AB 1653, Weber. Postsecondary education: campus climate.
Existing law establishes the segments of postsecondary education in this state, including the University of California administered by the Regents of the University of California, the California State University administered by the Trustees of the California State University, the California Community Colleges administered by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, and independent institutions of higher education.
This bill would require the board, the trustees, and the governing body of each independent institution of higher education, as defined, and encourage each University of California campus, to each generate a report once every biennium of the legislative session, commencing with the 2017-18 Regular Session, that includes specified information related to the respective institution’s campus climate, as defined, post the report on the respective institution’s Internet Web site, and submit the report to specified state bodies. For the purposes of the board’s report, the bill would require the board to request certain information from community college districts, and would provide that the board’s report shall be based on data available from participating community college districts. The bill would require the board, the trustees, and the governing body of each independent institution of higher education, and would encourage the regents, to create, review every 2 years thereafter, and, as necessary, update protocols, policies, and procedures regarding compliance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 66073 is added to the Education Code, to read:
(a) The Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges and the Trustees of the California State University are required, and each University of California campus is encouraged, to generate a report once every biennium of the legislative session, commencing with the 2017-18 Regular Session, that shall include all of the following as to the respective institution:
(1) New and recent administrative efforts intended to affect campus climate.
(2) Recent campus program developments that impact campus climate related to the following:
(A) Gender.
(B) Race.
(C) Ethnicity.
(D) National origin.
(E) Religion.
(F) Sexual orientation.
(G) Disability.
(H) Gender identity.
(3) New and recent administrative efforts to reduce student food insecurity and student homelessness.
(b) The governing body of each independent institution of higher education, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010, shall generate a report once every biennium of the legislative session, commencing with the 2017-18 Regular Session, that shall include all of the information specified in paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, of subdivision (a) as to the institution.
(c) The Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, the Trustees of the California State University, and the governing body of each independent institution of higher education, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010, are required, and each University of California campus is encouraged, to each post the respective report on its Internet Web site.
(d) The Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, the Trustees of the California State University, and the governing body of each independent institution of higher education, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010, are required, and the Regents of the University of California are encouraged, to create, review every two years thereafter, and, as necessary, update protocols, policies, and procedures regarding compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1092(f)) and the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1092(f)(8)).
(e) The Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges shall request, but not require, the information specified in paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, of subdivision (a) from community college districts. The report of the board shall be based on data available from participating community college districts.
(f) A report to be generated pursuant to this section shall be sent to the Governor, the Attorney General, and the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature.
(g) For purposes of this section, “campus climate” means a measure of an individual’s experience within a learning environment, specifically focusing on the current attitudes, practices, policies, and behaviors of campus life that impact the success and retention of all members of a campus community.
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