BILL NUMBER: AB 440	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 27, 2009
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 16, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Beall
    (   Principal coauthor:   Senator 
 Padilla   ) 
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Block, Chesbro, Coto, De Leon, and
Fong)

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2009

   An act to add Article 3 (commencing with Section 66745) to Chapter
9.2 of Part 40 of Division 5 of Title 3 of the Education Code,
relating to community colleges.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 440, as amended, Beall. California Community Colleges: student
transfer.
   Existing law establishes the 3 segments of public postsecondary
education in this state. These segments include the California State
University, the campuses of which are administered by the Trustees of
the California State University, the University of California, which
is administered by the Regents of the University of California, and
the California Community Colleges, which are administered by the
Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges.
   Existing law establishes community college districts throughout
the state, and authorizes them to provide instruction to students at
community college campuses.
   Existing law, known as the Donahoe Higher Education Act,
authorizes the community colleges to grant associate in arts and
associate in science degrees. The act also requires the regents, the
trustees, and the board of governors to have as a fundamental policy
the maintenance of a healthy and expanded program to increase the
number of transfer students from community colleges.
   This bill would enact the College Student Success Act, which would
authorize a community college district to grant an associate in arts
degree in transfer studies or an equivalent program to a student
meeting specified requirements.
   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.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) Since the enactment of the Master Plan for Higher Education in
1960, preparing students to transfer to a four-year university has
been a core function of the California Community Colleges.
   (b) Successful progression from lower division coursework to
degree completion is a basic principle of California higher education
and is critical to the future of  California's 
 the state's  economy.
   (c) Currently, the coursework necessary to transfer to a campus of
the California State University or the University of California
differs from the coursework needed to earn an associate degree. As a
result, many transfer students leave the community college system
having completed transfer requirements, but are unable to participate
in community college graduation ceremonies, do not have a degree to
show for their work, and are ineligible for some awards and
scholarships because they did not fulfill current requirements for an
associate degree.
   (d) Today, one in every four jobs  require  
requires  an associate degree or higher. In the near future, one
in every three jobs will require an associate degree or higher.
   (e) The community college system allows the state to address the
serious shortage of educated workers.
   (f) To meet workforce demands in a cost-effective way, a transfer
studies associate degree program provides increased educational
opportunities for Californians throughout the state who might not
otherwise earn a baccalaureate degree because of interruptions in
their education.
   (g) In the current difficult fiscal times, increasing student
success will have long-term benefits for California's economy.
   (h) A transfer studies associate degree program is a manageable
reform in an otherwise bleak economic climate.
  SEC. 2.  Article 3 (commencing with Section 66745) is added to
Chapter 9.2 of Part 40 of Division 5 of Title 3 of the Education
Code, to read:

      Article 3.  Transfer Studies Program


   66745.  This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the College
Student Success Act.
   66746.  A community college district may grant an associate in
arts degree in transfer studies or an associate in arts degree in an
equivalent program to a student meeting both of the following
requirements:
   (a) Completes a minimum of 60 semester units.
   (b) Meets the minimum requirements for transfer to a campus of the
California State University or the University of California.
   66747.  (a) A degree granted pursuant to this article shall
recognize the completion of lower division general education
requirements.
   (b) A degree granted pursuant to this article does not guarantee
admission to any institution.