Public postsecondary education: civic engagement: recommendations report., the official text

An act to add and repeal Section 66054 of the Education Code, relating to public postsecondary education.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

Existing law establishes the University of California, under the administration of the Regents of the University of California, the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as the public segments of postsecondary education in the state.
Existing law states the intent of the Legislature that public institutions of higher education in California shall provide a collegiate experience which gives each student the skills of communication and problem solving, the ideas and principles underlying the major areas of modern knowledge, the ability to consider ethical issues thoughtfully, the understanding that learning is a continuous lifelong process, and the knowledge of democracy necessary for good citizenship.
This bill would require the Chancellor of the California State University and the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, and would request the President of the University of California, before the commencement of the 2028–29 academic year, to report to the Legislature recommendations on how to facilitate greater knowledge of American democracy and meaningful civic engagement opportunities for students on campuses, and any necessary support from the Legislature to achieve those recommendations. The bill would repeal these provisions as of January 1, 2033.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.
Section 66054 is added to the Education Code, immediately following Section 66053, to read:
66054.
(a) The Legislature finds and declares that an essential element of public higher education is to build the knowledge of democracy necessary for good citizenship.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that public institutions of higher education in California, when delivering courses that build the knowledge of democracy necessary for good citizenship, give consideration to the importance of civic engagement, civic discord, and the key components of preserving democracy and its vital institutions, including, but not limited to, the free press, free access to libraries, compulsory education, and the federalist system.
(c) The Chancellor of the California State University and the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall, and the President of the University of California is requested to, before the commencement of the 2028–29 academic year and in consultation with each of their respective academic senates, report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, recommendations on how to facilitate greater knowledge of American democracy and meaningful civic engagement opportunities for students on campuses, and any necessary support from the Legislature to achieve those recommendations.
(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2033, and as of that date is repealed.