Assembly Bill 550, the proposed state legislation that would mandate student approval for any future CSU system-wide tuition increases, made significant progress Monday as it passed through the Assembly?s Committee on Higher Education without significant opposition.

ASI President Eric Guerra, who attended the hearing, was excited at the progress.

“This is a good step in fighting fee increases,” Guerra said. “Giving the students a voice is important.”

The bill, authored by Assemblyman Manny Diaz (D-San Jose) and sponsored by Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante, would establish a process for consulting a student fee advisory committee made up of state college students, parents and faculty.

“We must involve our talented students in the decision making process,” Bustamante said. “We must not resort to depriving aspiring scholars of opportunity to find a short-term solution to California?s budget deficit.”

The Committee on Higher Education, chaired by Assemblywoman Carol Liu (D-Pasadena), passed the bill with an 8-0 vote. There was one abstention.

Liu has authored another bill dealing with increasing student fees, Assembly Bill 843, which passed through the Committee on Higher Education unanimously on April 1. Liu was concerned that AB 550 was in direct conflict with the previously passed AB 843.

Diaz amended some statements in AB 550 that eliminated the conflict and garnered the Higher Education committee?s support.

According to Guerra, next up for AB 550 is the Assembly Appropiations Committee, which is chaired by Assemblyman Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento).

Steinberg currently has two former CSUS students working in his legislative offices ? former ASI President Gary Davis and former ASI Press Secretary Janus Norman.

In March, ASI passed a resolution commending Steinberg for his work with CSUS and the campus community.

“Assemblyman Steinberg has been instrumental in getting affordable student housing around the campus,” Guerra said. “He is definitely an asset to university students in California.”

A hearing date for AB 550 in the Appropriations Committee has not yet been set.

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