Assemblywoman Christy Smith, D-Santa Clarita, received approval on Assembly Bills 853 and 1051 in the Higher Education Committee Tuesday.

Both bills are dedicated to advancing the higher education experience, creating more opportunity for students and faculty, according to officials.

AB 853 addresses one of the larger financial burdens of paying for college — rent. Currently, ScholarShare, a college savings plan, is not authorized to directly pay for expenses such as rent. This bill alleviates additional costs associated with college and streamlines recordkeeping for these expenses.

“We often associate the cost of college with just tuition, but too often, it’s the supplementary charges tacked on that cause the most stress for our students,” Smith said. “College should be about learning, not about pitching pennies in order to make ends meet to pay for basic necessities like room and board. We must ensure our students put their best foot forward, and that starts with broadening our definition of college affordability.”

AB 1051 would reportedly promote the recruitment and retention of nursing faculty, serving more nursing students. Under the current rigorous standards for nursing programs, faculty exceed the rigid course load cap, leading to a high turnover rate for instructors and loss of continuity in the classroom.

“With our growing baby boomer population and the rise in chronic diseases, California is poised to experience a dramatic growth in demand for nurses — at the same time, our community college nursing programs are impacted across the state,” Smith said. “AB 1051 will help us meet the healthcare needs of our state, while connecting Californians to in-demand jobs in an always growing and needed industry.”

Ed. Note: The above information was provided to KHTS by the office of Assemblywoman Christy Smith.

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