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. Existing law requires the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges to adopt regulations to establish and maintain minimum qualifications for the hiring of certain community college faculty and staff members.

This bill would require require, on or before July 1, 2018, the governing board of a community college district to provide in each college within the district a veterans counselor a veterans counselor at each of the districts colleges with 200 or more enrolled student veterans, as defined by the board of governors. The bill would also require the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges board of governors to adopt regulations to establish and maintain minimum qualifications for veterans counselors. counselors, as specified. By requiring community colleges to have a veterans counselor, this 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 these statutory provisions.

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. Existing law requires the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges to adopt regulations to establish and maintain minimum qualifications for the hiring of certain community college faculty and staff members.

This bill would require the governing board of a community college district to provide in each college within the district a veterans counselor. The bill would also require the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges to adopt regulations to establish and maintain minimum qualifications for veterans counselors. By requiring community colleges to have a veterans counselor, this 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 these statutory provisions.

Date of Hearing: May 13, 2015

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Jimmy Gomez, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 421

Author:(Calderon) – As Amended Ver:April 13, 2015

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: Yes Reimbursable: Yes

SUMMARY:

This bill requires every community college district governing board to provide each of its colleges having 200 or more enrolled student veterans with a veterans' counselor.

The bill also requires the California Community College (CCC) Board of Governors (BOG) to adopt regulations establishing minimum qualifications for a veterans' counselor, and in doing so to consider specified requirements.

FISCAL EFFECT:

Ongoing reimbursable state-mandated costs (GF-Prop 98) of around $6 million annually to fund a counselor at the 60 to 70 campuses with more than 200 enrolled student veterans. Costs would increase to the extent veteran enrollment increases beyond this threshold at additional campuses.

COMMENTS:

1. Purpose. According to the CCC Chancellor's Office, in 2013-14, veterans and active duty military personnel comprised over 60,000 of the over 2.1 million students attending CCCs. According to the author, "While the State of California and the CCC have made strides recently in the area of reintegrating veterans to civilian life and addressing their educational needs, the State of California can do more to ensure student veterans are adequately prepared to meet their educational goals. Currently 54 CCC campuses have Veterans Resource Centers [VRC] which provide an environment for student veterans to relax and unwind with other students that have shared their experiences. Still, nearly half of CCC campuses do not have a VRC; with student-to-counselor ratios hovering around 719:1, it is easy for student veterans to get lost in the fray of overcrowded campuses and the difficulty of navigating the transfer process."

The author contends that, "By requiring each CCC campus to employ at least one academic counselor specified for student veterans, AB 421 will ensure a minimum level of services for student veterans at each community college campus [with enrollment of at least 200 veterans]."

2. Related Legislation. AB 393 (Roger Hernández), also on today's committee agenda, requires the Chancellor of the CCC to develop and administer a grant program to provide funding to support existing or planned veterans resource centers.

Analysis Prepared by: Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: April 28, 2015

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS

Jacqui Irwin, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 421

Author:(Calderon) – As Amended Ver:April 13, 2015

SUBJECT: Community colleges: veterans counselor

SUMMARY: Requires the governing board of a community college district to provide in each California Community College (CCC) within the district, a veterans counselor; and, requires the CCC Board of Governors (BOG) to adopt regulations to establish and maintain the minimum qualifications for services as a veterans counselor. Specifically, this bill:

1. Requires the governing board of a community college district, on or before July 1, 2018, to provide in each college within the district a veterans counselor. a veterans counselor at each of the district’s colleges with 200 or more enrolled student veterans, as defined by the BOG.

2. Directs the BOG to adopt regulations to establish and maintain the minimum qualifications for service as a faculty member teaching credit instruction, a faculty member teaching noncredit instruction, a librarian, a counselor, a veterans counselor, an educational administrator, an extended opportunity programs and services worker, a disabled students programs and services worker, an apprenticeship instructor, and a supervisor of health.

