Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district, when adopting instructional materials for use in school, to include relevant technology-based materials, defined for these purposes to mean basic or supplemental instructional materials that are designed for use by pupils and teachers as learning resources and that require the availability of electronic equipment in order to be used as a learning resource, and including the electronic equipment required to make use of those materials used by pupils and teachers as a learning resource, including, but not limited to, laptop computers and devices that provide internet access. Existing law prohibits a school official from requiring a pupil to purchase any instructional materials for the pupil's use in the school, except as provided. Commencing with the 2027–28 school year, this bill would prohibit, unless necessary under a specified circumstance, a school district, county office of education, or charter school from requiring a pupil in kindergarten, including a pupil in transitional kindergarten, to take home a school-issued electronic device, as defined, except that a local educational agency may authorize those pupils to take home a school-issued electronic device. The bill would encourage local educational agencies to regularly review and update their policies related to pupils' screen time and, in conducting that review, to solicit input from, among others, currently employed teachers and school administrators. This bill would require the State Department of Education, on or before July 1, 2027, to (1) curate and maintain on its internet website resources for age-appropriate screen time and electronic device use in schools and guidance on how to transition take-home school-issued electronic devices into dedicated classroom-based electronic devices and how to participate in e-waste recycling or buy-back programs, and (2) take into consideration when curating the resources and guidance, among other things, developmentally appropriate screen exposure time at each grade level.
Existing law declares that it is the policy of the state to afford all persons in public schools, regardless of specified characteristics, including race or ethnicity, equal rights and opportunities in the educational institutions of the state, and states that the purpose of related existing law is to prohibit acts that are contrary to that policy and to provide remedies. Existing law defines "race or ethnicity" to include ancestry, color, ethnic group identification, and ethnic background. This bill would define ethnicity to include Jewish identity. Existing law specifies certain requirements relative to state agencies, boards, and commissions that directly or by contract collect demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of Californians, including the requirement to use separate collection categories and tabulations for each major Asian group and each major Pacific Islander group, as specified. Existing law requires these state agencies to include the demographic data in every demographic report on ancestry or ethnic origins of Californians by the state agency published or released on or after July 1, 2012. Existing law further requires these state agencies to make the collected data available to the public pursuant to state and federal law, except for personal identifying information, which existing law deems confidential. This bill would require a state agency that directly or by contract collects demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of Californians to use a separate collection category and tabulation for Jewish ancestry or ethnicity, as specified and subject to a certain exception. The bill would require these state agencies to include the demographic data in every demographic report on ancestry or ethnic origins of Californians by the state agency published on or after January 1, 2030. The bill would further require these state agencies to make the collected data available to the public pursuant to state and federal law. The bill would prohibit state agencies from disclosing personal identifying information about any person whose demographic data is collected, and would require those agencies to apply deidentification and privacy protection methods to that data. The bill would limit the purposes for which state agencies can use the demographic data collected under these provisions. The bill would exempt any state agency administering a multiyear grant program with an established end date that began collecting demographic data prior to January 1, 2029, from being required to include or use the demographic category described above for interim or final reports. Existing law requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to collect voluntary self-identification information pertaining to race or ethnic origin of people admitted, in custody, and released and paroled, including, but not limited to, specified races and ethnic origins. Existing law requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, based on that voluntary self-identification information, to prepare and publish monthly demographic data pertaining to the race or ethnic origin of people admitted, in custody, and released and paroled, disaggregated by the same race and ethnicity categories used by the department for the purpose of voluntary self-identification information. Existing law requires the data, except for personally identifying information, which existing law deems confidential, to be publicly available on the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's internet website via the Offender Data Points dashboard. This bill would include Jewish among those specified races and ethnic origins for self-identification. Existing law requires the Employment Development Department, in the administration of existing law relating to disability compensation, to collect demographic data for individuals who claim disability benefits or family temporary disability insurance benefits, including race and ethnicity data and sexual orientation and gender identity data, as prescribed. Existing law requires the Employment Development Department to develop and make available online a public-facing dashboard that publishes disaggregated demographic data pertaining to program participation by individuals and is updated on at least a quarterly basis. Existing law requires the Employment Development Department to implement these requirements by July 1, 2026. This bill would require the Employment Development Department to collect data on Jewish ancestry or ethnicity for these purposes in accordance with specified demographic data collection requirements for state agencies added by the bill. This bill would become operative on January 1, 2029. Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.
Existing law establishes the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, the University of California, under the administration of the Regents of the University of California, the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, and independent institutions of higher education, as defined, as 4 segments of postsecondary education in the state. This bill, upon appropriation, would establish the Designation of California Hispanic-Serving Institutions to recognize campuses of those segments of postsecondary education that excel at providing academic resources to Latino students. The bill, upon appropriation, would establish a Designation of California Hispanic-Serving Institutions governing board to designate colleges and universities as California Hispanic-Serving Institutions. The bill, upon appropriation, would designate the office of the Chancellor of the California State University as the managing entity and would require it to, among other duties, develop the application processes and to process and present initial and renewal applications to receive this designation to the governing board, as specified, and would make an initial and renewal designation valid for 5 years.
