Community colleges: transfer rate improvement.

(1) Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law establishes community college districts throughout the state, and authorizes these districts to maintain and operate community college campuses at which they provide instruction to students. This bill would express findings and declarations of the Legislature relating to the number of community college students in this state who are able to attain degrees or transfer to another institution of higher education. The bill would require the board of governors to develop and adopt a statewide system for improving transfer rates among community college students by January 1, 2012. The bill would require the board of governors to consult with the Trustees of the California State University and the Regents of the University of California in developing and adopting this system. The bill would require that the system developed and adopted under the bill be implemented throughout the California Community Colleges commencing with the 2012–13 academic year. To the extent that the implementation of the system developed and adopted under the bill imposes new duties on community college districts, this bill would constitute a state-mandated local program. (2) 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 these statutory provisions.