Public postsecondary education: basic needs of students.

(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 3 segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law establishes community college districts throughout the state, and authorizes them to provide instruction to students at community college campuses. Existing law requests campuses of the California Community Colleges to give priority for certain student housing to current and former homeless youth, as specified, and requests those campuses to develop a plan to ensure that current and former homeless youth can access housing resources during and between academic terms, including during academic and campus breaks. Existing law defines homeless youth for these purposes. This bill would express legislative findings and declarations about the impact of basic needs insecurity on college students. This bill would encourage each campus of the California Community Colleges, no later than July 1, 2021, to establish the role of Basic Needs Coordinator and designate a staff person as the Basic Needs Coordinator. The bill would specify that a basic needs coordinator is encouraged to act as a broker in identifying, supporting, and linking students to on- and off-campus housing, food, and mental health services and resources, among other responsibilities. The bill would also encourage each campus, no later than July 1, 2021, to establish a Basic Needs Center, which would be a central location on campus where basic needs services, resources, and staff are made available to students, as specified. The bill would further require each campus, no later than February 1, 2021, to develop a document to be made available to students online that clearly lists all on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources, as specified. The bill would authorize funding that may be included in the Budget Act of 2020 or a subsequent year for the Student Equity and Achievement Program to fund the campus basic needs coordinators and centers, and authorize the California Community Colleges to seek and accept on behalf of the state any gift, bequest, devise, or donation to aid in the funding of the basic needs coordinators and centers. The bill would require each community college campus, through existing reporting on basic needs, to report specified information to the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges. Because the bill would impose new duties on community college districts, 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.