Community colleges: study: Counties of Amador, Alpine, Mariposa, Modoc, and Sierra.

Existing law declares as legislative policy that all of the territory of the state shall be included within a community college district, except that territory located within a county where the county residents accounted for fewer than 350 units of average daily attendance in the state's community colleges during the preceding fiscal year, and that territory located within such a county may be included within a community college district pursuant to prescribed procedures. This bill instead would declare as legislative policy that all of the territory of the state shall be included within a community college district or otherwise provided with equivalent opportunities for residents to participate in both in-person and online postsecondary education programs and courses. The bill would require the Legislative Analyst's Office to conduct a study and prepare a report evaluating the provision of postsecondary education services and opportunities to residents of the underserved Counties of Amador, Alpine, Mariposa, Modoc, and Sierra that are not fully included within the territory of a community college district, and would require the report to include policy recommendations regarding how the state can ensure that residents of those 5 counties have opportunities to participate in both in-person and online postsecondary education programs and courses equivalent to those of similarly sized communities that are fully included within the territory of a community college district, as provided. To assist with and inform the development of the report and recommendations, the bill would require the Legislative Analyst's Office to convene and consult a working group that includes specified voluntary representatives, and would authorize the Legislative Analyst's Office to request and receive information from specified entities. The bill would require the Legislative Analyst's Office to provide the report and recommendations to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature and to the Governor on or before December 31, 2025. The bill would repeal these provisions as of January 1, 2030. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Counties of Amador, Alpine, Mariposa, Modoc, and Sierra.