Existing law authorizes a school district, county office of education, or charter school to provide emergency stock albuterol inhalers, as specified, to school nurses or trained personnel who have volunteered, and authorizes school nurses or trained personnel to use an emergency stock albuterol inhaler to provide emergency medical aid to persons suffering, or reasonably believed to be suffering, from respiratory distress, as provided. Existing law authorizes a prescription for emergency stock albuterol inhalers to be filled by local or mail order pharmacies or stock albuterol inhaler manufacturers. This bill would revise and recast that latter provision by making its provisions also apply to a childcare program, as defined, that is operated by or contracts with a school district, county office of education, or charter school, as provided. This bill would explicitly authorize a pharmacy to furnish stock albuterol inhalers to a local educational agency pursuant to a written order from an authorized prescriber. The bill would authorize a prescription for emergency stock albuterol inhalers also to be filled by stock albuterol wholesalers or distributers. The bill, for purposes of these provisions, would change references from the Superintendent of Public Instruction to the Education Commissioner in order to implement changes made by AB 181 of the 2025–26 Regular Session.
(1) Beginning on July 1, 2026, for the financial aid award year of 2026–27 and each award year thereafter, existing federal law establishes the federal Workforce Pell Grant program to award grants to eligible students who are enrolled, or accepted for enrollment, in a short-term educational program that, among other things, provides an education aligned with the requirements of high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors or occupations, as provided. Existing law establishes the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, which is composed of various departments responsible for protecting and promoting the rights and interests of workers in California. Existing law establishes the Student Aid Commission as the primary state agency for the administration of state-authorized student financial aid programs available to students attending all segments of postsecondary education. This bill would prohibit a postsecondary educational institution from disbursing federal Workforce Pell Grant program funds to students enrolled in the institution's short-term programs, and advertising, marketing, or informing students about the availability of those funds unless the institution has (A) obtained authorization from the commission, on behalf of the Governor, that the institution meets the requirements of specified provisions related to the federal Workforce Pell Grant program, and (B) obtained approvals and met all requirements set forth by the United States Department of Education. This bill would prohibit the commission from authorizing a postsecondary educational institution to receive federal Workforce Pell Grant program funds for a short-term program if the institution, among other things, partners, contracts, or affiliates with an entity that is not accredited by a specified accrediting agency, as provided. The bill would authorize the commission to use the California Priority Programs List to determine whether a short-term program satisfies specified requirements under the federal Workforce Pell Grant program, as provided. (2) Existing federal law, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) , provides for workforce development activities, including activities in which states may participate. Existing state law, the California Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (CalWIOA) , establishes the California Workforce Development Board to assist the Governor in the development, oversight, and continuous improvement of California's workforce investment system and the alignment of the education and workforce investment systems to the needs of the 21st century economy and workforce. CalWIOA creates the Consolidated Work Program Fund in the State Treasury, for the receipt of all moneys deposited pursuant to WIOA and requires moneys in the fund to be made available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Employment Development Department for expenditure consistent with the purposes of WIOA. Existing law contains various programs for job training and employment investment, including work incentive programs, as specified, and establishes local workforce investment boards to perform duties related to the implementation and coordination of local workforce investment activities. Existing law requires local workforce investment boards to spend a minimum percentage of specified funds for adults and dislocated workers on federally identified workforce training programs and allows the boards to leverage specified funds to meet the funding requirements, as specified. Existing law requires a local workforce development area that does not meet the expenditure requirements to submit a corrective action plan to the Employment Development Department that provides reasons for not meeting the requirements and describes actions taken to address the identified expenditure deficiencies. Existing law also requires the department to calculate for each local workforce development board whether the local workforce development board met the expenditure requirements and make annual reports regarding the training and supportive services expenditures. This bill, starting July 1, 2028, instead of requiring the local workforce development boards to spend a minimum percentage of specified funds for adults and dislocated workers, would require the boards to ensure that at least 50% of participants enrolled in the adult and dislocated worker programs receive workforce training services, and would prescribe the training services that count toward the participant training requirement. The bill would require a local workforce development area that does not meet the participant training requirement to submit a corrective action plan to the Employment Development Department that provides reasons for not meeting that requirement and describes actions taken to address the identified participant training deficiencies. By imposing new requirements on local workforce development boards, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the Employment Development Department to calculate for each local workforce development board, among other things, whether the local workforce development board met the participant training requirement and make annual reports regarding the number of participants enrolled in adult and dislocated worker program, the percentage of those enrolled participants receiving training services, and the training expenditures and supportive service expenditures made by local workforce development boards, as specified. The bill would also make nonsubstantive conforming changes. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Existing law establishes the University of California, under the administration of the Regents of the University of California, 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 the public segments of postsecondary education in the state. Existing law states the intent of the Legislature that public institutions of higher education in California shall provide a collegiate experience which gives each student the skills of communication and problem solving, the ideas and principles underlying the major areas of modern knowledge, the ability to consider ethical issues thoughtfully, the understanding that learning is a continuous lifelong process, and the knowledge of democracy necessary for good citizenship. This bill would require the Chancellor of the California State University and the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, and would request the President of the University of California, before the commencement of the 2028–29 academic year, and in consultation with their respective academic senates, to report to the Legislature recommendations on how to facilitate greater knowledge of American democracy and meaningful civic engagement opportunities for students on campuses, and any necessary support from the Legislature to achieve those recommendations. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2033.
