CA AB1958

Establishes the Community College Student Access, Retention, and Debt Cancellation Program, contingent upon legislative appropriation, to increase student retention and enrollment at California community colleges impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Authorizes the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to allocate one-time funds to community college districts to engage former students who withdrew, current students hesitant to remain enrolled, and prospective students hesitant to enroll.

Allows community college districts to use allocated funds to provide fiscal incentives for student reenrollment or new enrollment, and to discharge unpaid fees owed by students to community colleges in the district.

Requires governing boards of community college districts to prioritize fund use for colleges with the largest enrollment declines due to COVID-19 impacts, and directs the Chancellor to allocate additional funds to districts with the most significant declines in student headcount since Fall 2019.

Permits the Chancellor to allocate up to 10 percent of program funds to support statewide recruitment and retention efforts.