(a) The governing board of a community college district may admit to any community college under its jurisdiction as a special part-time or full-time student in any session or term any student who is eligible to attend community college pursuant to Section 48800, 48800.5, or 52620.

(b) If the governing board denies a request for a special part-time or full-time enrollment at a community college, the board shall record its findings and the reasons for denial of the request in writing within 60 days. The written recommendation and denial shall be issued at the next regularly scheduled board meeting that falls at least 30 days after the request has been submitted.

(c) The attendance of a student at a community college as a special part-time or full-time student pursuant to this section is authorized attendance, for which the community college shall be credited or reimbursed pursuant to Sections 48802, 52621, and 76002. Credit for courses completed shall be at the level determined to be appropriate by the school district and community college district governing boards.

(d) For purposes of this section, a special part-time student may enroll in up to, and including, 11 units per semester, or the equivalent thereof, at the community college.

(e) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the governing board of a community college district shall assign a low enrollment priority to special part-time or full-time students described in subdivision (a) in order to ensure that these students do not displace regularly admitted students.

(2) This subdivision does not apply to a student attending a middle college high school as described in Section 11300, if the student is seeking to enroll in a community college course that is required for the student’s middle college high school program.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 528, Sec. 2. (SB 554) Effective January 1, 2020.)