Bill Text: CA AB1942 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Community colleges: accreditation.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Passed) 2014-09-17 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 382, Statutes of 2014. [AB1942 Detail]
Download: California-2013-AB1942-Chaptered.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 1942 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
CHAPTER 382
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 17, 2014
APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 17, 2014
PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 13, 2014
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 18, 2014
AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 11, 2014
AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 2, 2014
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 18, 2014
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 23, 2014
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 6, 2014
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 10, 2014
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Bonta
(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Ammiano)
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Ting)
(Coauthor: Senator Beall)
FEBRUARY 19, 2014
An act to amend Section 70901 of, and to add Section 72208 to, the
Education Code, relating to community colleges.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1942, Bonta. Community colleges: accreditation.
Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges under
the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, which
consists of 16 voting members and one nonvoting member, as specified.
Existing law requires the Board of Governors of the California
Community Colleges to establish minimum conditions entitling a
community college district to receive state aid for the support of
the community colleges.
This bill would require the board of governors, in determining
whether a community college district satisfies those minimum
conditions, to review the accreditation status of the community
colleges within that district.
Under its existing regulatory authority, the Board of Governors of
the California Community Colleges requires each community college to
be accredited and has designated the Accrediting Commission for
Community and Junior Colleges as the accrediting agency.
This bill would require the accrediting agency of the community
colleges to report to the appropriate subcommittees of the
Legislature upon the agency's issuance of a decision that affects the
accreditation status of a community college and, on a biannual
basis, any accreditation policy changes that affect the accreditation
process or status for a community college.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 70901 of the Education Code is amended to read:
70901. (a) The Board of Governors of the California Community
Colleges shall provide leadership and direction in the continuing
development of the California Community Colleges as an integral and
effective element in the structure of public higher education in the
state. The work of the board of governors shall at all times be
directed to maintaining and continuing, to the maximum degree
permissible, local authority and control in the administration of the
California Community Colleges.
(b) Subject to, and in furtherance of, subdivision (a), and in
consultation with community college districts and other interested
parties as specified in subdivision (e), the board of governors shall
provide general supervision over community college districts, and
shall, in furtherance of those purposes, perform the following
functions:
(1) Establish minimum standards as required by law, including, but
not limited to, the following:
(A) Minimum standards to govern student academic standards
relating to graduation requirements and probation, dismissal, and
readmission policies.
(B) Minimum standards for the employment of academic and
administrative staff in community colleges.
(C) Minimum standards for the formation of community colleges and
districts.
(D) Minimum standards for credit and noncredit classes.
(E) Minimum standards governing procedures established by
governing boards of community college districts to ensure faculty,
staff, and students the right to participate effectively in district
and college governance, and the opportunity to express their opinions
at the campus level and to ensure that these opinions are given
every reasonable consideration, and the right of academic senates to
assume primary responsibility for making recommendations in the areas
of curriculum and academic standards.
(2) Evaluate and issue annual reports on the fiscal and
educational effectiveness of community college districts according to
outcome measures cooperatively developed with those districts, and
provide assistance when districts encounter severe management
difficulties.
(3) Conduct necessary systemwide research on community colleges
and provide appropriate information services, including, but not
limited to, definitions for the purpose of uniform reporting,
collection, compilation, and analysis of data for effective planning
and coordination, and dissemination of information.
(4) Provide representation, advocacy, and accountability for the
California Community Colleges before state and national legislative
and executive agencies.
(5) Administer state support programs, both operational and
capital outlay, and those federally supported programs for which the
board of governors has responsibility pursuant to state or federal
law. In so doing, the board of governors shall do the following:
(A) (i) Annually prepare and adopt a proposed budget for the
California Community Colleges. The proposed budget shall, at a
minimum, identify the total revenue needs for serving educational
needs within the mission, the amount to be expended for the state
general apportionment, the amounts requested for various categorical
programs established by law, the amounts requested for new programs
and budget improvements, and the amount requested for systemwide
administration.
(ii) The proposed budget for the California Community Colleges
shall be submitted to the Department of Finance in accordance with
established timelines for development of the annual Budget Bill.
(B) To the extent authorized by law, establish the method for
determining and allocating the state general apportionment.
(C) Establish space and utilization standards for facility
planning in order to determine eligibility for state funds for
construction purposes.
(6) (A) Establish minimum conditions entitling districts to
receive state aid for support of community colleges. In so doing, the
board of governors shall establish and carry out a periodic review
of each community college district to determine whether it has met
the minimum conditions prescribed by the board of governors.
(B) In determining whether a community college district satisfies
the minimum conditions established pursuant to this section, the
board of governors shall review the accreditation status of the
community colleges within that district.
(7) Coordinate and encourage interdistrict, regional, and
statewide development of community college programs, facilities, and
services.
(8) Facilitate articulation with other segments of higher
education with secondary education.
(9) Review and approve comprehensive plans for each community
college district. The plans shall be submitted to the board of
governors by the governing board of each community college district.
(10) Review and approve all educational programs offered by
community college districts, and all courses that are not offered as
part of an educational program approved by the board of governors.
(11) Exercise general supervision over the formation of new
community college districts and the reorganization of existing
community college districts, including the approval or disapproval of
plans therefor.
(12) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, be solely
responsible for establishing, maintaining, revising, and updating, as
necessary, the uniform budgeting and accounting structures and
procedures for the California Community Colleges.
(13) Establish policies regarding interdistrict attendance of
students.
(14) Advise and assist governing boards of community college
districts on the implementation and interpretation of state and
federal laws affecting community colleges.
(15) Contract for the procurement of goods and services, as
necessary.
(16) Carry out other functions as expressly provided by law.
(c) Subject to, and in furtherance of, subdivision (a), the board
of governors shall have full authority to adopt rules and regulations
necessary and proper to execute the functions specified in this
section as well as other functions that the board of governors is
expressly authorized by statute to regulate.
(d) Wherever in this section or any other statute a power is
vested in the board of governors, the board of governors, by a
majority vote, may adopt a rule delegating that power to the
chancellor, or any officer, employee, or committee of the California
Community Colleges, or community college district, as the board of
governors may designate. However, the board of governors shall not
delegate any power that is expressly made nondelegable by statute.
Any rule delegating authority shall prescribe the limits of
delegation.
(e) In performing the functions specified in this section, the
board of governors shall establish and carry out a process for
consultation with institutional representatives of community college
districts so as to ensure their participation in the development and
review of policy proposals. The consultation process shall also
afford community college organizations, as well as interested
individuals and parties, an opportunity to review and comment on
proposed policy before it is adopted by the board of governors.
SEC. 2. Section 72208 is added to the Education Code, to read:
72208. (a) The accrediting agency for the community colleges
shall report to the appropriate policy and budget subcommittees of
the Legislature upon the issuance of a decision that affects the
accreditation status of a community college and, on a biannual basis,
any accreditation policy changes that affect the accreditation
process or status for a community college.
(b) The Office of the Chancellor of the California Community
Colleges shall ensure that the appropriate policy and budget
subcommittees of the Legislature are provided the information
required to be reported pursuant to subdivision (a).
