Brief Report and Legislation Update

This past weekend the FA President, FT Vice President, Treasurer, and one of our Directors attended the California Community College Independents (CCCI) conference with other Executive Board members of independent unions from community colleges across California. 

At the conference our Executive Board members attended meetings about:

1. What to consider in negotiations regarding DEIA regulations from the Chancellor’s office
2.  Issues surrounding the CCC Chancellor’s Vision 2030
3.  Current CA legislation put forth or supported by CCCI
4.  Report outs from each member district on their current local issues\

Below you’ll see updates on three CCCI-Sponsored Assembly bills and their status — and on one co-sponsored CCCI Assembly bill. Unfortunately, the PCCFA/CCCI Sponsored bill AB1190 died in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. CCCI will be reassessing and making a plan for moving forward. 

CCCI 2023 Legislative Report

Bill Status Update – October 27, 2023

2023-2024 Legislative Session 

CCCI Priority Legislation (CCCI-Sponsored Assembly Bills)

AB 1190 (Irwin, D) Part-Time Faculty Paid Office Hours

CCCI Position:  SPONSOR

Bill Status:  Died in Assembly Appropriations Committee

Requires districts to include compensation for part-time faculty office horus when negotiating faculty collective bargaining agreements.  This will ensure that all community college students, weather taught by a part-time or full-time faculty member, have the opportunity to meet with their instructors outside of the classroom for academic assistance and advising. Under current law – Education Code §87883-classroom community college districts are not required to compensate part-time faculty to meet with students outside of the classroom. According to the Chancellor’s Office, there are $86 million of unspent funds appropriated by the legislature for this purpose. Not paying part-time faculty for office hours results in tens of thousands of students enrolling in classes where their access to academic advising and mentoring is compromised.  The bill failed due to its ongoing costs and a multi-billion dollar state deficit.  [FACCC co-sponsor]

AB 811 (Mike Fong, D) Credit Course Repeatability 

CCCI Position CO-SPONSOR 

Bill Status:  Vetoed by Governor

Students could repeat a credit course up to two times – in arts, humanities, kinesiology, foreign language and ESL – if they receive a substandard grade, and are taking the course for enrichment or skill-building purposes. Districts would provide an annual report on the total number of students who repeat courses, and the total number of courses repeated.  Amendments added a 2023 sunset date and systemwide report to counter opposition groups.  The Governor vetoed AB 811, arguing the bill “. . .creates a fiscal incentive for community colleges to encourage repeating certain credit courses contrary to the Vision for Success. . .and key legislative efforts, such as AB 705. . .” [CFT sponsor; FACCC co-sponsor]

State Audit:  50 Percent Law Compliance and Administrative Growth

CCCI Position:  SPONSOR

Audit Requestor:  Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez, D

Anticipated Release Date:  February/March 2024
The state audit will (1) assess community college district compliance with the 50% spending law for instructional salaries, and; (2) assess the growth in District presidents’ and superintendents’ total compensation, and district administration budgets, in relation to changes in student enrollment, faculty and staff positions, and dDistrict operating budgets. CCCI identified at least 10 Community College districts with 50% funding levels in 2021 to 2022 that fell below 50.08% with many districts not meeting the 50% threshold.  $175,008/year to $386,003 year with an average salary of $284,504/year.  In addition to full benefits coverage (health, dental, vision and life insurance) many chief administrators also receive car and housing allowances, and monthly expense accounts, in addition to their annual salaries, totaling as much as $99,921/year. Chancellor’s Office data also revealed that in the 10 years from 2012-22, there was a 45% growth in administrative positions unrelated to student outcomes despite a 20% decline in student enrollment. (See attached (1) CCCI support letter, and; (2) the State Auditor’s fact sheet, audit scope and objectives.)

State Audit: Funding to Increase Full-Time Faculty Hires and Diversity

CCCI Position: SPONSOR

Audit Requestor: Assemblymember Evan Low, D

Release Date: February 2023 (Audit #2022-113)

In its state audit report, the Auditor concluded much of the $450 million in state funding, allocated since 2018-19 to hire more full-time faculty, was improperly used or not used at all by the audited districts; the Chancellor’s Office failed in its oversight and accountability of these funds and did not verify District Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) compliance, and; the Chancellor’s office use invalid criteria for measuring the percentage of instruction taught by full-time faculty. CCCI and FACCC successfully inserted the audit recommendations into the 2023-24 state budget (See attached (1) fact sheet and; (2) recommendations.)