Amended  IN  Assembly  April 25, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 2936

Introduced by Assembly Member Jackson

February 15, 2024

An act to add Section 66304 to and repeal Chapter 4.7 (commencing with Section 66295) of Part 40 of Division 5 of Title 3 of the Education Code, relating to public postsecondary education.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2936, as amended, Jackson. Higher Education Reconciliation Master Plan. Act.
Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, and the University of California, under the administration of the Regents of the University of California, as the segments of public postsecondary education in this state.

This bill would require the California Community Colleges and the California State University, and request the University of California, to develop a reconciliation master plan for use on each of their respective campuses to address cultural and political conflicts that arise on campus. The bill would require the plan to ensure that students have a forum to be seen, have their voices heard, and feel safe. By imposing new requirements on community college districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

This bill would require the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the Chancellor of the California State University, and request the President of the University of California, on or before July 1, 2025, to convene stakeholder workgroups in their respective segments that include representatives from specified stakeholders, including faculty, staff, and students. The bill would require each stakeholder workgroup to submit to the Legislature and the board president of its respective system 9 months after the first meeting of the stakeholder workgroup a report that includes recommendations to promote reconciliation on each of its respective campuses, specifically in response to cultural and political conflicts that arise. In preparing this report, the bill would require each stakeholder workgroup, at a minimum, to evaluate and report on (1) existing systemwide and campus policies, procedures, and processes regarding cultural and political conflicts, and (2) alternative dispute resolution options to ensure that students have a forum to be seen, have their voices heard, and feel safe. The bill would repeal its provisions on January 1, 2030. To the extent this would impose additional 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.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the Higher Education Reconciliation Master Plan.

SEC. 2.Section 66304 is added to the Education Code, to read:
66304.

(a)The California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and the University of California is requested to, develop a reconciliation master plan for use on each of their respective campuses to address cultural and political conflicts that arise on campus.

(b)The plan developed pursuant to subdivision (a) shall ensure that students have a forum to be seen, have their voices heard, and feel safe.

SECTION 1.

 Chapter 4.7 (commencing with Section 66295) is added to Part 40 of Division 5 of Title 3 of the Education Code, to read:
CHAPTER  4.7. Higher Education Reconciliation Act

66295.
 This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Higher Education Reconciliation Act.
(a) On or before July 1, 2025, the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the Chancellor of the California State University shall, and the President of the University of California is requested to, convene stakeholder workgroups in their respective segments that include, but are not limited to, representatives from all of the following stakeholders:
(1) Faculty.
(2) Staff.
(3) Students, representing both the associated students and student organizations from a cross-section of the campus community.
(4) Campus health and safety personnel.
(5) Campus student center personnel.
(6) An individual who has expertise in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Public Law 88-352), or is a representative specializing in Title VI from the Civil Rights Department.
(b) Each stakeholder workgroup shall submit a report to the Legislature and the board president of its respective system nine months after the first meeting of the stakeholder workgroup that includes recommendations to promote reconciliation on each of its respective campuses, specifically in response to cultural and political conflicts that arise.
(c) In preparing the report pursuant to subdivision (b), each stakeholder workgroup shall, at a minimum, evaluate and report on both of the following:
(1) Existing systemwide and campus policies, procedures, and processes regarding cultural and political conflicts.
(2) Alternative dispute resolution options to ensure that students have a forum to be seen, have their voices heard, and feel safe.
(d) (1) A report to be submitted pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(2) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this chapter is repealed on January 1, 2030.

SEC. 3.SEC. 2.

 If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.