Bill Text: CA SB1068 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Community colleges: accreditation.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-05-23 - Held in committee and under submission. [SB1068 Detail]
Download: California-2013-SB1068-Amended.html
BILL NUMBER: SB 1068 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 7, 2014
AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 24, 2014
INTRODUCED BY Senator Beall
FEBRUARY 18, 2014
An act to add Section 72209 to, and to add and
repeal Section 72210 of, of the
Education Code, relating to community colleges.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1068, as amended, Beall. Community colleges: accreditation.
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 specifies the duties of the
board of governors, including, among other duties, establishing
minimum standards for the formation of community colleges and
districts. Under its existing regulatory authority, the board of
governors 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, notwithstanding that designation,
authorize the governing board of a community college district to
designate a federally recognized accrediting agency to accredit
community colleges under its jurisdiction. The bill would require the
selected accrediting agency to comply with various requirements,
including the California Public Records Act, obtaining approval from
the board of governors for new accreditation policies or procedures
that increase costs, and to not charge fees unrelated to the
accreditation process, as provided. The bill would require
the board of governors, on or before January 1, 2016, to report to
the Legislature on (1) the feasibility
of creating an independent accrediting agency to accredit the
California Community Colleges and other 2-year
private postsecondary educational institutions for purposes of the
federal Higher Education Act of 1965 and state-authorized financial
aid, (2) based on a thorough examination of community college
accreditation nationwide, a recommendation of whether the state would
be best served by using a specified accrediting agency for all
California public postsecondary educational institutions, and (3) the
potential for using multiple accrediting agencies to
ensure that the California Community Colleges are of the highest
quality, as provided.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 72209 is added to the
Education Code, to read:
72209. (a) Notwithstanding any other law or regulations and to
the extent authorized by federal law, the governing board of a
community college district may designate a federally recognized
accrediting agency to accredit community colleges under its
jurisdiction.
(b) The accrediting agency for the community colleges designated
by Section 51016 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations
shall remain the accrediting agency for a community college district
until the governing board of the community college district exercises
its discretion pursuant to subdivision (a).
(c) The accrediting agency designated pursuant to subdivision (a)
shall comply with all of the following requirements:
(1) Documents related to the accreditation of a community college
are subject to public disclosure pursuant to the California Public
Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7
of Title 1 of the Government Code).
(2) Obtain approval from the Board of Governors of the California
Community Colleges before implementing a new accreditation policy or
procedure that increases costs for a community college, community
college district, or the state.
(3) Not charge a community college or community college district
for costs unrelated to the accreditation process, including, but not
limited to, attorneys fees.
(d) This section does not affect the accreditation status of a
community college on January 1, 2015.
(e) This section does not apply to the accrediting agency's
activities that are related to private educational institutions in
the state or educational institutions outside of the state.
(f) This section does not affect the authority of the United
States Department of Education regarding educational institutions.
(g) The provisions of this section are severable. If any provision
of this section or its application is held invalid, that invalidity
shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given
effect without the invalid provision or application.
SEC. 2. SECTION 1. Section 72210 is
added to the Education Code, to read:
72210. (a) The Board of Governors of the California Community
Colleges, on or before January 1, 2016, shall report all of the
following to the Legislature on the
Legislature:
(1) (A) The
feasibility of creating an independent accrediting agency to
accredit the California Community Colleges and other
two-year private postsecondary educational institutions for
purposes of Title IV of the federal Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. Sec. 1070 et seq.), as amended, and state-authorized
financial aid.
(b)
(B) The independent accrediting agency would be
separate from state government and funded by fees or dues paid by
those postsecondary educational institutions seeking accreditation
from the accrediting agency.
(2) Based on a thorough examination of community college
accreditation nationwide, a recommendation of whether the state would
be best served by using the Western Association of Schools and
Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission, commonly
known as WASC Senior, as the single accrediting agency for all
California public postsecondary educational institutions.
(3) The potential for using multiple accrediting agencies as a
means to ensure that the California Community Colleges are of the
highest quality.
(c)
(b) (1) The report to be submitted pursuant to
subdivision (a) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of
the Government Code.
(2) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this
section is repealed on January 1, 2020.
