Three out of the four proposed CSU sponsored measures this session were given approval last week by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and will take effect January 1, 2008. AB 262 (Coto), AB 950 (Salas) and SB 855 (Ridley-Thomas) will make improvements to the CSU system by offering either cost savings to the system’s administrative functions or to its students enrolling at any of the 23 campuses. Below is a brief overview of each proposal:

AB 262 (Coto) - Vehicle Purchases
In the 2003-04 legislative session a bill was passed (SB 1757) which required the CSU to participate in a duplicative approval process for the purchasing of vehicles. In light of this duplication, the CSU was given an opportunity to propose removing the system from the oversight of the Department of General Services (DGS). In this time the CSU has been subject to DGS authority, it has cost in excess of $340,000 annually, and caused numerous delays in purchases. Additionally, this process has been difficult because the CSU is not a typical state agency and for example, DGS was unable to deal expeditiously with purchases such as farm vehicles. The CSU is pleased to have reached this agreement and passed this measure which will result in less cost for the system.

AB 950 (Salas) – Veteran’s Fee Waiver
The passage of this legislation will establish a more consistent and equitable policy on out-of-state fee waivers for both undergraduate and graduate military students. The soon-to-be law will extend the non-resident fee waiver for members of the military who are taking graduate coursework at the CSU from one year to two years.

Assembly Bill 950 came out of the work of the Veterans Education Opportunities Partnership in which the CSU has taken an active role, along with the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the California Community Colleges (CCC), and the University of California (UC). The system and its partners are dedicated to developing an academic outreach, admission, and enrollment plan that targets and assists both current service members and veterans as a way to make California more veteran friendly.

SB 855 (Ridley-Thomas) – Revenue Bonds
The passage of this legislation will provide the CSU a significant cost savings by allowing for a streamlined revenue bond process that will ultimately provide CSU students with a better and more affordable education.

The law will provide more flexibility to the CSU’s Systemwide Revenue Bonds (SRB) program to strengthen this systemwide fiscal management approach by authorizing the use of the most advantageous interest rates available in the market. This will result in lower interest costs for projects, particularly for student housing, parking facilities, and student union projects.

The CSU is pleased to see the majority of its sponsored legislation signed into law in the 2006-07 legislative session, and offers thanks to the Board of Trustees, the campuses and CSU supporters that assisted in advocating for the passage of these bills with your state legislators and the Governor.