In a move heralded by student activists, Governor Jerry Brown today signed into law AB 970, or the Working Families Student Fee Transparency & Accountability Act.

The bill mainly aims at ensuring that students are consulted 30 days prior to when a proposal of fee hikes, along with other mitigating factors which affect students, is discussed at regent meetings of the University of California (UC) system and trustee meetings of the California State University (CSU) system.

Other highlights of the bill include a public notice clause which requires the regents and trustees to explain their justification for the fee increase and efforts to mitigate the impact of an increase on needy students. It also requires: a public comment period which must last for 45 days prior to acting any fee increase; a 90 day window in which the fee cannot become effective after it is passed; a strong encouragement that the system continue reserving a minimum of 33% of the student fee revenue  for student aid; and an accountability clause which requires the UC and CSU to report expenditures to a legislative analyst, which will then make recommendations to the Legislature.

The bill, authored by Assemblymembers Paul Fong and Marty Block and sponsored by the California State Student Association (CSSA) and the University of California Student Association (UCSA), was largely driven by the recognition that in the current era of never-ending higher education budget reductions, tuition increases will likely continue and students and families deserve additional consultation and notice.

“This is a big victory for every student paying tuition at a California public university,” said David Allison, CSSA President, in a release to the press.

Moving forward, CSSA and UCSA will meet with their corresponding university systems’ administrators to develop procedures on how to carry out the law as set forth.