Community colleges: California College Promise.

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 requires community college districts to charge students an enrollment fee of $46 per unit per semester. This bill would instead authorize community college districts to charge students an enrollment fee up to $46 per unit per semester. The bill would require the governing board of a community college district that charges a fee rate less than $46 per unit per semester to adopt a policy that establishes eligibility requirements for fee rate modifications, as specified, and a community college district that charges a fee rate less than $46 per unit per semester would not be eligible for state reimbursement for the difference between the fee rate charged and the $46 per unit per semester enrollment fee. Existing law establishes the California College Promise, to be administered by the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges. Existing law requires the chancellor to distribute funding, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to community college districts to fund colleges that meet prescribed requirements. Existing law authorizes a community college that receives funding under the program to, among other things, waive some or all of the fees for up to 2 academic years for first-time students who are enrolled in 12 or more semester units or the equivalent at the college and complete and submit either a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or a California Dream Act application. This bill would authorize a community college district to use existing funds for the implementation of the California College Promise, and to provide assistance to students for the total cost of attendance. The bill would define total cost of attendance for a student attending a community college as including all items prescribed in a specified federal statute.