Postsecondary education: community colleges: enrollment fee.

(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 postsecondary education in this state. Existing law requires the governing board of each community college district to charge an enrollment fee of $46 per unit per semester, but requires the waiver of this fee for students meeting specified requirements. This bill would require the waiver of the enrollment fee for resident students, as defined, who are in their first academic year of enrollment at a community college. Because the bill would impose new duties on community college districts to determine the eligibility of students for this new fee waiver, it 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 the statutory provisions noted above.