Oppose AB 130 (Low, as of April 10, 2019) Unless Amended

Spring
2019
Resolution Number
06.01
 
Assigned to
Legislative and Advocacy Committee
Category
State and Legislative Issues
Status
Completed
Status Report

An oppose unless amended letter was submitted on May 6, 2019.

Whereas, California law established the California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) as the coordinating and planning agency for statewide postsecondary education, and CPEC performed a variety of useful functions for California higher education, including data collection for all public segments and advising the governor regarding budgetary priorities to preserve access for students, prior to being defunded by the governor and ceasing operations in 2011;

Whereas, AB 130 (Low, as of April 10, 2019) would create the Office of Higher Education Performance and Accountability, which would, among other functions, “review and make recommendations, as necessary, regarding cross-segmental and interagency initiatives and programs in areas that may include, but are not necessarily limited to, efficiencies in instructional delivery, financial aid, transfer, and workforce coordination” and “act as a clearinghouse for postsecondary education information and as a primary source of information for the Legislature, the Governor, and other agencies,” thus potentially providing support for California higher education that has been needed since the defunding of CPEC;

Whereas, The Office of Higher EducationPerformance and Accountability created by AB 130 (Low, as of April 10, 2019) would be overseen by an executive director and would include an advisory board consisting of “six public members with experience in postsecondary education,”and while the language has been amended to include a meeting once a year with stakeholders, with the “chairperson of the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates, or the chairperson’s designee” as a member of the stakeholders group, the bill does not allow for Academic Senateappointments to the advisory board; and

Whereas, While the Office of Higher Education Performance and Accountability would be required by law to “consult with the higher education segments and stakeholders, as appropriate, in the conduct of its duties and responsibilities” and the members of the advisory board would be required to have experience with higher education, the functionality and benefits of the office would be greatly enhanced if the advisory board were to include direct representation from the segments of public higher education;

Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges opposeAB 130 (Low, as ofApril 10,2019) to create the Office of Higher Education Performance and Accountability unless the legislation is amendedto include faculty representatives appointed by their respective Academic Senates from each of the segments of public higher education in California among the members of the advisory board for the office.

MSU