Transcript Highlights:

• So that included retention rates, thinking about who's going to school in New Mexico, who's sticking
• Our forensic division is also operating at a higher rate than we ever have before.
• So we actually have one of the lower rates of seclusion for any. State hospital.
• What is your rate, and how do you get it better?
• This includes rental rates, wages, the affordability of housing, and zoning.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's also worth comparing how CVSO and local claims assistance success rates compare to other forms of
• all the time on the news about veterans are homeless and veterans are killing themselves at higher rates
• Of course not, because there are still veterans out there that need the rating.
• And what we just... ...because there are still veterans out there that need the rating.
• As far as a favorable decision rate in appeal, it may not be everything the veteran was asking for, but

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on the role of County Veterans Service Officers (CVSOs), CalVet’s support for them, and the growing problem of for-profit, unaccredited claims companies. Committee leaders and witnesses emphasized that CVSOs are often the first point of contact for veterans and their families, helping with disability claims, education benefits, survivor benefits, housing, health care, and other wraparound services. Testimony highlighted the return on investment from CVSO work, with witnesses citing hundreds of millions in new federal benefits secured for California veterans and arguing that current state funding is too low relative to the workload and need. County representatives from Nevada, Los Angeles, and San Luis Obispo described local models of service. Los Angeles County highlighted a “no wrong door” approach, peer navigators, suicide review work, justice-involved veteran services, and homelessness coordination, while San Luis Obispo described rural outreach, mental health partnerships, and high suicide rates in its county. Nevada County stressed that smaller counties can be disadvantaged by workload-based formulas and that additional funding would expand access, especially in rural areas. Several witnesses said veterans often need more than claims help and should be connected to mental health, employment, food, and family supports. Much of the discussion centered on predatory claims consultants, which witnesses said charge veterans for services that accredited CVSOs provide free. Members and witnesses described cases involving requests for VA and banking logins, misleading advertising, and contracts that can take a percentage of veterans’ benefits. Committee members expressed support for legislation to curb these practices and for increased funding for CVSOs, including the Legislature’s intent to fund 50% of county veterans’ services operations. A CalVet deputy secretary also testified that California’s accreditation and training system improves claim quality and appeal outcomes, and that CalVet works with CVSOs through training, district offices, and appeals representation.

Transcript Highlights:

• The LAO report from last year also showed that three-year graduation rates were only about 18%.
• How do these proposals improve graduation rates?
• Some of that is demographic, some of that is birth-rate related. It just depends on...
• Some of that is birth-rate related.
• And we would also note, I believe our current vacancy rate is around 5%.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance held a hearing focused on California Community College budget proposals. Chair Alvarez opened by emphasizing the system’s role in access, transfer, workforce training, and serving more than 2 million students, while also noting persistent challenges in enrollment, persistence, transfer, and graduation. Public commenters and system representatives broadly supported COLA, enrollment growth funding, deferred maintenance, student support block grants, and additional flexibility for districts facing uncertainty. The first major panel covered the student-centered funding formula, COLA, and enrollment growth. The Department of Finance said the Governor proposes a 2.43% COLA ($230.4 million) and 0.5% enrollment growth funding ($30.4 million). The LAO said the COLA was reasonable and recommended funding at least the proposed growth amount, citing uneven enrollment recovery and regional differences. The Chancellor’s Office supported both proposals and asked for additional changes, including using the greater of current-year or three-year average for apportionments and lifting the 10% local enrollment cap, arguing these would better fund growing districts. Members questioned how the formula works, whether SCFF is improving outcomes, and how much additional funding would be needed under different growth scenarios. The committee then reviewed categorical program COLAs, Rising Scholars, career education proposals, IT proposals, and student housing. The Governor proposed a 2.43% COLA for selected categorical programs ($31.9 million). For Rising Scholars, the Governor proposed $30 million ongoing and removal of the cap on participating colleges; the LAO urged waiting for outcome data before doubling funding, while the Chancellor’s Office said the program is serving more students and supports equity for justice-impacted students. On career education, the Governor proposed $50 million for credit for prior learning and $50 million for a career passport; the LAO supported more reporting on credit for prior learning but recommended rejecting the career passport as too undefined, while the Chancellor’s Office supported both. On technology, the Governor proposed $162.5 million for a common cloud data platform and $168 million for a common ERP system; the LAO said both were premature or lacked sufficient planning and recommended rejection, while the Chancellor’s Office argued they would improve real-time data, security, and systemwide efficiency. The committee also heard an update on student housing: the administration said the 2024 shift to a lease-revenue bond model remains in progress for 13 approved projects, with 11 still active, and members asked about withdrawn projects and possible use of any returned funds. No votes were taken, and several items were held open for further discussion and May Revision updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a transfer student completion rate for economically disadvantaged students that significantly
• of our undergraduate students receive some form of financial assistance, with 95% course completion rate
• , almost 80% degree persistence rate, and 57% are first in their family to receive a university degree
• In spring of 2025, the university experienced a record fall to spring retention rate of 90.7.
• rate is a full 5% above the state average for comprehensive regional universities or crews.

