AB 95 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

California Education Interagency Council.

Summary

Existing law establishes the Government Operations Agency, which consists of several state entities, including, but not limited to, the State Personnel Board, the Department of General Services, and the Office of Administrative Law. This bill, subject to an appropriation, would establish in the Government Operations Agency the California Education Interagency Council, composed of specified state officers for purposes of evaluating workforce and economic changes in the state, integrating and aligning education and employment systems, maximizing funding impact, supporting adult skill development, coordinating regional education and workforce needs, and serving as a forum for discussions of intersegmental and cross-sector policy issues, as specified. The bill would require the council, among other duties, to adopt strategic and work plans, report to the Governor and the Legislature on the outcomes of its work and recommendations to advance transitional kindergarten to postsecondary education, inclusive, intersegmental student pathway efforts aligned to careers, establish a faculty and employer advisory committee, and provide advice and recommend tools designed to support students across their educational careers, as specified. The bill, subject to an appropriation, would establish the Office of the California Education Interagency Council in the Government Operations Agency as a neutral administrative body tasked with supporting the California Education Interagency Council, as specified.

Bill status failed 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 7, 2025 Last action Feb 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

04/03/25 - Amended Assembly → 04/23/25 - Amended Assembly · 9 edits · Apr 23, 2025

MAJOR

The April 23 amendment to AB 95 removes the separate Coordinating Commission for Education in California that was established in the Education Code, consolidating all coordination functions into the single California Education Interagency Council in the Government Code. The amendment also adds a new biennial work plan requirement, shifts several deadlines from three years to two years, changes reporting and data review frequency from annual to biennial, and expands the council's scope to explicitly include transitional kindergarten through postsecondary education.

SCOPE

The entire Coordinating Commission for Education in California (Education Code Section 66010.8) is removed. This was a separate body composed of workforce, education segment, and employer representatives that established joint and regional plans and made recommendations on state and federal funding. All coordination functions are now housed solely in the California Education Interagency Council.

The council's scope is explicitly expanded to include 'transitional kindergarten to postsecondary education, inclusive' in its recommendations and reporting, broadening coverage beyond just postsecondary and intersegmental pathways.

REQUIREMENT

A new biennial work plan requirement is added (Section 11905(e)). The council must release a work plan by November 30, 2026 or within 60 days of adopting its first strategic plan, in consultation with the Assembly and Senate Education Committee chairs, the Governor, and other interest holders. Work plans may establish workgroups, committees, or task forces and must describe timelines, deliverables, and stakeholders to be consulted.

Reporting frequency to the Legislature and Governor changes from annual to biennial. Reports now cover 'the previous two years of work' rather than just the prior year's outcomes.

The frequency for reviewing available data on statewide and regional progress toward goals changes from annual to biennial.

TIMELINE

The strategic plan deadline changes from 'within 18 months of its first meeting and every 5 years thereafter' to a fixed date of 'on or before November 30, 2026, and every six years thereafter.' This gives the council more time for the initial plan and extends the renewal cycle by one year.

The deadline to establish a faculty and employer advisory committee is shortened from three years to two years after the council's first meeting.

The deadline to develop a mechanism for increasing engagement with industry and employers to support experiential learning is shortened from three years to two years. The scope is also expanded to explicitly cover 'high school and postsecondary education, as appropriate.'

FISCAL

The managing entity's support duties are expanded to include staffing workgroups, committees, or task forces established in furtherance of the council's goals, and supporting both strategic plans and work plans. Section 11908 is clarified to confirm that professional services provided to support the council also fall within its advisory-only capacity.

01/07/25 - Introduced → 04/03/25 - Amended Assembly · 7 edits · Apr 3, 2025

MODERATE

The amended version of AB 95 adds an entirely new component: the California Education Interagency Council, a high-level state body housed in the Government Operations Agency composed of eight senior state officers from education, workforce, and economic development agencies. The original Coordinating Commission for Education in California is retained but renumbered as Section 2. The amendment significantly broadens the bill's scope from a single postsecondary coordination body to a dual structure that also addresses K-12 through career alignment, intersegmental policy issues, and cross-sector workforce planning.

SCOPE

Establishes the California Education Interagency Council in the Government Operations Agency (Government Code Sections 11900-11909), a new body with authority spanning K-12 education, postsecondary education, workforce development, and economic development. This is the most significant change in the amendment.

The original Coordinating Commission for Education in California (Education Code Section 66010.8) is retained but moved from Section 1 to Section 2 of the bill, making it secondary to the new interagency council. The legislative findings section is also renumbered accordingly.

ELIGIBILITY

Defines council membership as eight specific state officers: President of the State Board of Education, Superintendent of Public Instruction, President of UC, Chancellor of CSU, Chancellor of California Community Colleges, Chief of the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, and Director of the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development. The Governor designates one member as chairperson.

FISCAL

The new chapter is subject to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act to the Government Operations Agency (Section 11909). The digest now states 'subject to an appropriation' for the council, whereas the original bill stated 'Appropriation: no.'

TIMELINE

Sets specific deadlines: first meeting by December 31, 2025; subsequent meetings at least every six months; memorandum of understanding with Cradle-to-Career Data office within one year; strategic plan within 18 months and every five years thereafter; annual report to the Legislature and Governor; faculty and employer advisory committee within three years; industry engagement mechanism within three years.

REQUIREMENT

Requires the council to act solely in an advisory capacity (Section 11908), meaning neither the state nor any party is required to implement its findings or recommendations unless future legislation explicitly authorizes implementation. Also requires meetings to comply with the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act.

TECHNICAL

Establishes the Office of the California Education Interagency Council as a 'managing entity' - a neutral administrative body overseen by an executive officer appointed by the Governor and exempt from civil service. The managing entity may hire staff or contract for expert services to support the council.

Floor votes

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No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

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Committee

Amendments

Feb 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

lower

May 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.

lower

May 14, 2025

Committee

In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.

lower

Apr 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 29). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

lower

Apr 24, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.

lower

Apr 23, 2025

Introduced

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HIGHER ED. Read second time and amended.

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Introduced

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HIGHER ED. Read second time and amended.

lower

Feb 3, 2025

Committee

Referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.

lower

Jan 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

From printer. May be heard in committee February 7.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors