Senator Sharon Runner (R-Antelope Valley) announced today her Constitutional Amendment to ensure that California students receive priority in admissions to the University of California’s nine undergraduate campuses passed the Senate Education Committee.

Authored with Senator Bob Huff (R-San Dimas), Senate Constitutional Amendment 12 addresses the recent influx of out-of-state and international students in the University of California (UC) system.

“California’s hard working students should be the number one focus of our public universities, but sadly that is not always the case,” said Runner. “At several UC campuses non-resident students have been granted admission at dramatically higher rates than California students, something that stands in stark contrast to the University of California’s mission.”

“SCA 12 is an important reminder that the University of California’s obligation is to the taxpayer and our state’s students,” said Huff. “Our best and brightest deserve better than to come in second place to less qualified out-of-state students.”

Specifically, SCA 12 would confirm that the primary purpose and obligation of the University of California is to serve the students of California and require the University of California to give priority admission to applicants who are California residents.

Between 2010 and 2015, the system-wide number of California undergraduates declined while the number of non-resident undergraduates surged by more than 20,000 students. The non-resident fees paid by these students provide the University of California nearly half a billion dollars in additional revenue each year. The University of California’s open pursuit of the $24,000.00 in additional fees paid annually by each non-resident student has raised public concerns. SCA 12 will ensure that California residents are not displaced by less qualified non-resident students simply because the University of California is after higher fees.

SCA 12 passed with unanimous, bipartisan support and moves to the Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments.