(a) (1) Every community college district shall be under the control of a board of trustees, which is referred to herein as the “governing board.” The governing board of each community college district shall establish, maintain, operate, and govern one or more community colleges in accordance with law. In so doing, the governing board may initiate and carry on any program, activity, or may otherwise act in any manner that is not in conflict with or inconsistent with, or preempted by, any law and that is not in conflict with the purposes for which community college districts are established.
(2) The governing board of each community college district shall establish rules and regulations not inconsistent with the regulations of the board of governors and the laws of this state for the government and operation of one or more community colleges in the district.
(b) In furtherance of subdivision (a), the governing board of each community college district shall do all of the following:
(1) Establish policies for, and approve, current and long-range academic and facilities plans and programs and promote orderly growth and development of the community colleges within the district. In so doing, the governing board shall, as required by law, establish policies for, develop, and approve, comprehensive plans. The governing board shall submit the comprehensive plans to the board of governors for review and approval.
(2) Establish policies for and approve courses of instruction and educational programs. The educational programs shall be submitted to the board of governors for approval. Courses of instruction that are not offered in approved educational programs shall be submitted to the board of governors for approval. The governing board shall establish policies for, and approve, individual courses that are offered in approved educational programs, without referral to the board of governors.
(3) Establish academic standards, probation and dismissal and readmission policies, and graduation requirements not inconsistent with the minimum standards adopted by the board of governors.
(4) Employ and assign all personnel not inconsistent with the minimum standards adopted by the board of governors and establish employment practices, salaries, and benefits for all employees not inconsistent with the laws of this state.
(5) To the extent authorized by law, determine and control the district’s operational and capital outlay budgets. The district governing board shall determine the need for elections for override tax levies and bond measures and request that those elections be called.
(6) Manage and control district property. The governing board may contract for the procurement of goods and services as authorized by law.
(7) Establish procedures that are consistent with minimum standards established by the board of governors to ensure faculty, staff, and students the opportunity to express their opinions at the campus level, to ensure that these opinions are given every reasonable consideration, to ensure the right to participate effectively in district and college governance, and to ensure the right of academic senates to assume primary responsibility for making recommendations in the areas of curriculum and academic standards.
(8) Establish rules and regulations governing student conduct.
(9) Establish student fees as it is required to establish by law, and, in its discretion, fees as it is authorized to establish by law.
(10) In its discretion, receive and administer gifts, grants, and scholarships.
(11) Provide auxiliary services as deemed necessary to achieve the purposes of the community college.
(12) Within the framework provided by law, determine the district’s academic calendar, including the holidays it will observe.
(13) Hold and convey property for the use and benefit of the district. The governing board may acquire by eminent domain any property necessary to carry out the powers or functions of the district.
(14) Participate in the consultation process established by the board of governors for the development and review of policy proposals.
(c) In carrying out the powers and duties specified in subdivision (b) or other provisions of statute, the governing board of each community college district shall have full authority to adopt rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the regulations of the board of governors and the laws of this state, that are necessary and proper to executing these prescribed functions.
(d) Wherever in this section or any other statute a power is vested in the governing board, the governing board of a community college district, by majority vote, may adopt a rule delegating the power to the district’s chief executive officer or any other employee or committee as the governing board may designate. However, the governing board shall not delegate any power that is expressly made nondelegable by statute. Any rule delegating authority shall prescribe the limits of the delegation.
(e) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2014.
(Amended (as added by Stats. 2006, Ch. 817, Sec. 5) by Stats. 2011, Ch. 112, Sec. 4. (AB 1029) Effective January 1, 2012. Section operative January 1, 2014, by its own provisions.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018