CA AB 1780

Title: Independent institutions of higher education: legacy and donor preference in admissions: prohibition.
Author: Lori D. Wilson

Summary
AB 1780, as amended, Ting. Independent institutions of higher education: legacy and donor preference in admissions: prohibition. Existing law establishes independent institutions of higher education as one of the segments of postsecondary education in the state.Existing law, the Cal Grant Program, establishes the Cal Grant A Entitlement Awards, the Cal Grant B Entitlement Awards, the California Community College Expanded Entitlement Awards, the California Community College Transfer Entitlement Awards, the Competitive Cal Grant A and B Awards, the Cal Grant C Awards, and the Cal Grant T Awards under the administration of the Student Aid Commission.The Cal Grant Reform Act revises and recasts the provisions establishing and governing the existing Cal Grant Program into a new Cal Grant Program. Existing law specifies that the act becomes operative only if General Fund moneys over the multiyear forecasts beginning in the 2024–25 fiscal year are available to support ongoing augmentations and actions, and if funding is provided in the annual Budget Act to implement the act.This bill would prohibit an independent institution of higher education, as defined, from providing a legacy preference or donor preference in admissions, as defined, to an applicant as part of the regular or early action admission process. The bill would make a violation of the prohibition subject to a civil penalty equal to the amount the independent institution of higher education receives in the year before the violation occurred pursuant to the Cal Grant Program or the Cal Grant Reform Act, as applicable. The bill would require the civil penalty to be assessed and recovered by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education and deposited into the Cal Grant Account, which the bill would establish in the State Treasury. The bill would require funds in the account, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to be available for purposes of funding the Cal Grant Program or the Cal Grant Reform Act. The bill would require the Civil Rights Department to post the names of the independent institutions of higher education that violate the prohibition on its internet website. The bill would require, on or before June 30, 2026, and annually thereafter, an independent institution of higher education to report specified information about admitted students to the Legislature.

Status
Re-referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.

Bill Documents
CA AB 1780 - 04/08/24 - Amended Assembly
04/08/24 - CA AB 1780 (04/08/24 - Amended Assembly)