Sacramento, CA – Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer’s (D-South Los Angeles) Assembly Bill (AB) 295, which sets in motion a plan to provide free college to California students, was approved by the Assembly Higher Education Committee with a 9-1 vote.
“California should be in the business of student success – not student stress,” said Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer. “When college students have to choose working overtime to afford their tuition and living expenses, rather than focus time on their studies, it is abundantly clear we as a state must continue our work to expand college affordability and accessibility to our next generation of leaders.”
Over 45 years ago, higher education in California was a priority and an issue the public viewed as a public good. In an effort to ensure the least amount of barriers to a more educated society, the state did not charge students tuition. Yet, we have moved in an entirely different direction. California State University tuition and fees have risen 1360%, while University of California tuition and fees have climbed 555% since 1979. Additionally, costs of attendance, such as food and housing, have risen 40% since 1979, further adding to the financial stress of students.
AB 295 convenes a working group of higher education experts, including administration, faculty, staff, and students, to develop a pilot program that will provide cost-free college to California residents. In carrying out their work, this working group can focus on coordinating with participating campuses, identifying underserved students that would benefit from the program, and creating a model that will work in tandem with existing financial aid programs, such as the Cal Grant.
“Assembly Bill 295 will provide legislators with the information they need to develop a roadmap on how we can achieve tuition free college,” said Ron Rapp, Legislative Director with the California Faculty Association. “The California Faculty Association believes that tuition free college will create more opportunities for students, particularly those from low-income families, to have access to higher education. In addition, tuition free college will help to significantly reduce future student debt.”
AB 295 now moves to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations.
Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer represents the communities of South Los Angeles, Exposition Park, and portions of downtown Los Angeles. For more information about Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer, Sr., please visit https://a59.asmdc.org/
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 66014.1 is added to the Education Code, to read:
66014.1.
(a) A working group consisting of representatives from the department, the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, the Trustees of the California State University, and the Regents of the University of California California, and faculty, staff, and students from the California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California is hereby established to consider the creation of a pilot program that would provide free cover the cost of attending postsecondary education in the State of California by replacing the system of charging students tuition and fees tuition, fees, and additional expenses for enrollment at a public postsecondary institution.
2 comments
So, the tax payers will pay for it.
Democrat lunatics in CA.
One more reason to leave this libtard communist state.
This is a great boost to those who have been left behind, who have not been given a chance and or unable to afford higher education. I hope this change soon becomes a reality for all.
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