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

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Date Published: 09/05/2024 09:00 PM
AB2936:v93#DOCUMENT

Enrolled  September 05, 2024
Passed  IN  Senate  August 30, 2024
Passed  IN  Assembly  August 31, 2024
Amended  IN  Senate  August 15, 2024
Amended  IN  Senate  July 02, 2024
Amended  IN  Senate  June 11, 2024
Amended  IN  Assembly  May 16, 2024
Amended  IN  Assembly  April 25, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 2936


Introduced by Assembly Member Jackson

February 15, 2024


An act to add Chapter 4.7 (commencing with Section 66295) to Part 40 of Division 5 of Title 3 of, and to repeal Sections 66296.5 and 66297.5 of, the Education Code, relating to public postsecondary education.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2936, Jackson. Higher Education Reconciliation Act.
Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, and the University of California, under the administration of the Regents of the University of California, as the segments of public postsecondary education in this state.
This bill would require the California State University, and request the University of California, on or before July 1, 2026, and, within 18 months of an appropriation by the Legislature, require the California Community Colleges, to develop and implement, 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, as provided. The bill would require the California Community Colleges and the California State University, and request the University of California, to use the recommendations contained in the report submitted by their respective stakeholder workgroups, convened as described below, as a basis for the development of the reconciliation master plan, as provided.
This bill would require the Chancellor of the California State University, and request the President of the University of California, on or before July 1, 2025, and within 6 months of an appropriation by the Legislature, require the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, to convene stakeholder workgroups in their respective segments that include representatives from specified stakeholders, including faculty, staff, and students. The bill would require each stakeholder workgroup to submit to the Legislature and the board president or chancellor of its respective system 9 months after the first meeting of the stakeholder workgroup a report 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. In preparing this report, the bill would require each stakeholder workgroup, at a minimum, to evaluate and report on existing systemwide and campus policies, procedures, and processes regarding cultural and political conflicts.
To the extent the bill would impose 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.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


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.