Community colleges: fee waivers.

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. Existing law authorizes the San Mateo County Community College District, among other things, to adopt a policy that uses local unrestricted general funds to provide fee waivers to students with the greatest financial need when other fee waivers are not provided to those students, and to provide assistance to students for the total cost of attendance. This bill would authorize the governing board of a community college district to adopt a policy that uses local unrestricted general funds to provide fee waivers to students with the greatest financial need when other fee waivers are not provided to those students if the community college district complies with certain requirements, including that 100% of its students complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or California Dream Act application, that the community college district has established a fully staffed Basic Needs Center, and that the community college district prepares a fiscal impact statement, including a 3-year projection of the fiscal impact of the fee waiver on the community college district, as specified. The bill would require, on or before October 10, 2024, and annually thereafter, a community college district to certify to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges that it has complied with all of those requirements, and would require, on or before December 31, 2024, and annually thereafter, the chancellor's office to verify the information submitted and authorize the governing board of that community college district to adopt a policy that uses local unrestricted general funds to provide fee waivers to students with the greatest financial need. The bill would authorize the governing board of a community college district that receives authorization to use local unrestricted general funds to provide assistance to students for the total cost of attendance, as defined.