Transcript Highlights:

• rate below 80%. 80%. 80%.
• Those were graduation rate um below 80%.
• some of the highest graduation rates are some of the highest graduation rates are with<00:45:23.359><
• get that gradu that uh completion rate get that gradu that uh completion rate up<00:58:33.760>
• So, um they completion rate in Kentucky.

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call - 0:00:00 Approval of Minutes – 0:03:50 Robotics Education – 0:04:18 Canopy KY – 0:14:15 Comprehensive Support and Improvement – 0:23:20 Postsecondary Credit Alignment – 0:53:15 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in K-12 Settings – 1:21:25 Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations – 2:05:15 Adjournment 2:05:41, 958, all

Summary: The committee opened with a roll call, confirmed a quorum, approved the minutes by voice vote, and recognized a guest of Senator Hickden, retired judge Dan Kelly. The chair then moved through a tight agenda and limited public presentations and questions. The first presentation was on robotics education in Kentucky, led by Representative Chris Lewis, Kentucky FIRST Robotics executive director Kelly Gowen, and students from Whitfield Academy. They argued that robotics should be expanded in high schools as a workforce pipeline for engineering, manufacturing, and advanced technology jobs. The presentation emphasized hands-on learning, industry certifications, teacher development, and a proposed framework to fund robotics education programs statewide. Committee members were not allowed to ask questions because of time constraints. The second presentation was from Canopy Kentucky, led by Adam Watson and founder Scott Collins. They described Canopy’s business and entrepreneurship education programs for fifth graders and high school students, including the NextGen Good Biz initiative and an eight-classroom high school unit. Canopy requested a one-time $750,000 appropriation for fiscal year 2026, matched by private funds, to expand into more schools and rural areas, train educators, and report outcomes. Members asked a brief question about how the programs fit into school schedules and the difference between the elementary and high school offerings. The final presentation, from KDE’s Kelly Foster and Todd Allen, reviewed the state’s school improvement classifications. Foster explained CSI, TSI, and ATSI status, the federal and state legal framework, and how House Bill 298 returned CSI identification to an annual cycle. She reported that Kentucky identified 50 CSI schools on the most recent release, with 53 CSI schools statewide, along with 39 TSI schools and 102 ATSI schools. She also outlined KDE’s support process, including education recovery staff, diagnostic reviews, turnaround plans, and required professional learning for CSI schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• inflation, plan closure rate agreements, single bed closure rate incentives and layaways, a health insurance
• inflation, plan closure rate agreements, single bed closure rate incentives and layaways, a health insurance
• inflation, plan closure rate agreements, single bed closure rate incentives and layaways, a health insurance
• So um the rate uh C uh PCA or CFSS.
• <02:26:06.640> enhanced enhanced uh enhanced rate enhanced enhanced uh enhanced rate enhanced

