BILL NUMBER: AB 851 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 25, 2011
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 14, 2011
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Nestande
( Coauthors: Assembly Members
Blumenfield, Garrick, and Jeffries
)
FEBRUARY 17, 2011
An act to add and repeal Section 66942 of the Education Code,
relating to public postsecondary education.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 851, as amended, Nestande. Distance learning.
Existing law establishes the various segments of the public higher
education system in the state. These segments include the University
of California, which is administered by the Regents of the
University of California, the California State University, which is
administered by the Trustees of the California State University, and
the California Community Colleges, which is administered by the Board
of Governors of the California Community Colleges.
This bill would require that by January 1, 2014, and every 2 years
thereafter, the Trustees of the California State
University and the Board of Governors of the California Community
Colleges, and request the Regents of the University of
California, to report to the Legislature on workload and key
performance data on distance learning courses, as defined.
The bill would require the California Virtual Campus and the
California State University by July 1, 2012, and updated one year
thereafter, to report to the Legislature on the California Online
Program Planner project. The bill would require the Board of
Governors of the California Community Colleges and the California
State University to report to the Legislature by January 1, 2013, on
the feasibility of developing accelerated associate's and bachelor's
degree completion programs consisting of distance learning courses,
aimed at students who started college but never obtained a degree.
This bill would, by November 1, 2011,
February 1, 2012, also require the Legislative Analyst's
Office to convene a task force composed of specified
members of the Legislature and members of the administration to
identify the steps needed to establish the Western Governors
University, California. The task force would be required to
consult with representatives of the University of California, the
California State University, the California Community Colleges, and
the California Postsecondary Education Commission. The task
force would, by November 1, 2012 February 1,
2013 , be required to report their findings and recommendations
to the Legislature. These provisions would be repealed on January 1,
2018.
The bill would state the intent of the Legislature relating to the
Western Governors University, California, as a degree-granting
institution that is self-supporting and does not receive state
funding.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 66942 is added to the Education Code, to read:
66942. (a) As used in this section, For
purposes of data collection and reporting by the California Community
Colleges, the California State University, and the University of
California, "distance learning course" means a course
where conducted with a majority of the
instruction is delivered by the Internet, television, or other means
in which the student and instructor instructional
content delivered when faculty and students are in different
locations and instruction is delivered through the use of technology.
(b) (1) By January 1, 2014, and every two years thereafter, the
Trustees of the California State University and the Board
of Governors of the California Community Colleges shall, and the
Regents of the University of California is
are requested to, report to the Legislature on workload
and key performance data on distance learning courses, including, but
not limited to, all of the following:
(A) The number of students enrolled in a distance learning course
at each campus, categorized by type of delivery method for the
distance learning course.
(B) Completion rates for distance learning courses.
(C) Program completion rates for degree programs that include
exclusively distance learning courses.
(2) Student enrollment and completion rate data included in a
report to be submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be made
available by demographics such as age, gender, and ethnicity.
(c) By July 1, 2012, the California Virtual Campus and the
California State University shall report to the Legislature on the
California Online Program Planner project, which will provide
students, beginning with students in the San Francisco Bay area, a
single online source to enroll in distance learning courses and will
provide other collaborative efficiencies. An updated report shall be
provided on July 1, 2013.
(d) By January 1, 2013, the Board of Governors of the California
Community Colleges and the California State University shall report
to the Legislature on the feasibility of developing accelerated
associate's and bachelor's degree completion programs consisting of
distance learning courses, aimed at students who started college but
never obtained a degree.
(e)
(c) (1) By November 1, 2011,
February 1, 2012, the Legislative Analyst shall convene a task
force composed of members of the Legislature and
, members of the administration , and representatives
of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges to identify
the steps needed to establish the Western Governors University,
California. The task force shall consult with representatives of
the University of California, the California State University, the
California Community Colleges, and the California Postsecondary
Education Commission.
(2) It is the intent of the Legislature that the task force
evaluate the establishment of the Western Governors University,
California, as a degree-granting institution that is self-supporting
and that does not receive state funding. This provision is not
intended to preclude the task force from evaluating the Western
Governors University, California, as a potential qualifying
institution for the purposes of California's student financial aid
programs.
(2)
(3) By November 1, 2012,
February 1, 2013, the task force convened pursuant to this
subdivision shall report to the Legislature on the findings and
recommendations of the task force.
(f)
(d) (1) All reports to be submitted pursuant to this
section 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, 2018.