3. Specifies that when the board of governors adopts regulations to establish and maintain the minimum qualifications for service as a veterans counselor, the board of governors shall consider including at least all of the following:

1. A definition of a veterans counselor that would include a person who has demonstrated experience of the unique social and psychological needs of veteran students.

2. The role of a veterans counselor.

3. A requirement that a veterans counselor have appropriate knowledge and experience, including, as appropriate, the following:

   1. Knowledge about veterans educational benefits (GI Bill) and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

   2. Experience in designing and preparing Veteran Student Educational Plans for community college student veterans.

   3. Knowledge of California Community College Student Success and Support Programs.

   4. Experience in using a broad range of technology pertaining to data collection and analysis for student success.

   5. Experience in developing and presenting counseling-related workshops and orientation sessions.

   6. A demonstrated ability to effectively serve as a liaison and communicate effectively with faculty, staff, and external community veterans resource providers concerning veteran-specific issues, learning processes, combat stress injuries, moral injuries, trauma, traumatic brain injuries, and other disabilities.

   7. Knowledge of occupational opportunities and internships for veterans, community agencies and other organizations serving students who are veterans, issues facing veterans, and state and federal guidelines and services to veterans.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Requires the California State University (CSU) and the CCC and encourages the University of California (UC) to coordinate services for qualified students who are veterans or members of the military by clearly designating Military and Veterans Offices and individuals to provide specified services to qualified students. Current law defines "qualified student" as a student who is any of the following: an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States, the California National Guard, a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the Unites States, a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States, and/or a family member of a person (as described above) who is a legal dependent under 28 years of age or living in the household of that person and eligible to be claimed as a dependent on federal or state tax returns (Education Code Section 69785).

2. Requests the UC, CSU, the CCC to report annually to the California Department of Veterans Affairs the number of qualified students assisted by a Military and Veterans Office; the number of qualified students assisted who are active duty members of the Armed Forces of the United States, the California National Guard, or a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States, or are veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States; and the total education benefits by all qualified students assisted by an office (EC Section 69786).

3. Requires the CCC BOG to adopt regulations to establish and maintain the minimum qualifications for service as a faculty member teaching credit instruction, a faculty member teaching noncredit instruction, a librarian, a counselor, an educational administrator, an extended opportunity programs and services worker, a disabled students programs and services worker, an apprenticeship instructor, and a supervisor of health (EC Section 87356).

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown.

COMMENTS: According to the author:

While the State of California and the California Community Colleges have made strides recently in the area of reintegrating veterans to civilian life and addressing their educational needs, the State of California can do more to ensure student veterans are adequately prepared to meet their educational goals. By ensuring that student veterans have a veterans counselor who specializes in the challenges faced by student veterans, California can ensure that our veterans are not lost in the complicated maze that is the GI Bill and the transfer process.

Veterans have been trained to fight and win the Nation's wars. Their warrior training, culture, or experiences may pose challenges for them later integrating smoothly and rapidly into a non-military academic environment. These students volunteered to each shoulder a portion of the burden of defense of the Nation; when they are no longer performing that duty, from which all Americans benefit, it has been the consistent policy of this state to recognize that service and sacrifice to the maximum extent feasible.

In essence this bill directs the CCCs to have a staff person called in the bill a veterans counselor. This person is intended to be a counselor in the broadest sense of the word, which might otherwise connotes a therapist. The counselors envisioned by this bill might also be conceived of as guides. As evidenced by the directive to the BOG concerning the experience and qualifications of the veteran counselors, these staff members are intended to be generalists; knowledgeable about most or all of the things veteran students are likely to need support, knowledge, guidance, and understanding.

This Committee has received a great deal of input both directly to staff and via several public hearings that consistently supports the value of veteran resource centers and at their hearts, at least one person like the veteran counselors proposed by this bill.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

American Legion-Department of California

AMVETS, Department of California

California Association of County Veterans Service Officers

California State Commanders Veterans Council

Military Officers Association of America, California Council of Chapters

Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California

Vietnam Veterans of America, California State Council

Opposition

None on File.

