Public postsecondary education: The California Promise.

Existing law establishes the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as 2 of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state. This bill would establish the California Promise, which would require specified minimum numbers of campuses of the California State University to establish a California Promise program by which the campus would enter into a pledge with a student who satisfies specified criteria to support the student in earning a baccalaureate degree within 4 academic years, or if the student is a community college transfer student who earned an associate degree for transfer, within 2 academic years, of the academic year of the student's first year of enrollment, as specified. The bill would require the trustees to submit, by July 1, 2021, a report to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature that includes specified information about students who participate in the program and a summary description of significant differences in implementation of the program by campuses. The bill would require the trustees to submit recommendations, by March 15, 2017, to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature regarding potential financial incentives that could benefit students who participate in the program. The bill's provisions would be repealed as of January 1, 2026.