Community colleges: disability services.

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 states the intent of the Legislature that the public postsecondary institutions request, and the state provide, through the state budget process, funds to cover the actual cost of providing services and instruction, consistent with specified principles, to disabled students in their respective postsecondary institutions. Existing law requires the board of governors to adopt rules and regulations for the administration and funding of educational programs and support services provided to disabled students by community college districts. Existing law defines "disabled students," for these purposes, as persons with exceptional needs enrolled at a community college who meet specified criteria. This bill would expand that definition of "disabled students," for these purposes, to include persons with exceptional needs who have applied to, but are not enrolled at, a community college and meet that criteria. Existing law requires the regulations adopted by the board of governors to provide for the apportionment of funds to each community college district to offset the direct excess cost of providing specialized support services or instruction, or both, to disabled students enrolled in state-supported educational programs or courses. This bill would require the regulations adopted by the board to provide funds to offset those costs of providing services or instruction, or both, to disabled students enrolled in state-supported disabled student services programs or courses, instead of state-supported educational programs or courses. The bill also would correct cross-references.