Bill Text: CA AB91 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Enrolled

---

Bill Title: Community colleges: student financial aid: pilot program.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Vetoed) 2011-10-03 - Vetoed by Governor. [AB91 Detail]

Download: California-2011-AB91-Enrolled.html

---

BILL NUMBER: AB 91	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 30, 2011
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  MAY 31, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Portantino

                        JANUARY 10, 2011

   An act to add and repeal Section 76072 of the Education Code,
relating to student financial aid.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 91, Portantino. Community colleges: student financial aid:
pilot program.
   Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under
the administration of the Board of Governors of the California
Community Colleges, as one of the segments of public postsecondary
education in this state. Existing law establishes community college
districts, administered by a governing board, throughout the state,
and authorizes these districts to provide instruction to students at
the community college campuses maintained by the districts.
   Existing law requires the Office of the Chancellor of the
California Community Colleges to develop a statement that individual
students will be asked to sign, which acknowledges that federal and
state funds are available to assist with the costs of college and
that information regarding these programs, and assistance in applying
for those funds, can be obtained at the financial aid office.
   This bill would require the Office of the Chancellor, until
January 1, 2015, to establish a voluntary pilot program, with
specified requirements, to increase student participation in state
and federal financial aid programs. The bill would require the Office
of the Chancellor to provide specified information on the pilot
program to the Legislative Analyst's Office by January 10, 2014,
which the Legislative Analyst's Office would be required to use to
report to the Legislature on the results of the pilot program and
make recommendations for statewide expansion of the pilot program.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 76072 is added to the Education Code, to read:
   76072.  (a) The Office of the Chancellor of the California
Community Colleges shall establish a voluntary pilot program to
increase student participation in state and federal financial aid
programs. The chancellor shall select no more than 10 community
college campuses to participate in the pilot program from campuses
that volunteer to participate in the program. In selecting campuses
for the pilot program, the chancellor, to the extent possible, shall
ensure geographic, economic, and demographic diversity.
   (b) The pilot program shall identify both of the following target
populations to participate in the pilot program:
   (1) Students potentially eligible for financial aid who complete
an application for a fee waiver provided pursuant to Section 76300
but do not complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA).
   (2) Students potentially eligible for financial aid who do not
receive any campus, state, or federal financial aid.
   (c) The goal of the pilot program shall be to increase student
participation in both state and federal financial aid programs by
performing actions including, but not limited to, both of the
following:
   (1) Identifying strategies and best practices for increasing the
number of students who submit a FAFSA.
   (2) Examining and developing strategies for increasing student
participation in state and federal financial aid programs beyond the
waiver of fees pursuant to Section 76300.
   (d) The Office of the Chancellor of the California Community
Colleges is encouraged to pursue both private and federal funding to
support implementation and operation of the pilot program.
   (e) Once a pilot program has been established pursuant to
subdivision (a), the Office of the Chancellor shall provide the
following information to the Legislative Analyst's Office on or
before January 10, 2014:
   (1) Strategies and techniques that the participating community
college campuses employed in administering the pilot program.
   (2) Data on student participation in state and federal financial
aid programs.
   (f) Based on the information received pursuant to subdivision (e),
the Legislative Analyst's Office shall report to the Legislature on
the results of the pilot program and make recommendations for
statewide expansion of the pilot program. The report shall include
all of the following:
   (1) A statistical analysis of financial aid applications and
awards before and after implementation of the pilot program.
   (2) A summary of the major strategies and techniques employed by
the participating community college campuses in administering the
pilot program.
   (g)  This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2015, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2015, deletes or extends
that date.