Today's Law As Amended


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AB-2936 Higher Education Reconciliation Act.(2023-2024)



As Amends the Law Today


SECTION 1.

 Chapter 4.7 (commencing with Section 66295) is added to Part 40 of Division 5 of Title 3 of the Education Code, to read:

CHAPTER  4.7. Higher Education Reconciliation Act
66295.
 This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Higher Education Reconciliation Act.
66296.
 (a) (1) The California State University shall, and the University of California is requested to, develop and implement, on or before July 1, 2026, a systemwide and campus-level reconciliation master plan for use on each of their respective campuses to respond to and address cultural and political conflicts that arise on campus.
(2) The plans developed pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include options for alternative dispute resolution to respond to cultural and political conflicts on campus as they arise, with an emphasis on ensuring, in the event of a cultural and political conflict, that the students have a forum to be seen, have their voices heard, and feel safe.
(b) The California State University shall, and the University of California is requested to, use the recommendations contained in the report submitted by their respective stakeholder workgroup pursuant to Section 66296.5 as a basis for the development of the reconciliation master plans.
66296.5.
 (a) On or before July 1, 2025, the Chancellor of the California State University shall, and the President of the University of California is requested to, convene stakeholder workgroups in their respective segments that include, but are not limited to, representatives from all of the following stakeholders:
(1) Faculty.
(2) Staff, including, but not limited to, campus health and safety personnel and campus student center personnel.
(3) Students, representing both the associated students and student organizations from a cross-section of the campus community.
(4) An individual who has expertise in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Public Law 88-352) and Article 3 (commencing with Section 66270) of Chapter 4.5, or is a representative from the Civil Rights Department with expertise in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Public Law 88-352) or Article 9.5 (commencing with Section 11135) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(b) Each stakeholder workgroup shall submit a report to the Legislature and the board president of its respective system nine months after the first meeting of the stakeholder workgroup that includes recommendations related to responding to cultural and political conflicts that arise, with the goal of promoting reconciliation on each of its respective campuses.
(c) In preparing the report pursuant to subdivision (b), each stakeholder workgroup shall, at a minimum, evaluate and report on existing systemwide and campus-level policies, procedures, and processes regarding cultural and political conflicts.
(d) (1) A report to be submitted pursuant to subdivision (b) 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, 2030.
66297.
 (a) (1) Upon an appropriation in the annual Budget Act or another statute for these purposes, the California Community Colleges shall, within 18 months of that appropriation, develop and implement a systemwide and campus-level reconciliation master plan for use on each of its campuses to respond to and address cultural and political conflicts that arise on campus.
(2) The plan developed pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include options for alternative dispute resolution to respond to cultural and political conflicts on campus as they arise, with an emphasis on ensuring, in the event of a cultural and political conflict, that the students have a forum to be seen, have their voices heard, and feel safe.
(b) The California Community Colleges shall use the recommendations contained in the report submitted by its stakeholder workgroup pursuant to Section 66297.5 as a basis for the development of the reconciliation master plan.
66297.5.
 (a) Upon an appropriation in the annual Budget Act or another statute for these purposes, the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall, within six months of that appropriation, convene a stakeholder workgroup that includes, but is not limited to, representatives from all of the following stakeholders:
(1) Faculty.
(2) Staff, including, but not limited to, campus health and safety personnel and campus student center personnel.
(3) Students, representing both the associated students and student organizations from a cross-section of the campus community.
(4) An individual who has expertise in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Public Law 88-352) and Article 3 (commencing with Section 66270) of Chapter 4.5, or is a representative from the Civil Rights Department with expertise in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Public Law 88-352) or Article 9.5 (commencing with Section 11135) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(b) The stakeholder workgroup shall submit a report to the Legislature and the Chancellor nine months after the first meeting of the stakeholder workgroup that includes recommendations related to responding to cultural and political conflicts that arise, with the goal of promoting reconciliation on each campus.
(c) In preparing the report pursuant to subdivision (b), the stakeholder workgroup shall, at a minimum, evaluate and report on existing systemwide and campus-level policies, procedures, and processes regarding cultural and political conflicts.
(d) (1) A report to be submitted pursuant to subdivision (b) 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 of the year four years after the year in which the appropriation of funds for the workgroup becomes effective.
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.