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• country with the highest drowning rate country with the highest drowning rate no<01:20:19.639>
• Our drowning rates are now at a crisis.
• So, um, prior to August 8th, Hawaiian Electric’s credit rating was A-minus; our current credit rating
• > rating<03:52:35.080> is<03:52:35.279> non-investment current credit rating is
• Nobody wants rates to increase.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• had a 51% vacancy rate in January of 2023 in those lines of effort, and now we have a 42% vacancy rate
• mic it's on this page 51% vacancy rate mic it's on this page 51% vacancy rate so<00:05:52.400>
• > uh 2024 and that rate is still current uh 2024 and that rate is still current uh we<00:06:03.199
• The hourly rate is double, and the benefit rates on overtime are going to be the same.
• They increased the rate, so last year the rates increased tremendously. I think it's a 700, 80.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee reviewed the Department of Corrections budget, with the chair initially noting that the overall numbers looked close to fiscal year 2024 spending, except for federal funds. Department officials explained that prior ARPA expenditures and delayed revenue recognition had distorted the comparison, and that the corrected general fund spend was about $169.7 million. Members then focused on whether the budget’s staffing assumptions were realistic, especially the shift from overtime to full-time lines and the use of vacant positions to offset overtime costs. The department said it is leaning on vacancy savings, but would return for additional appropriations if unforeseen staffing problems arise. A major portion of the discussion centered on recruitment, retention, and staffing levels. Officials reported a 42% vacancy rate in enforcement ranks, down from 51% in January 2023, with 28 new officers headed to the next academy and 33 new hires already tracked. They said overtime is more expensive than regular staffing because of benefits and that it takes about 11 months for a new hire to break even. Members also asked about the split between incarcerated and supervised populations; the department said it oversees about 1,970 inmates in facilities and just over 4,000 people in the community, with 77 positions supervising the community population and the inmate population remaining the most expensive area. The committee also discussed how sentencing and statutory changes affect incarceration levels, including misdemeanor/felony thresholds and theft thresholds, with the department agreeing that such changes can significantly affect prison and jail populations. Members asked about education and recidivism, and the department said base education is the most important foundation, followed by vocational training, while noting that many incarcerated men lack a high school diploma. The department also described a $1.3 million reduction in contracted forensic evaluation services, explaining that these evaluations are court-ordered competency assessments and are not statutorily required to be provided by DOC. Finally, members reviewed victim services funding and staffing, including VOCA-supported positions, and the department explained that a new victim witness specialist would help support survivors at parole hearings and safety planning.

Transcript Highlights:

• been slow within our reinvestment activity within that account, but we did make the promises to the rates
• We did increase the rates within that account, but we've been slow with reinvestment activity.
• to what DSS was allocated, but we've done a significant amount of activity in trying to raise the rates
• within TANF and really try to... ...the rates within TANF and really try to increase the asset limits
• You'll hear about SNAP error rates and things of that nature, so... ...and quality.

Keywords: 962, all

Summary: The Finance Advisory Committee approved the minutes from its May 14, 2026 meeting and then considered four fiscal transfers. FAC 2026-9 for the Office of the State Controller transferred $4.345 million among fringe benefit accounts in the General Fund and Special Transportation Fund. Members questioned several employee benefit accounts, including active and retiree health care, Social Security, higher education alternative retirement, and OPEB; agency staff explained the transfers were based on updated year-end projections, with some accounts showing surpluses and others needing additional funds. The item was approved, with two no votes noted. FAC 2026-10 for the Military Department transferred $150,000 from the Honor Guards account to personal services and Governor’s Guard accounts to cover operational needs, and it was approved without opposition. FAC 2026-11 for the Department of Social Services transferred $3.3 million among accounts. Most of the discussion focused on a surplus in the substance use disorder waiver/reinvestment account, lower-than-expected TANF/TFA caseloads, federal family planning backfill requirements, and staffing challenges in eligibility operations. DSS said some funds remained unused because a residential care vendor did not enter into a contract, some reserves were intended for future multi-year investments, and eligibility staff require 12 to 18 months of training; the item was approved. FAC 2026-12 for the Department of Children and Families transferred $3.05 million among accounts for year-end operational needs. Members asked about closures of day treatment and community-based prevention programs, and DCF said children were transitioned to other providers without service interruption, with closures driven by provider decisions and financial viability. DCF also explained that some prior funding had been used as gap funding and that ongoing support had been built into the budget. The committee approved the transfer and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• with facilities to evaluate care standards, particularly by supporting remediation plans for lower-rated
• homes and ensuring families receive clear information about the quality ratings when making placement
• Louisiana Department of Health and Louisiana commercial health insurance payors to increase reimbursement rates
• questions, but as I presented last week, it simply urges LDH to revisit the Medicaid reimbursement rates
• Week, it simply urges LDH to revisit the Medicaid reimbursement rates for these crisis services in the

