial aid
funding or packaging policies should take into consideration the
total cost to the student of attending the university, including
mandatory campus-based student fees, housing and living expenses, as
well as all other expenses associated with university attendance.
(d) Any necessary increases in mandatory systemwide fees should be
accompanied by appropriate increases in funding for need-based
student financial aid.
SEC. 2. Article 3.5 (commencing with Section 66027) is added to
Chapter 2 of Part 40 of Division 5 of Title 3 of the Education Code,
to read:
Article 3.5. Student Fee Policy
66027. The following state policies regarding mandatory
systemwide resident fees and financial aid are established for
undergraduate students enrolled in the state's public universities:
(a) The total cost of a public postsecondary education should be a
shared responsibility of students, families, and the State of
California. However, in order to keep resident undergraduate student
fees at the state's public universities as low and affordable as
possible, the state shall bear the preponderance of responsibility
for funding postsecondary education.
(b) So that students and their families can better prepare
financially for college expenses, any changes in resident student
fees should be gradual, moderate, and predictable. Any potential
adjustments in resident student fees should take into consideration,
and be balanced with, available state General Fund revenues to ensure
that the access, quality, and affordability of the state's public
universities are not adversely affected.
(c) Changes in resident student fees should take into
consideration a number of factors, including the total cost of
educating a student, the appropriate share of the cost of instruction
to be paid by the student, and information concerning families'
ability to pay. Student financial aid policy and programs should
ensure affordability for students from all income levels. Recognition
of these indicators will better ensure that changes in resident
student fees are gradual and moderate.
(d) As changes in resident student fees and financial aid
resources are considered, the state should have an understanding of
the impact that these changes will have on both current and
prospective students. Efforts should be employed to mitigate any
negative impact on financially needy students.
(e) In order to ensure that access is not precluded for any
eligible student, but particularly financially needy students, all
current and prospective students should be provided with timely
information concerning student financial aid, including the processes
associated with applying for and obtaining student financial
assistance.
(f) Student fee and financial aid policies should encourage and
promote a student's timely completion of the requirements necessary
for degree attainment.
(g) To ensure that financially needy students are provided with
assistance in managing the total cost of their university attendance,
financial aid programs, including institutional aid, should be
aligned with the distinct financial needs of the systems' student
populations and student fee levels.
(h) Revenues derived from student fees should remain within the
respective university system's budget in order to provide benefits to
the students enrolled within the system.
66027.1. Any increase in the mandatory systemwide fees charged to
a resident undergraduate student enrolled in the University of
California or the California State University that is adopted on or
after July 1, 2012, shall not become effective before three months
have elapsed after the date on which the fee increase is adopted.
66027.2. To carry out the responsibilities of this section, the
regents and the trustees shall each develop a rational and
transparent methodology for adjusting mandatory systemwide resident
student fees consistent with the student fee policy principles set
forth in Section 66027. These methodologies shall be developed in
consultation with appropriate student representatives through student
fee advisory committees and, once developed, shall be formally
adopted by the regents and the trustees, respectively, in open public
meetings. The annual budgets of the segments shall be drafted on the
basis that fees will change in accordance with the methodology
established under this section, and shall specify the purposes for
which any revenues derived from an increase in fees will be used.
66027.3. Following the final action of its governing body, each
system shall employ appropriate procedures to notify students of the
student fees to be assessed in the upcoming academic year. In
addition, each system shall simultaneously provide students with
information concerning the availability of student financial aid and
the procedures for obtaining that aid in order to assist students
with meeting the increased costs of university attendance.
66027.4. (a) Commencing with the 2012-13 academic year, the
regents and the trustees shall annually provide the Legislative
Analyst's Office, prior to February 1, with estimates of the total
cost of education, categorized in both of the following ways:
(1) Specifically by per student undergraduate and graduate
education costs.
(2) By fixed costs, variable costs, administrative costs,
instructional costs, and student services costs.
(b) Commencing with the 2013-14 academic year, the Legislative
Analyst's Office shall annually review, prior to March 1,
institutional compliance with the policies set forth in this article,
and report, in writing, to the Legislature, findings, conclusions,
or recommendations regarding the implementation of these policies.
This report shall include an assessment of the information provided
by the regents and the trustees pursuant to subdivision (a).
(c) A report submitted pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be
submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
66027.5. As used in this article, the following terms have the
following meanings:
(a) (1) "Average total cost of education" means the amount
calculated by dividing the total cost of education for the University
of California or the California State University, whichever is
applicable, by the total number of full-time equivalent students
enrolled at that segment.
(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), "total cost of education"
means, for the University of California and the California State
University, the sum of appropriations and projected revenues from all
of the following:
(A) The General Fund.
(B) Higher education fees and income.
(C) The California State Lottery Education Fund.
(b) "Mandatory systemwide fees" means the fees that all students
enrolled in the California State University or the University of
California are required to pay in order to enroll in courses for the
academic term pursuant to any law or any policy adopted by the
governing boards of the respective segments.
(c) "Regents" means the Regents of the University of California.
(d) "Resident" means a student who is exempt from paying
nonresident tuition pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section
68000) of Part 41.
(e) "Trustees" means the Trustees of the California State
University.
66027.6. (a) This article shall not apply to the University of
California, except to the extent that the regents, by appropriate
resolution, make this article applicable.
(b) The regents are requested to adopt policies governing
increases in mandatory systemwide fees that are consistent with this
article.
66027.7. This article shall become operative on July 1, 2012.
