Dive Brief:

• California voters could be asked in November to reconsider affirmative action at the University of California and California State University.
• A proposed amendment to the state constitution passed the Democrat-dominated California Senate and now goes to the Assembly, where Democrats also have control.
• The amendment would delete parts of a ballot initiative voters passed in 1996 that bans the state from giving preferential treatment in public education on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin.

Dive Insight:

The political landscape for the amendment is complicated. On the one hand, the California governor has said that he agrees with the goal, but thinks it should be worked out in the courts. On the other hand, legislators do not need his cooperation to put an initiative on the ballot. The results of the 1996 ballot initiative are up for debate but a supporter of the amendment cited these figures: In 1995, minority students made up 38% of high school graduates and 21% of UC freshmen; by 2004, they were 45% of high school graduates but just 18% of UC freshmen.