Summary: The House Committee on Health and Welfare met on May 26 for what was described as the last meeting of the legislative session. H.R. 318 was voluntarily deferred without discussion. The committee first took up H.R. 298, which would have directed the Louisiana Department of Health, with the legislative auditor, to study LDH’s relationships with certain nonprofits, foundations, professional associations, and other nongovernmental entities. The author presented amendments narrowing the definitions, but LDH testified the language was still too broad, would still require substantial review of contracts, memberships, conferences, and related interactions, and would still carry a significant fiscal note. Members raised concerns that hospitals, provider associations, nonprofit care facilities, and other stakeholders could be swept in. The author then voluntarily deferred the resolution, and the committee agreed without objection. The committee then heard Senate Bill 405, which establishes a statewide quality oversight initiative for nursing facilities, directs LDH to work with facilities on care standards and remediation for lower-rated homes, and requires reporting and transparency for families. The bill drew broad support from members and stakeholders, including nursing home and senior advocacy groups, and was reported favorably without objection. House Resolution 290, which asked LDH to study a possible correlation between gender-affirming hormone therapy medications and psychosis or related psychiatric conditions in people 26 and younger, prompted questions about the purpose of the study and concerns that it could affect broader policy debates. The author, a licensed clinical social worker, said the request was intended to examine whether medications were being used too quickly and what effects they might have on adolescent mental health; after discussion, the author voluntarily deferred the resolution, and the committee agreed. Finally, the committee considered Senate Concurrent Resolution 61, urging LDH and commercial insurers to increase reimbursement rates for behavioral health crisis centers operating under a crisis receiving center license. Testimony focused on the Bridge Center for Hope, described as the state’s only Level 3 crisis receiving center, and the need to revisit Medicaid reimbursement for the first 23 hours of crisis care. With no questions or objections, the resolution was adopted. The meeting ended with members thanking the chair and staff, and the committee adjourned for the year.

Transcript Highlights:

• Service Law in relation to requiring evidence and consideration of the economic impact of utility rates
• so all it directs the Public Service Commission to do is to consider economic impact when approving rates
• Public Service Law in relation to requiring certain utilities to adopt the common equity ratio and rate
• An act to amend the Public Service Law in relation to periods suspending the operation of certain rate
• relation to the retention of revenues derived from the actual return on equity in excess of authorized rates

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, chaired by Senator Kevin Parker, considered several Public Service Law bills and advanced each one to the Rules Committee after brief discussion and recorded no votes or without-recommendation votes on some measures. The bills included proposals to prohibit utilities from using ratepayer funds for certain activities (1012A), establish minimum standards for payment plans for eligible customers (1327), adjust residential fixed charges (1329), require the Public Service Commission to consider economic impacts when setting rates (1847), require utilities to adopt PSC-authorized equity ratios and returns on equity (1896), create the Rate-Hike Notice Act (5553C), suspend certain utility rate changes while allowing retroactive revenue recovery (5593), allow consideration of non-economic losses in penalty determinations (7165A), change the composition of the Public Service Commission (7328A), and let utilities retain revenues above authorized returns on equity (7693). Members asked questions about who would be affected by the bills, including whether fixed-charge reductions would apply to vacant units or vacation homes and whether economic-impact considerations could affect customers differently depending on where they live; the chair and sponsors generally explained the measures as territory-wide or applicable to all residential customers, with no occupancy or income-based circuit breaker in the text. The committee then heard testimony from Alexandra Fasulo, introduced as an entrepreneur and farmer in Schuylerville, about her concerns regarding the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) and utility-scale solar development on farmland and grasslands. She argued that solar developers were pressuring landowners, including older and lower-income property owners, into long-term leases, that ORES approves most projects despite local opposition, and that the process lacks transparency, with redacted documents and limited public access to information. She also criticized the siting of solar projects on productive farmland and said decommissioning rules could leave equipment buried in the soil. Committee members responded that the Legislature has already taken steps to protect high-quality soils, that ORES was created by statute and operates within the Public Service Department, and that DEC and ORES are supposed to work together rather than ORES superseding DEC. Several senators said they were sympathetic to concerns about farmland and community engagement, but also emphasized the need to expand renewable energy and balance that with land preservation. Members suggested that specific complaints about ORES transparency or solar siting could be addressed through future legislation or by inviting ORES and PSC officials back for further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• We provide lower rates and allow people to... Grow their financial wealth.
• Then you find out your finance rate was 10% or 12%. ...or something like that.
• Our bank can loan it to you, and we can get you a real good interest rate." "Really?"
• So I checked with the bank, found out what the interest rates were, and then...
• Yeah, but they finance themselves at a high rate. That's not really what it is.