Existing law establishes the California Career Technical Education Incentive Grant Program, administered by the State Department of Education, with the purpose of encouraging, maintaining, and strengthening the delivery of high-quality career technical education programs. Existing law provides, for the 2021–22 fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter, that $300,000,000 shall be available to the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the program. Existing law requires an applicant to demonstrate a proportional dollar-for-dollar match and sets that amount for the 2021–22 fiscal year, and each fiscal year thereafter, at $2 for every $1 received from the program. Existing law prohibits an applicant from being awarded an amount higher than the amount that the allocation formula determines them to be eligible to receive under the program. Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction, in administering the program, to perform specified duties, including, among other duties, to (1) determine, in collaboration with the executive director of the State Board of Education, and make public on a preliminary basis at least 30 days before a regularly scheduled meeting of the state board, the allocation formula, (2) distribute funding on a multiyear schedule, (3) require grant recipients to submit program reports, (4) manage the grant process, and (5) promote the success of K–12 career technical education programs, as provided. This bill would require the department, instead of the Superintendent, to perform the above-described duties. The bill would, for purposes of allocations commencing no later than the 2027–28 fiscal year and pursuant to the above-described requirements, also require the department to determine, in consultation with the executive director of the state board, a revised allocation formula that ensures that all funds appropriated for the program in any given fiscal year are fully allocated to program applicants in that fiscal year, as provided.
Existing law establishes the Department of Health Care Access and Information under the control of the Director of the Department of Health Care Access and Information, to administer various health professions development programs. Existing law requires the department to maintain a Health Professions Career Opportunity Program to, among other things, implement programs at colleges and universities selected by the department and include in those programs pipeline programs that provide comprehensive academic enrichment, career development, mentorship, and advising in order to support students from underrepresented regions and backgrounds to pursue health careers. Existing law creates within the department the Health Professions Education Fund, for the primary purpose of providing scholarships and loans to students from underrepresented groups who are accepted to or enrolled in schools of medicine, dentistry, nursing, or other health professions. Existing law authorizes the department to receive private donations to be deposited into the fund and continuously appropriates all moneys in the fund to the department for those purposes. This bill would enact the California Podiatric Pipeline Program Act, to require the department to establish and administer the California Podiatric Pipeline Program to promote careers in podiatric medicine and support the educational advancement of California residents pursuing the doctor of podiatric medicine degree, as specified. The bill would specify that the department may use funds from the Health Professions Education Fund or Health Professions Pathways Program for the purposes of this bill, subject to the requirements of the fund. This bill would authorize the department to award planning or coordination grants to participating universities or colleges to support implementation of the program as funding is made available. The bill would also require the department, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature, to annually report to the Legislature regarding the number of students participating, the number matriculating into doctor of podiatric medicine programs, and recommendations for expanding residency opportunities for podiatric graduates. The bill would make implementation of these provisions contingent upon appropriation by the Legislature. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2032.
Existing law requires the California State University, and requests the University of California, to require each campus in their respective systems to grant students the right to reenroll in their baccalaureate degree program after withdrawing or stopping out, if the student was in good academic standing with the university. Existing law establishes uniform student residency requirements for purposes of ascertaining the amount of tuition and fees to be paid by students of public postsecondary educational institutions. Existing law entitles a student to resident classification for the purpose of determining tuition and fees if the student is a member, or a natural or adopted child, stepchild, or spouse who is a dependent of a member, of the Armed Forces of the United States stationed in the state on active duty, except as specified. Existing law prohibits a student who is attending, or has been admitted to, a public postsecondary educational institution from losing their resident classification if they are continuously enrolled at that institution and a dependent of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, even if that member is (1) thereafter transferred on military orders to a place outside this state where the member continues to serve in the Armed Forces of the United States, or (2) thereafter retired as an active member of the Armed Forces of the United States. This bill would extend the prohibition against losing resident classification to those same student dependents of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who are granted the right to reenroll even if the member of the Armed Forces has been transferred out of state or has retired from active duty.
Existing law requires the governing board of a school district that maintains one or more schools containing any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive, to establish a policy regarding participation in extracurricular and cocurricular activities by pupils in those grades as a condition for the receipt of specified school funding allocations. This bill, commencing with the 2027–28 school year, would prohibit a school district, county office of education, or charter school from excluding a pupil from participating in any extracurricular activity, including sports and clubs, due to the pupil not having or using addictive feeds, as defined. Existing law provides that parents and guardians of children enrolled in public schools have the right and should have the opportunity, as mutually supportive and respectful partners in the education of their children within the public schools, to be informed by the school, and to participate in the education of their children, as specified, including by, among other things, to be notified on a timely basis if their child is absent from school without permission. This bill, commencing with the 2027–28 school year, would prohibit a school district, county office of education, or charter school from using addictive feeds, as defined, as the only means of contacting pupils or pupils' parents or guardians.
