California State Legislature Approves SB 478

Sacramento, Calif. – SB 478, authored by State Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – La Cañada Flintridge), passed the California State Legislature with bipartisan support and is heading to the Governor’s desk. The bill requires California Community Colleges to automatically award degrees to students who have completed their requirements for the Associate Degree for Transfer.   It further improves the data collection system by also adding the students to an identification system that is electronically available to the California State University and the University of California.  This measure helps students receive what they have earned and improves efficiency and data management.

“When I learned that the community college system was not set up statewide to award degrees upon attainment, which resulted in many students transferring without their degrees in hand, it struck me.  A bright student who earns a degree should get it, and the information that follows that student’s journey should be up to date and accurate.  It's good for the student and will save the state money,” stated Portantino.

SB 478 is supported by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, California State Student Association, The Campaign for College Opportunity, and The Institute for College Access & Success.  Senator Portantino chairs the Senate Education Budget sub-committee.

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Sen. Portantino represents nearly 930,000 people in the 25th Senate District, which includes Altadena, Atwater Village, Bradbury, Burbank, Claremont, Duarte, Glendale, Glendora, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Lake View Terrace, La Verne, Los Feliz, Monrovia, Montrose, Pasadena, San Dimas, San Marino, Shadow Hills, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, Sunland-Tujunga, and Upland.