Every year, the League's government relations team provides districts and colleges with the necessary tools to take action on top-priority bills affecting community colleges. With the house of origin deadline behind us, hundreds of bills will now be heard in their respective policy committees.


On March 3, 2020, Californians will have an opportunity to vote on Proposition 13, the Schools and Colleges Facilities Bond. Proposition 13 is the largest education facilities bond in state history, promoting adequate and equitable school, college, and university facilities that will provide healthy, safe, and educationally appropriate educational infrastructure for our students.


On November 21, 2019, the Community College League of California's CEOCCC and CCCT Boards passed a resolution in support of Proposition 13, the California Public Preschool, Kindergarten and College Health and Safety Bond, which will invest $15 billion to California's K-12 schools, universities, and community colleges.


On Sunday, October 13, 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom officially wrapped up the 2019 legislative year by taking final actions on the remaining bills sent to him by the Legislature. Governor Newsom acted on more than 1,000 bills in 2019, signing 870 and vetoing 172, or just over 16% of those that made it to his desk. In 2019, nearly 300 bills were signed which make changes to California’s Education Code. A few measures that stalled this year may return in 2020, including a proposal the League with the help of over 40 colleges opposed, which allow homeless community college students to sleep in campus parking lots (AB 302 [Berman, D]).


Today, both the Senate and Assembly Appropriations Committees held Suspense File hearings. Bills that survived out of the Suspense File will remain in play this year to be further debated and acted upon by the Legislature. These critical fiscal committees advanced or held over 600 bills. Lawmakers now have until September 13 to pass bills before they leave for Interim Recess.


On June 13, the California Legislature presented Governor Gavin Newsom with a 2019-20 spending plan of over $214 billion – a plan which maintained many of the Governor’s January priorities and campaign promises. Subsequent higher education trailer bill language was approved by the Legislature on June 17. Overall, the 2019 Budget Act (AB 190 and SB 73) identified three investment themes: an effective government, promoting affordability and opportunity, and supporting just and dignified treatment for all Californians.


Today, Governor Newsom presented a May Revision against a backdrop of increasing national risks and the inextricable linkage between fiscal resiliency and the state’s ability to promote affordability and economic opportunity. Building on the January Budget proposal, Governor Gavin Newsom identified three investment themes in the May Revision: an effective government, promoting affordability and opportunity, and supporting just and dignified treatment for all Californians.


On April 11, the League released a letter with its analysis and recommendations for the 2019-20 Budget Proposal and the impacts on community college districts. The League also commented on specific proposals within the Governor’s January Budget. Below is the League’s 2019-20 Budget Letter.


In his first budget, Governor Gavin Newsom identified three investment themes: an effective government, promoting affordability and opportunity, and supporting just and dignified treatment for all Californians. The 2019-20 Governor’s Budget embraces and builds upon California Community Colleges’ efforts to create a skilled and educated workforce through responsive educational programs, and quality, affordable transfer education for all Californians.


This morning,  Governor Brown released the final May Revision of his tenure. In doing so, he emphasized his higher education priorities, including two signature proposals - a new fully online community college focused on innovations in online learning and a new student-focused funding formula – both of which maintained prominent investments in the 2018-19 May Revision.


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