Amended  IN  Assembly  March 21, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 1942

Introduced by Assembly Member Cervantes

January 29, 2024

An act to amend Section 66010 of add Section 66032 to the Education Code, relating to public postsecondary education.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1942, as amended, Cervantes. Postsecondary education: segments. Public postsecondary education: students: paid opportunities.
Existing law establishes the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as 2 of the segments of public postsecondary education in the state.
This bill would require all students attending the California State University or the California Community Colleges, regardless of immigration status, to be eligible to apply for and accept paid opportunities at the California State University or the California Community Colleges, including, but not limited to, employment, fellowships, residencies, apprenticeships, and contract work. The bill would require the trustees and the board of governors to adopt policies consistent with that requirement.

Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, the California State University, the University of California, independent institutions of higher education, and private postsecondary educational institutions as the segments of postsecondary education in the state. The missions and functions of these segments are set forth in the Donahoe Higher Education Act.

This bill would make nonsubstantive changes in a provision that, for purposes of the Donahoe Higher Education Act, designates the segments of public postsecondary education as the California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California, as specified, and defines independent institutions of higher education for these purposes.

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NOYES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 66032 is added to the Education Code, to read:

66032.
 (a) Notwithstanding any other law, all students attending the California State University or the California Community Colleges, regardless of immigration status, shall be eligible to apply for and accept paid opportunities at the California State University and the California Community Colleges, including, but not limited to, employment, fellowships, residencies, apprenticeships, and contract work.
(b) The Trustees of the California State University and the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges shall adopt policies consistent with subdivision (a).

SECTION 1.Section 66010 of the Education Code is amended to read:
66010.

(a)Public higher education consists of all of the following: (1) the California Community Colleges; (2) the California State University, and each campus, branch, and function thereof; and (3) each campus, branch, and function of the University of California.

(b)As used in this part, “independent institutions of higher education” are those nonpublic higher education institutions that grant undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, or both, and that are formed as nonprofit corporations in this state and are accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.

(c)This part is not intended to regulate, subsidize, or intrude upon private education, including, but not limited to, independent educational institutions and religious schools, nor to vary existing state law or state constitutional provisions relating to private education.