CFA Unveils Support for State Legislation

After receiving input from chapters and researching various proposed legislation, CFA’s Political Action and Legislative Committee recommended and the CFA Board of Directors has taken positions on several Assembly and Senate bills. 

Today, we bring you bills that protect and strengthen higher education and enhance student access. These bills cover expanding internet access to underserved communities, strengthening teacher preparation, creating a pilot program for free college, and expanding support for high need students, such as foster youth and those impacted by the criminal justice system.

“CFA is proud to play a part in enhancing public higher education and ensuring access to that education for the students of California,” said Steven Filling, CFA Political Action and Legislation Chair. “Working with the Teacher Education Caucus, we have identified bills that address the digital divide, open opportunities for student success, and address a variety of the financial challenges our students face.

“We look forward to working with legislators to amend bill language where necessary and to have them approved by the Legislature and Governor.”

Unless specifically noted, CFA supports these legislative efforts.  Future Headlines will focus on other legislation promoting union rights, funding, and racial and social justice.

Assembly Bill 101: CFA is watching amendments to the bill before taking a position.  AB 101 would expressly authorize high schools to require a full-year course in ethnic studies at their discretion commencing with the 2025–26 school year.

AB 245: requires UC, CSU, or community college campuses to update a former student’s legal name or gender if the institution receives documentation that their legal name or gender has been changed. Commencing with the 2023–24 graduating class, the bill would require an institution to allow graduating students to request that their diploma list the student’s chosen name.

AB 288: enacts the California Ban on Scholarship Displacement Act of 2021, prohibiting public and private colleges that receive, or benefit from, state-funded financial assistance or enroll students who receive state-funded student financial assistance, from reducing certain students’ institution-based financial aid award below their financial need.

AB 295: establishes a working group consisting of representatives from the State Department of Education, community colleges, CSU, and UC to review the creation of a pilot program to provide free public college education.

AB 320:  more clearly defines accreditation standards for teacher preparation programs.

AB 367: requires CSUs and community colleges, and would encourage UCs and private universities, to stock 50 percent of all campus restrooms with free menstrual products at all times.

AB 396: expands college student eligibility for CalFresh.

AB 403: requires that higher education institutions entering into automatic billing agreements include consumer protection provisions for students and an opt-in program for having course materials costs added to their tuition bill.

AB 417: authorizes the California Community Colleges to establish a program, named the Rising Scholars Network, and to enter into agreements with up to 50 community colleges to provide additional funds for services supporting students impacted by the criminal justice system.

AB 437: requires teaching credential candidates complete higher education coursework in the subject matters related to the content area of the credential.

AB 469: requires all high schools ensure graduating students complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and/or the California Dream Act application. 

AB 609: known as The College Athlete Race and Gender Equity Act, this bill secures equitable opportunity, treatment, and compensation for college athletes.

AB 927: CFA is watching amendments to the bill before taking a position on this bill, which extends indefinitely the community colleges’ baccalaureate degree pilot program.

AB 1185: extends eligibility and time limits for Cal Grant recipients impacted by COVID-19.

AB 1290: expands the student representatives to the Student Aid Commission from two to four so that each of the four California higher education institutions is represented.

AB 1377: creates the California Student Housing Revolving Loan Fund to provide loans for the purpose of constructing affordable student housing.

AB 1432: ends the California Online Community College, also known as Calbright.

Senate Bill 4: CFA is co-sponsoring this bill to expand broadband access to underserved communities.

SB 26: adds safeguards to protect California college athletes’ newly granted ownership rights to their name, image, and likeness to the Fair Pay to Play Act.

SB 228: extends college enrollment priority currently given to foster youth beyond their 13th birthday.

SB 367: requires colleges inform students about opioid use prevention and the location of overdose reversal medication on campuses.

SB 488: expands reading instruction competency requirements to receive a teaching credential.