(a)
The Legislature finds and declares that equal access to public postsecondary education is essential for the full integration of persons with disabilities into the social, political, and economic mainstream of California. The Legislature recognizes the historic underrepresentation of disabled students in postsecondary programs and the need for equitable efforts that enhance the enrollment and retention of disabled students in public colleges and universities in California.
(b)
The Legislature recognizes its responsibility to provide and adequately fund postsecondary programs and services for disabled students attending a public postsecondary institution.
(c)
To meet this responsibility, the Legislature sets forth the following principles for public postsecondary institutions and budgetary control agencies to observe in providing postsecondary programs and services for students with disabilities:
(1)
The state funded activity shall be consistent with the stated purpose of programs and services for disabled students provided by the California Community Colleges, the California State University, or the University of California, as governed by the statutes, regulations, and guidelines of the community colleges, state university, or the University of California.
(2)
The state funded activity shall not duplicate services or instruction that are available to all students, either on campus or in the community.
(3)
The state funded activity shall be directly related to the functional limitations of the verifiable disabilities of the students to be served.
(4)
The state funded activity shall be directly related to these students’ full access to and participation in the educational process.
(5)
The state funded activity shall have as its goals the independence of disabled students and the maximum integration of these students with other students.
(6)
The state funded activity shall be provided in the most integrated setting possible, consistent with state and federal law, state policy and funding requirements, and missions and policies of the postsecondary segment, and shall be based on identified student needs.
(d)
It is the intent of the Legislature that, through the state budget process, the public postsecondary institutions request, and the state provide, funds to cover the actual cost of providing services and instruction, consistent with the principles set forth in subdivision (c), to disabled students in their respective postsecondary institutions.
(e)
All public postsecondary education institutions shall continue to utilize other available resources to support programs and services for disabled students as well as maintain their current level of funding from other sources whenever possible.
(f)
Pursuant to Section 67312, postsecondary institutions shall demonstrate institutional accountability and clear program effectiveness evaluations for services to students with disabilities.