Under the Donahoe Higher Education Act, the segments of postsecondary education in this state are the University of California, the California State University, the California Community Colleges, independent institutions of higher education, and private postsecondary educational institutions. Existing law requires each campus of the California State University, and requests each campus of the University of California, to post on its internet website information about the market cost of a one-bedroom apartment in the areas surrounding that campus where its students commonly reside.

This bill would require institutions in the California Community Colleges, California State University, or the University of California systems, independent institutions of higher education, and private postsecondary educational institutions to each calculate a full-time student’s cost of attendance at that institution. The bill would require that calculation to include, at a minimum, specified items, including room and board. The bill would require an institution to calculate student costs for room and board for a student living with family as a dependent, living on campus, or living independently off campus, as specified, and for the institution to update the calculation for room and board each fiscal year using the most recent fiscal year data available. By imposing additional duties on community college districts, 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 the statutory provisions noted above.