Bill Text: CA SB694 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: California Community Colleges: Veteran Resource Centers.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-2)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2017-06-27 - June 27 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author. [SB694 Detail]
Download: California-2017-SB694-Amended.html
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Amended
IN
Senate
May 02, 2017 |
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Amended
IN
Senate
April 05, 2017 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION
| Senate Bill | No. 694 |
| Introduced by Senator Newman (Coauthors: Senators Dodd, Hueso, Nielsen, Roth, and Wilk) |
February 17, 2017 |
An act to add Article 3 (commencing with Section 72630) to Chapter 6 of Part 45 of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code, relating to postsecondary education.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 694, as amended, Newman.
California Community Colleges: Veteran Resource Centers.
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 throughout the state, and authorizes them to operate campuses and provide instruction to students. Existing law authorizes the governing board of a community college district to provide a counseling program.
This bill would require the Chancellor’s Office of the California Community Colleges to ensure that each of its campuses provides a dedicated on-campus Veteran Resource Center that offers services to help student veterans transition successfully from military life to educational success through the core components of academics, wellness, and camaraderie and would require
those Veteran Resource Centers, at a minimum, to be open for 25 hours a week, be staffed by veterans whenever possible, be 400 square feet and fully accessible, and provide enrolled student veterans with specified services. services, except as provided. By imposing 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.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YESBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) California is home to the nation’s largest veteran population totaling over 1.8 million veterans.
(b) The number of California veterans will continue to grow by approximately 25,000 veterans annually as post-9/11 service members transition back into the civilian population.
(c) More than 90 percent of veterans who pursue a postservice educational path will attend one of California’s 113 community colleges, with 50 percent of those veteran students applying earned educational
benefits toward their college educations.
(d) Approximately 70,000 veterans and active duty service members are currently enrolled at campuses of the California Community Colleges.
(e) Student veterans face unique challenges in achieving educational and professional success, including physical and emotional disabilities and assimilation to civilian life.
(f) There is currently no consistent baseline standard across the California community college system that assures a veteran of receiving sufficient support for their educational needs at the community college of their choice.
SEC. 2.
Article 3 (commencing with Section 72630) is added to Chapter 6 of Part 45 of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code, to read:Article 3. Veteran Resource Centers
72630.
(a) The Chancellor’s Office of the California Community Colleges shall ensure that each of its campuses provides a dedicated on-campus Veteran Resource Center that offers services to help student veterans transition successfully from military life to educational success through the core components of academics, wellness, and camaraderie.(b) Each (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), each Veteran Resource Center shall at a minimum:
(1)
(A) Be open 25 hours a week.
(2)
(B) Be staffed by veterans whenever possible.
(3)
(C) Be 400 square feet and fully accessible.
(4)
(D) Provide enrolled veteran students with all of the following:
(A)
(i) Academic counseling and tutoring support.
(B)
(ii) Peer support and
mentoring services.
(C)
(iii) Financial aid information and application assistance.
(D)
(iv) Referral to on- and off-campus resources.
(E)
(v) Access to computers with printing, copying, and faxing capabilities.
(F)
(vi) VA certifying officials.
(G)
(vii) Career counseling
and placement assistance.
(2) A community college may submit justification to the Chancellor’s Office of the California Community Colleges of why it cannot comply with all of the requirements of paragraph (1). The community college shall demonstrate how it will serve its veteran students without complying with the specific requirements of paragraph (1).