Bills: HB12, HB149, HB12, HB149, SB229, SB1361, SB1749, SB1897, SB2113, SB2566, SB2677, SB1652, SB2327, SB2344, SB2696

Keywords: election law, attorney general, prosecution, criminal offenses, law enforcement, jurisdiction, voter fraud, local prosecuting attorney, public safety, communication, governor approval, interoperability, political subdivision, radio systems, artificial intelligence, regulation, biometric data, ethical AI, consumer protection, AI governance

Transcript Highlights:

• On page 3 you'll see some of the job titles that have Turnover rates of up to 40 and 70 percent because
• It is actually cheaper just to do a consistent across-the-board pay rate. and keep state salaries competitive
• last question, do you find that this program actually saves in terms the overall usage, utilization rate
• So that group has a show rate for donations. of 90% which if you know anything about that that's unheard
• As it relates to the exceptional item, the decline in the adult smoking rate has stalled.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're seeing so much, for example, rates of high blood pressure.
• <00:26:03.559> of Hampshire is one of the highest rates of Hampshire is one of the highest
• of high blood pressure we example rates of high blood pressure we need<00:27:47.399> women<00
• <00:49:03.319> rates<00:49:03.559> in maternal mortality and rates rates in maternal
• mortality and rates rates in New<00:49:03.920> Hampshire<00:49:04.680> as<00:49:04.880

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Grade or jump to 12th grade, they automatically take that ding on graduation rate.
• The traditional/completer rate basically looks at who's eligible to graduate this year.
• And I think as we're looking at proficiency rates, I think that information is important.
• Because they establish their reimbursement rates and all of that stuff. Oh, yeah. Yep.
• Because they, they, they establish their reimbursement rates and all of that stuff.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then received a lengthy DPI presentation from Stanley Schauer on statewide reading and math assessment data for students with and without disabilities. He explained the assessment systems used over time, the absence of 2019-20 data, and how North Dakota’s standards are set by educators. Members asked about alternate assessments, cohort trends, the apparent drop in proficiency in higher grades, and the new NDA+ assessment. Schauer emphasized that the biggest pattern in the data was the relative stability of students with disabilities, the post-pandemic drop and partial recovery, and the need to focus on reducing the novice category. He also said the state plans to revisit high school standard setting and that future data could be broken out by program, disability category, and schools using science-of-math or other initiatives. Public testimony from special education staff suggested that the flat performance of students with disabilities during COVID likely reflected continued services and intensive supports, and committee members discussed whether the current disparity goal is realistic and whether growth measures would be more useful than simple proficiency buckets. After the presentation, the committee took a short break and then moved into discussion of special education funding models. Chair Richter said members should contact Schauer directly with ideas for additional data views and noted that the committee would continue its work on funding and possible model changes. Brandon Bomback of Grand Forks Public Schools began a presentation arguing that the special education funding formula, especially the weighting factor, should be reconsidered if the committee wants a system that better reflects accountability and student needs. He said his comments were based on the perspective of a larger district and focused on the special education weighting factor rather than other parts of the formula. The remainder of his presentation was not included in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• We just raised rates and of course everybody um nobody wants to have their water and sewer rates raised
• We we just raised rates and any of that.
• have their water and sewer rates raised. have their water and sewer rates raised.
• <00:26:46.480> That's haven't raised rates in 20 years.
• That's haven't raised rates in 20 years. That's a<00:26:46.799> sign.

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 210; 20 January, 2026: 8:45 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee heard an update from the Mississippi State Port Authority at the Port of Gulfport on operations, finances, and recent developments. The port emphasized that it is an enterprise agency that does not seek state general fund support, and reported a regional economic impact of $3.8 billion, about $62 million in state and local taxes, and thousands of direct and indirect jobs. The witness highlighted growth in refrigerated cargo, especially efforts to bring more Mississippi poultry through Gulfport, along with continued container traffic and intermodal work. Several major investments and new business lines were discussed. Ports America is required under its lease to invest $43 million, and the port recently received a fourth crane, a $20 million investment that allows two vessels to be worked simultaneously. The port also announced American Cruise Lines stops in Gulfport, which is expected to bring high-end cruise passengers spending time and money locally. Additional updates included growth in technology and blue economy activity at the Roger F. Wicker Center, NOAA’s autonomous vessel operations center, Oceanero’s workforce expansion, and military moves that generated about 70,000 man-hours of local labor. Committee members asked about the FY27 budget, travel, and capital outlay requests. The port said the travel increase was for flexibility and that it spends conservatively, and explained that the larger capital figures reflect a strategic plan and potential private-sector and grant-funded projects rather than expected annual spending. The FY27 request was described as a slight decrease from the prior year, with the main salary increase tied to PERS and health insurance costs, and no special appropriations language was requested. Members also discussed the effort to regain chicken exports through Gulfport, including plans for a future freezer warehouse and the impact of the Kansas City Southern railroad merger, which the port said has had some hiccups but may help in the long run.

