Existing law requires that a person, other than a nonimmigrant alien, as defined, who has attended high school in California for 3 or more years, who has graduated from a California high school or attained the equivalent thereof, who has registered at or attends an accredited institution of higher education in California not earlier than the fall semester or quarter of the 2001–02 academic year, and who, if he or she is an alien without lawful immigration status, has filed a prescribed affidavit, is exempt from paying nonresident tuition at the California Community Colleges and the California State University. This bill would enact the California Dream Act of 2011. This bill would provide that, on and after January 1, 2012, a student attending the California State University, the California Community Colleges, or the University of California who is exempt from paying nonresident tuition under the provision described above would be eligible to receive a scholarship derived from nonstate funds received, for the purpose of scholarships, by the segment at which he or she is a student. The Donahoe Higher Education Act sets forth, among other things, the missions and functions of California's public and independent segments of higher education, and their respective institutions of higher education. Provisions of the act apply to the University of California only to the extent that the Regents of the University of California, by appropriate resolution, act to make a provision applicable. This bill would find and declare that the amendments to the Donahoe Higher Education Act described above are state laws within the meaning of a specified federal provision.
Sponsored bills
Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges. Existing law, until January 1, 2013, deletes a requirement that the board of governors review and approve courses of instruction that are not offered as part of an educational program approved by the board of governors. This bill would extend the date of deletion of this requirement to January 1, 2014. Existing law establishes community college districts, and requires each district to be under the control of a governing board. Existing law, until January 1, 2013, authorizes a community college district governing board to offer credit courses of instruction without the approval of the board of governors only under conditions authorized by regulations adopted by the board of governors. This bill would extend that authorization to January 1, 2018. Existing law requires the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, on or before January 1, 2012, to prepare and submit a report to the chairpersons of the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature describing the results of the monitoring of these courses undertaken pursuant to regulations developed by the board of governors under the law and the extent to which community college districts have complied with those regulations. This bill would, instead, require the chancellor to prepare and submit this report by January 1, 2013.
Existing law requires instruction in social sciences to include a study of the role and contributions of both men and women and specified categories of persons to the development of California and the United States. This bill would update references to certain categories of persons and additionally would require instruction in social sciences to include a study of the role and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans, persons with disabilities, and members of other cultural groups, to the development of California and the United States. Existing law prohibits instruction or school sponsored activities that promote a discriminatory bias because of race, sex, color, creed, handicap, national origin, or ancestry. Existing law prohibits the State Board of Education and the governing board of any school district from adopting textbooks or other instructional materials that contain any matter that reflects adversely upon persons because of their race, sex, color, creed, handicap, national origin, or ancestry. This bill would revise the list of characteristics included in these provisions by referring to race or ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, nationality, and sexual orientation, or other characteristic listed as specified. Existing law prohibits a governing board of a school district from adopting instructional materials that contain any matter reflecting adversely upon persons because of their race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, handicap, or occupation, or that contain any sectarian or denominational doctrine or propaganda contrary to law. This bill would revise the list of characteristics included in this provision to include race or ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, nationality, sexual orientation, and occupation, or other characteristic listed as specified. Existing law requires that when adopting instructional materials for use in the schools, governing boards of school districts shall include materials that accurately portray the role and contributions of culturally and racially diverse groups including Native Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, European Americans, and members of other ethnic and cultural groups to the total development of California and the United States. This bill would revise the list of culturally and racially diverse groups to also include Pacific Islanders, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans, and persons with disabilities. Existing law provides that there shall be no discrimination on the basis of specified characteristics in any operation of alternative schools or charter schools. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature that alternative and charter schools take notice of the provisions of this bill in light of provisions of existing law that prohibit discrimination in any aspect of their operation. This bill also would make other technical, nonsubstantive changes.
This measure would recognize May 2011 as Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month.
Existing law imposes various requirements on a test sponsor or test agency, as defined, with respect to the administration of standardized tests for purposes of postsecondary education. Existing law provides that a test sponsor that intentionally violates these provisions is liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $750 for each violation. This bill would require a test sponsor to provide alternative methods to verify a test subject's identity and to clearly post on the test sponsor's Internet Web site contact information for test subjects who cannot provide the required identification and need further assistance. A violation of these requirements would subject a test sponsor to the above civil penalty. The bill would allow a test sponsor to require test subjects to obtain approval from the test sponsor in advance of the registration test deadline in order to be admitted to the test with an alternative form of identification.
This measure declares that Sundays are "Eat Local, Buy California Grown Day," and encourages families, restaurants, and grocers to buy California-grown floriculture, fiber, and foods.
This measure would declare February 19, 2011, as a Day of Remembrance in order to increase public awareness of the events surrounding the internment of Americans of Japanese ancestry during World War II.
This measure would designate the week of April 18 to 24, 2011, as "California Week of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915–1923," and would memorialize the Congress and the President of the United States to observe the California Week of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide by participating in the Armenian Genocide Commemorative Project.
This measure would declare the week of April 10, 2011, to April 16, 2011, inclusive, as Crime Victims' Rights Week.