(Oakland) – The Peralta College Transportation Accessibility Act, introduced by Assemblymember Sandré Swanson (D-Oakland) passed the Assembly Higher Education Committee yesterday on a unanimous 7-0 vote.

“In this era of higher and higher gas prices, public transit is quickly becoming the only option for students to get to class and work. However, bus passes can cost anywhere from $70 to $116 per month on AC Transit. By assessing a low fee on all students, the Peralta Colleges can provide students with bus passes that offer unlimited rides, saving individuals up to nearly $1,300 per year in transportation costs. For many students, particularly those who are working and supporting families, a savings of this size has an incredible impact on their budget,” Assemblymember Swanson stated.

The bill would allow the Peralta Community College District to assess a fee on students in order to provide subsidized bus passes for those taking classes. A majority of students at each of the campuses would have to vote to approve the fee in order for it to go into effect.

Currently, the law does not allow most community college districts to propose the assessment of such a fee on the entirety of its student body, as low income students are exempt. However, existing law (section 76361.1 of the education code) authorizes the governing boards of the Los Rios and Rio Hondo community college districts, upon majority approval of the student body, to require a transportation service fee be paid by all students. This authorization gives these governing boards the ability to adopt rules and regulations to either exempt low-income students from this fee, or to require low-income students to pay all or part of the fee. AB 1980 would make the Peralta Community College District subject to the same provisions as Los Rios and Rio Hondo community college districts, which were put into statute via AB 1968 (Leslie, ’06)

Additionally, amendments introduced by Assemblymember Swanson would allow Peralta, Los Rios, and Rio Honda community college districts to set a minimum course load to be taken in order to be eligible for the passes. In all cases, a majority of students at each campus who would be eligible for the pass must vote to approve the fee at the level proposed by the governing board in order for the program to take effect at that campus.

District representatives state that the Governing Board would propose a $50 per semester fee for students, or $35 for low-income students, resulting in a total savings of up to $1292 per year for their students.

Student representatives came to the committee to testify on behalf of the bill. One student, Reginald James, a student trustee for the Peralta College District, pulled a small card out of his wallet and held it up for the committee to see. “This is a transfer ticket for our bus system,” he said, adding, “It costs $2, but now it’s not worth anything, because it expired an hour and a half after I bought it. Many students take classes on multiple campuses in our district. I often had to arrive late or leave early from class in order to use a transfer pass before it expired. It affected my education, and it cost me up to $80 per month. This legislation will allow me to spend less than that in an entire semester, and will allow me to get to my classes without worrying about a pass expiring.”

Reflecting on the increasing shortage of skilled workers in many sectors of the State’s economy, Assemblymember Swanson stated, “Our community colleges are directly responsible for much of our workforce. They produce nurses, electricians, aircraft mechanics, dental technicians, and a host of other skilled workers. Most importantly, they produce taxpayers. Surveys of those who got a credential or certificate at a community college show their incomes rising to $50,000 on average just three years after completing their courses. Best of all, our Community Colleges are open to everyone, regardless of educational background. Making transportation affordable for those who are looking to improve themselves will give hard-working students welcome financial relief, and will encourage many more to attend.”

The bill next heads to the Assembly floor. A hearing date has not yet been set.