AB 801: Postsecondary education: Success for Homeless Youth in Higher Education Act.

(1)Existing law, the Donahoe Higher Education Act, sets forth the missions and functions of the segments of postsecondary education in this state. Among other things, the act requires the California State University and each community college district, and requests the University of California, with respect to each campus in their respective jurisdictions that administers a priority enrollment system, to grant priority in that system for registration for enrollment to foster youth, as defined, or former foster youth, until the repeal of this provision on January 1, 2017.

This bill would enact the Success for Homeless Youth in Higher Education Act. The bill would delete the repeal date of, and thereby extend indefinitely, the above-referenced priority requirement, with respect to the California State University and community college districts, and the request for the granting of priority, with respect to the University of California. The bill would extend that priority requirement, and that request, to include homeless youth until January 1, 2020. To the extent that this provision would impose new duties on community college districts, it would constitute a state-mandated local program.

(2)Existing provisions of the Donahoe Higher Education Act set forth various duties and responsibilities for state entities, such as the California State University, the California Community Colleges, the University of California, and the Treasurer, with respect to federal assistance to higher education. Existing provisions of the Ortiz-Pacheco-Poochigian-Vasconcellos Cal Grant Program set forth the requirements for status as a qualifying institution whose students are eligible, if as individuals they meet pertinent program requirements, to receive Cal Grant awards.

This bill would require qualifying institutions, other than the University of California, which would be requested to do so, to designate a staff member who is employed within the financial aid office, or another appropriate office or department, of the institution to serve as a Homeless and Foster Student Liaison and to inform current and prospective students of the institution about student financial aid and other assistance available to homeless youth and current and former foster youth, as specified. To the extent that this provision would impose new duties on community college districts, it would constitute a state-mandated local program.

(3)Existing law establishes the Student Aid Commission and assigns to it numerous duties with respect to student financial aid programs, including the Community College Student Financial Aid Outreach Program and the Student Opportunity and Access Program. Both of these programs include provisions addressing the needs of youth from low-income households and specifically include low-income youth within the scope of the respective programs.

This bill would additionally place homeless youth, as defined, within the scope of these programs.

(4)Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges. Existing law requires the governing board of each community college district to charge an enrollment fee of $46 per unit per semester, but authorizes the waiver of this fee for students meeting specified requirements.

This bill would add persons who are, at the time of enrollment, homeless youths, as defined, to the groups of persons eligible for this fee waiver. To the extent that this provision would impose new duties on community college districts, it would constitute a state-mandated local program.

(5)This bill would incorporate additional changes in Section 66025.9 of the Education Code, proposed by SB 906, to be operative only if SB 906 and this bill are both chaptered and become effective on or before January 1, 2017, and this bill is chaptered last.

(6)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.