Bill Text: CA AB963 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Amended

California Assembly Bill 963 (Prior Session Legislation)

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

Bill Title: Public postsecondary education: Student Civic and Voter Empowerment Act.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-10-08 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 559, Statutes of 2019. [AB963 Detail]

Download: California-2019-AB963-Amended.html

Amended IN Assembly April 01, 2019

Amended IN Assembly March 26, 2019

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 963

Introduced by Assembly Member Petrie-Norris

February 21, 2019

An act to add Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 66850) to Part 40 of Division 5 of Title 3 of the Education Code, relating to public postsecondary education.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 963, as amended, Petrie-Norris. Public postsecondary education: Student Civic ~~Engagement~~ and Voter ~~Action Plan.~~ Empowerment Act.

Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California as the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in this state. The missions and functions of these segments are set forth in the Donahoe Higher Education Act. Existing law, the Ortiz-Pacheco-Poochigian-Vasconcellos Cal Grant Program (Cal Grant Program), establishes the Cal Grant A and B Entitlement Awards, the California Community College Transfer Entitlement Awards, the Competitive Cal Grant A and B Awards, the Cal Grant C Awards, and the Cal Grant T Awards under the administration of the Student Aid Commission, and establishes eligibility requirements for awards under these programs for participating students attending qualifying institutions.

This bill would require each campus of the California Community Colleges, the California State University, and, as a condition of its participation in the Cal Grant Program, the University of California (1) to include on all print and online academic calendars all civic-related dates, including specified voting- and registration-related dates, (2) to engage in an information campaign relating to civic engagement, and (3) to designate one faculty member, staff member, or administrative person as the Civic ~~Engagement~~ and Voter ~~Director~~ Empowerment Coordinator with specified responsibilities. By imposing additional duties on community college districts, ~~this~~ 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.

Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 66850) is added to Part 40 of Division 5 of Title 3 of the Education Code, to read:

CHAPTER 10.5. Student Civic Engagement and Voter Action Plan Empowerment Act

66850.

This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Student Civic ~~Engagement~~ and Voter ~~Action Plan.~~ Empowerment Act.

66852.

Each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University, and, notwithstanding Section 67400 as a condition for participation in the Cal Grant program, each campus of the University of California shall do all of the following:

(a) (1) Include on all print and online academic calendars all civic-related dates, including, but not necessarily limited to, all of the following dates:

(A) Constitution Day.

(B) National Voter Registration Day.

(D) The dates for early voting.

(E) The primary and general election dates.

(2) For online calendars, a hyperlink to a relevant internet webpage, when available, shall be included on the calendar for each civic-related date, including, but not necessarily limited to, a link to the voter registration page on National Voter Registration Day.

(b) (1) Engage in an information campaign, including email and social media posts reminding students of all of the following:

(A) The first day for early voting.

(B) Election day, including a reminder the day before and the day of the election.

(2) Provide a link to a copy of the Secretary of State’s sample ballot by email and social media post upon its release.

(c) Designate one faculty member, staff member, or administrative person as Civic ~~Engagement~~ and Voter ~~Director,~~ Empowerment Coordinator, who shall do both of the following:

(1) Convene a meeting of relevant administrators from student affairs, academic affairs, and government relations, as well as faculty and student leadership, to develop a Civic ~~Engagement~~ and Voter Empowerment Action Plan for a campuswide effort to increase civic learning and democratic participation, with an emphasis on civic engagement, voter turnout, and community building.

(2) Facilitate a minimum of four events each academic calendar year that include a focus on civic engagement, voter turnout, and community building.

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.