20250AB__185895AMD INTRODUCED 2026-02-11 AMENDED_ASSEMBLY 2026-04-14 AMENDED_ASSEMBLY 2026-04-23 AMENDED_SENATE 2026-06-08 AMENDED_SENATE 2026-07-06 2025 AB AMD Introduced by Assembly Member Lowenthal (Coauthor: Assembly Member Fong) LEAD_AUTHOR ASSEMBLY Lowenthal COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Fong

An act to add and repeal

Article 12 (commencing with

Section 89298) of

Chapter of Part of Division of Title of the Education Code, relating to public postsecondary education. public postsecondary education California State University: Joint Associate’s Degree Pilot Program. Existing law sets forth the missions and functions of California’s public and independent segments of higher education, and details the ways in which their respective institutions are to be differentiated. Existing law specifies that the California State University shall offer undergraduate and graduate instruction through the master’s degree in the liberal arts and sciences and professional education.

This bill, upon appropriation by the Legislature, would require the Chancellor of the California State University to establish a pilot program to offer an associate degree in general studies or, if applicable, an associate degree with an area of emphasis that is consistent with the former student’s completed coursework, that is jointly conferred by a California State University campus and a community college or independent institution of higher education that awards associate degrees to former California State University students who are no longer enrolled at a California State University campus but have successfully completed coursework equivalent to the requirements for an associate degree and not previously earned an associate degree.

The bill would require the associate degree to be awarded at no cost to the former student. The bill would require California State University, Long Beach, to participate in the pilot program and would authorize the chancellor to include up to additional California State University campuses in the pilot program. The bill would require the chancellor, on or before January 1, 2032, to submit a report to the Legislature evaluating the effectiveness of the pilot program, as provided. The bill would make these provisions inoperative on June 30, 2032, and would repeal them as of January 1, 2033.

MAJORITY NO YES NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION

Article 12 (commencing with

Section 89298) is added to

Chapter of Part of Division of Title of the Education Code , to read: 12. California State University: Joint Associate’s Degree Pilot Program 89298. This

article shall be known, and may be cited, as the California State University: Joint Associate’s Degree Pilot Program. 89298.1. As used in this article, the following

definitions apply: (a) “Eligible student” means a former student who has met the requirements of subdivision (

a) of

Section 89298.2. (b) “Former student” means a student who is no longer enrolled at a California State University campus. (c) “Postsecondary educational institution” means a campus or district of the California Community Colleges or an independent institution of higher education, as defined in

Section 66010, that awards associate degrees. 89298.2. (

a) Notwithstanding

Section 66010.4, the Chancellor of the California State University shall establish a pilot program to offer an associate degree that is jointly awarded by the California State University and a postsecondary educational institution to former students who meet both of the following requirements:

(1) The former student successfully completed coursework equivalent to the requirements for an associate degree.

(2) The former student has not previously earned an associate degree from a postsecondary educational institution. (

b) Notwithstanding

Section 66010.4, the pilot program shall include all of the following that is mutually agreed upon by the California State University and a postsecondary educational institution:

(1) The establishment of an associate degree in general studies, or, if applicable, an associate degree with an area of emphasis that is consistent with the former student’s completed coursework.

(2) A process to jointly confer an associate degree established pursuant to paragraph (1) between a California State University campus and a postsecondary educational institution.

(3) A process for identifying eligible former students.

(4) A mechanism for verifying an eligible former student’s completion of the requirements for an associate degree established pursuant to paragraph (1). (

c) An associate degree awarded pursuant to this

section shall be awarded at no cost to the former student. (

d) The California State University, Long Beach, shall participate in the pilot program. The pilot program may include up to four additional California State University campuses, as determined by the Chancellor of the California State University. (e)

(1) On or before January 1, 2032, the Chancellor of the California State University shall submit a report to the Legislature evaluating the effectiveness of the pilot program at the participating California State University campuses. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the number of associate degrees awarded pursuant to this

article disaggregated by student demographics, outcomes, and legislative recommendations.

(2) A report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted in compliance with

Section of the Government Code. (

f) Implementation of the pilot program shall commence on or before July 1, 2027. 89298.3. (

a) This

article shall only become operative upon an appropriation by the Legislature for its purposes. (

b) This

article shall become inoperative on June 30, 2032, and, as of January 1, 2033, is repealed.