Public postsecondary education: California State University: California Community Colleges: foster youth: Higher Education Outreach and Assistance Act for Foster Youth.

(1) Existing law establishes the California State University and the California Community Colleges as 2 of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law also establishes the Higher Education Outreach and Assistance Act for Emancipated Foster Youth. The act imposes various requirements on the Trustees of the California State University and the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges relating to outreach and retention services for foster youth in order to encourage their enrollment and retention at a campus of either segment. More specifically, the act requires the State Department of Social Services and county welfare departments, in coordination with the California State University and the California Community Colleges, to communicate with foster youth at 2 grade levels designated jointly by the 2 segments in order to facilitate the outreach and technical assistance efforts for those prospective students. This bill would change the name of the act to the Higher Education Outreach and Assistance Act for Foster Youth. The bill would also require the State Department of Social Services and county welfare departments, in coordination with the California State University and the California Community Colleges, to coordinate with staff of several designated entities, as appropriate, to verify eligibility of foster youth for participation in programs and other benefits. The bill would require each campus of the California Community Colleges, upon admission of a foster youth, and each campus of the California State University, upon determination, through receipt of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or through another means, that a student enrolled at, or applying to, that campus is a current or former foster youth and is eligible for financial aid, to notify that student about appropriate campus support programs, as specified, notify that student of his or her eligibility for financial aid, and provide that student with instructions for accessing the benefits for which he or she has qualified. The bill would specify that notification of students pursuant to this provision may be accomplished by methods including, but not necessarily limited to, inclusion of information in the letters of acceptance sent to foster youth who have been admitted to those campuses. To the extent that this bill would impose new duties on community college districts and county welfare departments, the bill would impose 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.