Transcript Highlights:

• As we see the rapid rates of land access and soaring land prices.
• To the CPUC in order to get the same benefit for California rate payers.
• Under AB 1117, no one would be forced to be put on a dynamic rate.
• This rate has not been increased since 1999.
• This program aims to reduce re-offending rates.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the things I’m hearing from the judicial officers that I have contact with is that we have vacancy rates
• the things I'm hearing from the judicial officers that I have contact with is that we have vacancy rates
• the rate of pay is higher, and so we do have to pay for additional...
• The report should include the average vacancy rate of the added positions, a comparison of the change
• to others... ...compared to others who have a 42% statewide recidivism rate.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• just like in the other segments, we are seeing growth and enrollment across the system, but at uneven rates
• , which could lead more individuals to return to school, and recent... ...unemployment rate, which could
• What is the projected cost of a COLA at the same rate of the 2.4%? What's the base?
• Because we do have high admission rates, for example, with some of our partners, including the CSU.
• Completion rates rose 36% from 2023 to 2024, and 83% of those students finished within a year.

Summary: The committee heard an overview of the California Community Colleges budget proposal, including Proposition 98 funding, a 2.41% COLA for apportionments, enrollment growth funding, repayment of an apportionment deferral, and one-time investments for a student support block grant and deferred maintenance. The Department of Finance described the Governor’s package as providing significant new resources, while the LAO recommended prioritizing COLA and enrollment growth within available funds but raised concerns about some smaller proposals, including making the Healthy School Food Pathways Program ongoing and adding more funding for credit for prior learning before outcomes are known. The Chancellor’s Office supported the COLA, enrollment growth, and one-time investments, and said current projections suggest enrollment growth closer to 3%, with about $85 million to $90 million in ongoing costs if fully funded. Members focused heavily on enrollment growth, the 10% district cap, and whether the state should continue funding growth in the current year and budget year. The Chancellor’s Office said some districts, especially in the Inland Empire and Central Valley, are growing rapidly and that about seven districts are above the cap, with roughly 1,563 FTES and about $30 million in ongoing costs tied to that issue. Members also discussed hold-harmless districts and whether declining campuses should be required to produce turnaround or right-sizing plans. The Chancellor’s Office said districts are already having local conversations and that state funding provides time to adjust, but no formal plan requirement was proposed. The committee then took up common course numbering, where the Chancellor’s Office said all 115 community colleges have implemented the first phase and more than 550,000 students enrolled in the first six commonly numbered courses. The office argued that CCN improves clarity but does not yet guarantee that credits will transfer with full value across UC and CSU, because articulation is still handled campus by campus and can require more than 3,500 separate reviews. Members expressed concern that students can still be forced to retake courses such as calculus or ethnic studies even when they have the same common number, and urged the systems to develop a stronger statewide articulation mechanism tied to outcomes and transparency. The item was left open. Finally, the committee heard the Governor’s proposal to make Calbright College’s funding ongoing at $53.1 million. The LAO recommended instead transitioning Calbright to the student-centered funding formula, with one-time bridge funding in the meantime, arguing the Governor’s proposal lacks a clear enrollment-based rationale and performance expectations. Calbright’s leadership defended the college’s competency-based, flexible model for adult learners, citing more than 6,800 students served, over 2,200 certificates awarded, and wage gains for graduates; they said enrollment is expected to grow from about 7,000 students now to roughly 8,000 to 9,000 next year and around 10,000 over the next couple of years. Members pressed for clearer enrollment and funding data before deciding how Calbright should be funded going forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:08:19.320> compression<00:08:20.040> that, was huge class rate compression that
• , was huge class rate compression that, um,<00:08:21.200> almost<00:08:21.520> took<00:
• I think my speculation maybe is with high interest rates are maybe causing people to hold off on some
• <00:10:26.200> are<00:10:26.320> maybe with high interest rates are maybe with high
• interest rates are maybe causing<00:10:27.800> people<00:10:28.080> to<00:10:28.440>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all