California law (Ed Code § 70901(b)(4)) requires the Board to provide representation, advocacy and accountability for the system before state and national legislative and executive agencies. The Board’s Procedures and Standing Orders provide guidance to the Chancellor in representing the California Community Colleges on matters pending before the California Legislature and Governor, Congress and the President. The Procedures and Standing Orders also authorize the Chancellor to take positions on pending legislation on behalf of the Board, as specified (Procedures and Standing Orders § 317).

The Governmental Relations division represents the Chancellor and the Board on state and federal policy and advocacy matters. The California Community Colleges Vision 2030, the Board of Governors Budget and Legislative Request, and prior Board positions guide the activities of the division. In general, the Governmental Relations division seeks feedback from the Consultation Council and the Board prior to taking positions on pending policy matters.

State Updates

The Chancellor's Office, in partnership with the Campaign for College Opportunity and EdTrust-West, hosted a legislative briefing titled "Equitable Placement and Completion: A Wholistic Student Success Reform Movement." The briefing highlighted the need to reform developmental education and dismantle longstanding barriers to student access and success in gateway courses. Equity advocates, faculty, and most importantly, students, spoke about the positive impact of AB 705 (Irwin, 2017) and AB 1705 (Irwin, 2022), which have resulted in historic gains in the number and percentage of students completing transfer-level English and math courses.

Equitable Placement and Completion Legislative Briefing Zoom Recording

State Governmental Relations Resources