Assembly Votes to Extend $50 College Fee

The $50-per-semester fee at California community colleges, scheduled to expire in January, would be extended for another four years under legislation passed Monday by the Assembly.

Although some lawmakers argued that the state should abolish the fees and make up the difference from its budget surplus, the Assembly voted 46 to 25 to approve a continuation of the student charges that were begun during California’s fiscal crisis in 1983.

Assemblyman Patrick Johnston (D-Stockton), author of the extension measure, argued that a continuation of the fee policy is necessary to provide the two-year colleges with the money they need to operate.

“This bill will make sure that community colleges do not lose more than $70 million as a result of the expiration of the fee,” Johnston told his colleagues before the bill was approved and sent to the Senate.

Floor Debate

The discussion of the measure was reminiscent of the emotional floor debate four years ago when the Assembly broke with precedent and agreed to impose the community college system’s first fee.

But on Monday, with students accustomed to the fees and community colleges accustomed to the revenue, opponents of the $50 fee were unable to mount as fervent an effort to defeat the proposal.

“It was imposed at a time of hardship for the community colleges,” Assemblyman Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica) argued. “Now we’re flush with some new money, there’s no reason--unless you feel that community college students ought to pay, philosophically.”

Gov. George Deukmejian, Republican legislators and some Democrats favor the fee, contending that students should be required to pay for at least a portion of their education.

Brown Opposed

But Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco), who almost succeeded in derailing the fee proposal four years ago, argued that the fees should be abolished, with the state making up the deficit by spending $70 million from its surplus. Brown noted that this would equal just 10% of the $700 million Deukmejian has proposed refunding to taxpayers.

Assemblywoman Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) also opposed the measure, arguing that the $50 fee prevents many students from enrolling in community colleges.

“It’s probably not much money to many people who are working, but there are many people who can’t afford it,” she said.

Waters also said financial aid funds included in the bill should be made more readily available to needy community college students in Los Angeles. Currently, only one of the nine campuses has a financial aid office, which serves students throughout the district.

The Johnston bill also includes a provision that would reduce some fees for part-time students. The legislation calls for a charge of $5 a course unit, up to 10 units, or $50. Under the present system, students are charged $5 a unit up to five units, but must pay $50 for six units or more.