Bill would allow 4-year community college degrees

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The state Senate has approved a pilot program under which some California community college campuses would offer four-year degrees in certain specialized fields.

SB850 by Assemblyman Marty Block authorizes the college board of governors to start degrees at up to 15 colleges. They could offer one degree each in areas of critical need.

It passed the Senate on a 34-0 vote Tuesday and heads to the Assembly.

Block, a Democrat from San Diego, says the degrees would be ones not currently offered by the University of California or California State University systems. They include respiratory therapy, radiological imagery and veterinary technology.

Block says the state's unemployment rate could be reduced and employers would have a more qualified workforce to draw from.