Analysis Prepared by: John Spangler / V.A. / (916) 319-3550

Date of Hearing: April 7, 2015

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Jose Medina, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 421

Author:(Calderon) – As Introduced Ver:February 19, 2015

[Note: This bill is doubled referred to the Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee and will be heard as it relates to issues under its jurisdiction.]

SUBJECT: Community colleges: veterans counselor

SUMMARY: Requires the governing board of a community college district to provide in each California Community College (CCC) within the district, a veterans counselor; and, requires the CCC Board of Governors (BOG) to adopt regulations to establish and maintain the minimum qualifications for services as a veterans counselor.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Requires the California State University (CSU) and the CCC and encourages the University of California (UC) to coordinate services for qualified students who are veterans or members of the military by clearly designating Military and Veterans Offices and individuals to provide specified services to qualified students. Current law defines "qualified student" as a student who is any of the following: an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States, the California National Guard, a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the Unites States, a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States, and/or a family member of a person (as described above) who is a legal dependent under 28 years of age or living in the household of that person and eligible to be claimed as a dependent on federal or state tax returns (Education Code Section 69785).

2. Requests the UC, CSU, the CCC to report annually to the California Department of Veterans Affairs the number of qualified students assisted by a Military and Veterans Office; the number of qualified students assisted who are active duty members of the Armed Forces of the United States, the California National Guard, or a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States, or are veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States; and the total education benefits by all qualified students assisted by an office (EC Section 69786).

3. Requires the CCC BOG to adopt regulations to establish and maintain the minimum qualifications for service as a faculty member teaching credit instruction, a faculty member teaching noncredit instruction, a librarian, a counselor, an educational administrator, an extended opportunity programs and services worker, a disabled students programs and services worker, an apprenticeship instructor, and a supervisor of health (EC Section 87356).

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown

COMMENTS: Purpose of the measure. According to the author, "While the State of California and the CCC have made strides recently in the area of reintegrating veterans to civilian life and addressing their educational needs, the State of California can do more to ensure student veterans are adequately prepared to meet their educational goals. Currently 54 CCC campuses have Veterans Resource Centers [VRC] which provide an environment for student veterans to relax and unwind with other students that have shared their experiences. Still, nearly half of CCC campuses do not have a VRC; with student-to-counselor ratios hovering around 719:1, it is easy for student veterans to get lost in the fray of overcrowded campuses and the difficulty of navigating the transfer process."

The author contends that, "By requiring each CCC campus to employ at least one academic counselor specified for student veterans, AB 421 will ensure a minimum level of services for student veterans at each community college campus."

Current student veterans outreach. According to the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet), with an estimated 1.8 million veterans residing in California, our state has the largest population of veterans in the nation. According to the CCC Chancellor's Office (CCCCO), many of the increasing number of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan will look to one of the 112 community colleges as the most easily accessible and affordable educational option available. More than 60,000 veterans and active duty service members enrolled at a CCC in 2013-14. The CCCs serve nearly five times the combined number of student veterans enrolled at the University of California (UC) and the California State University (CSU) systems.

The CCCs are providing more services to a growing population of student veterans; the CCCCO recognizes the need for continued support of our student veterans and as such has been the lead on several statewide projects, including:

1. Veterans Resource Center Project: At VRCs student veterans can interact with one another and obtain information and services. The CCCCO partnered with the High Tech Center Training Unit at De Anza College (in Cupertino, CA) to offer free hardware, software and on‐site training in assistive technology to colleges that promote academics, camaraderie, and wellness; provide a dedicated space for student veterans; and offer coordinated services such as financial aid and counseling to veterans. As a result, 24 additional colleges have established a VRC on their campus.

To note, because the individual campuses do not have to report to the CCCCO whether they have a VRC, it is presently unknown the exact number of campuses that have VRCs, however, it is estimated that at least half of the CCCs have a VRC. Additionally, VRCs are staffed by either full-time employees or a mix of volunteers and student mentors.

2. Zellerbach Family Foundation Project: “Welcome Home: Creating a Campus Community of Wellness for Returning Veterans:” In March 2010, the CCCCO received a $75,000 grant from the Zellerbach Family Foundation to support the development and implementation of a training program for faculty and staff to increase awareness on military culture, post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and depression in order that faculty and staff can better understand the challenges faced by many community college student veterans. The training has been provided at 21 colleges and six statewide conferences since its inception.

3. Veterans Summit: In December 2014, the CCCCO co-hosted the fourth Veterans Summit in San Jose, California. Topics at the summit included VA benefits and education plans, creating Veterans Resource Centers, women veterans, academic counseling, best practices in serving student veterans, mental health issues confronting veterans and accessing federal, state and local resources.

Additionally, according to CalVet, they work very closely with the CCCCO in the Summit and with several local campuses on veteran issues, including the VRCs.

4. Regional Representation Structure: The CCCCO has organized a Veteran Services Regional Advisory Committee and hosts regular meetings of this group to better identify student veteran needs across the system and encourage the exchange of innovative ideas and effective practices for serving them. The Committee met twice in 2012, three times in 2013, and four times in 2014. In addition to meeting in person quarterly, the committee holds recurring monthly conference calls.

5. System-wide Email List: The CCCCO established an internal system-wide email list, through which it communicates information and reports relating to veterans and veterans’ services to each of the 112 CCCs and designated college staff. This list provides a way to promptly disseminate urgent and important information to all veteran programs and service providers at each college, and serves as a forum for the exchange of ideas between colleges about issues related to student veterans.

Committee considerations. This measure tasks the governing board of a community college district with providing in each college within the district, a veterans counselor. This measure presently does not include a date by which the governing boards shall add a counselor nor does it give into account that some CCCs do not have large numbers of student veterans, thus creating cost pressures for some campuses to unnecessarily hire a veteran specific counselor.

Committee staff recommends the following amendment: The governing board of a community college district shall, on or before 01 July 2018, provide each college, within the district a veterans counselor, to campuses with 200 or more enrolled student veterans, as defined by the California Community Colleges Board of Governors.

Additionally, current law is silent as to the definition of a veterans counselor. While the committee amendments task the CCC BOG with developing a definition of a veterans counselor, it is important to provide some specificity as to what the definition should entail.

Committee staff recommends the following amendment: EC 87356 (new b) - When the board of governors adopts regulations to establish and maintain the minimum qualifications for service as a veterans counselor, the board of governors shall consider, but not necessarily be limited to all of the following when establishing the minimum qualifications: Definition and role of a veterans counselor, including but not limited to, a person who has demonstrated experience of the unique social and psychological needs of veterans students; knowledge about Veterans Educational Benefits (GI Bill), and Veterans Affairs; experience in designing and preparing Veteran Student Educational Plans for community college student veterans; knowledge of California Community College Student Success and Support Programs; ability to use a broad range of technology pertaining to data collection and analysis for student success; experience in developing and presenting counseling related workshops and orientation sessions; ability to effectively serve as a liaison, communicate effectively with faculty, staff, and external community veteran resource providers concerning veteran specific issues, learning processes, combat stress injuries, moral injuries, trauma, traumatic brain injuries, and other disabilities; and, knowledge of occupational opportunities and internships for veterans, community agencies, and other organizations serving students who are veterans, issues facing veterans, and state and federal guidelines and services to veterans.

Related legislation. AB 393 (Hernández), which will be heard by this Committee today, would, among other things, create the Veteran Resource Centers Grant (VRCG) Program and the VRCG Fund housed in the State Treasury.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

American Legion-Department of California

AMVETS, Department of California

California Association of County Veterans Service Officers

California College and University Police Chiefs

California State Commanders Veterans Council

Military Officers Association of America, California Council of Chapters

Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California

Vietnam Veterans of America, California State Council

Opposition

None on file.

Analysis Prepared by: Jeanice Warden / HIGHER ED. / (916) 319-3960