SB960 - Public postsecondary education: community colleges: statewide baccalaureate degree program.

Amended IN Assembly August 27, 2026 Amended IN Assembly June 25, 2026 Amended IN Senate April 22, 2026 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 960 Introduced by Senator Cabaldon February 03, 2026 An act to amend amend, repeal, and add Sections 78040 and 78042 of the Education Code, relating to public postsecondary education. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 960, as amended, Cabaldon. Public postsecondary education: community colleges: statewide baccalaureate degree program. Existing law authorizes the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, in consultation with the California State University and the University of California, to authorize the establishment of community college district baccalaureate degree programs, as provided. Existing law requires a community college district to identify and document unmet workforce needs in the subject area of the baccalaureate degree to be offered and offer a baccalaureate degree at a campus in a subject area with unmet workforce needs in the local community or region of the district. Existing law prohibits a community college district baccalaureate degree program from offering a baccalaureate degree program or program curricula already offered by the California State University or the University of California. This Beginning January 1, 2028, this bill would specify that a community college district identify and document unmet current or projected future workforce needs and offer a baccalaureate degree at a campus in a subject area with unmet current or projected workforce needs. The bill would instead prohibit a community college district from offering a baccalaureate degree program or program curricula already offered by the University of California, or a campus of the California State University whose local service area includes, or overlaps with, the territory of the community college district. Beginning July 1, 2030, the bill would authorize a district to offer a baccalaureate degree program or program curricula offered by a campus of the California State University whose local service area includes, or overlaps with, the territory of the district if the California State University program has been impacted for 3 consecutive years before the date the program is approved, district, except as provided. The bill would require a district’s eligibility to offer a baccalaureate degree program to be determined based on a tiered framework using the district’s rate of students who earned an award or transferred, as specified. Before submitting an application for a baccalaureate degree program, the bill would encourage a community college district to obtain a determination of unmet current or projected future workforce need for a specific baccalaureate degree program from the Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, as provided. Existing law requires, as part of the application and review process, the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to ensure, among other things, that the total number of baccalaureate degree programs offered by a community college district does not exceed 25% of the total number of associate degree programs offered by the community college district, as specified. This bill would reduce that limitation from 25% to 15%. The bill would require the chancellor to annually report to the Legislature, on or before March 1, on the status of all baccalaureate degree programs approved under these provisions, as specified. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 78042 of the Education Code proposed by AB 2694 to be operative only if this bill and AB 2694 are enacted and this bill is enacted last. This bill would make the operation of its provisions contingent upon the enactment of AB 2694 of the 2025–26 Regular Session. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. Section 78040 of the Education Code is amended to read: 78040. (a) For purposes of this article, “district” means any community college district identified by the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges as participating in the statewide baccalaureate degree program. (b) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2028, and as of that date is repealed. SEC. 2. Section 78040 is added to the Education Code, to read: 78040. (a) For purposes of this article, the following definitions apply: (1) “District” means any community college district identified by the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges as participating in the statewide baccalaureate degree program. (2) “Local service area” means the same as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 89030.5. (3) “Same academic discipline” means a field of study that prepares students for substantially the same academic pathway or profession, as evidenced by common lower division preparation, upper division coursework, student learning outcomes, accreditation standards, licensure or certification requirements, or other recognized academic or professional standards. Similarity in degree title alone shall not establish that two programs are within the same academic discipline. (4) “Substantially similar” means that the proposed baccalaureate degree program’s curriculum, learning outcomes, or program objectives are materially overlapping with those of an existing California State University or University of California baccalaureate degree program offered within the geographic region of the community college district such that the programs serve indistinguishable academic and workforce purposes. (5) “Unmet current or projected future workforce need” means a demonstrated gap, within the region of the district, between employer demand for workers in occupations that typically require a baccalaureate degree and the supply of qualified candidates available to meet that demand. (b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2028. SEC. 3. Section 78042 of the Education Code is amended to read: 78042. (a) A district shall seek approval to offer baccalaureate degree programs through the appropriate accreditation body. (b) When seeking approval from the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, a district shall maintain the primary mission of the California Community Colleges specified in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 66010.4. The district, as part of the baccalaureate degree program, shall have the additional mission to provide high-quality undergraduate education at an affordable price for students and the state. (c) As a condition of eligibility for consideration to participate in the statewide baccalaureate degree program, a district shall have a written policy that requires all potential students who wish to apply for a Board of Governors Fee Waiver pursuant to Section 76300 to complete and submit either a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or a California Dream Act application in lieu of completing the Board of Governors Fee Waiver application. (d) A district’s baccalaureate degree program shall be subject to the following limitations: (1) A district shall identify and document unmet workforce needs in the subject area of the baccalaureate degree to be offered and offer a baccalaureate degree at a campus in a subject area with unmet workforce needs in the local community or region of the district. (2) A baccalaureate degree program shall not offer a baccalaureate degree program or program curricula already offered by the California State University or the University of California. (3) A district shall have the expertise, resources, and student interest to offer a quality baccalaureate degree in the chosen field of study. (e) A district shall maintain separate records for students who are enrolled in courses classified in the upper division and lower division of a baccalaureate degree program. A student shall be reported as a community college student for enrollment in a lower division course and as a baccalaureate degree program student for enrollment in an upper division course. (f) A governing board of a district seeking authorization to offer a baccalaureate degree program shall submit all of the following for review by the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and approval by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges: (1) Documentation of the district’s written policy required by subdivision (c). (2) The administrative plan for the baccalaureate degree program, including, but not limited to, the governing board of the district’s funding plan for its specific district. (3) A description of the baccalaureate degree program’s curriculum, faculty, and facilities. (4) The enrollment projections for the baccalaureate degree program. (5) Documentation regarding unmet workforce needs specifically related to the proposed baccalaureate degree program, and a written statement supporting the necessity of a four-year degree for that program. The documentation regarding unmet workforce needs shall include all of the following: (A) Evidence that the district consulted with regional employers and regional workforce development boards. (B) Statewide and regional workforce data relevant to the proposed baccalaureate degree program. (C) Evidence that the baccalaureate degree to be offered will help address unmet workforce needs. The evidence may include, but is not limited to, information showing the following: (i) Employers are having difficulty filling positions that require a baccalaureate degree. (ii) Employers are willing to pay baccalaureate degree holders more than those with a related associate degree or no postsecondary degree. (iii) Employers have a preference for candidates with the proposed baccalaureate degree. (6) Documentation of consultation with the California State University and the University of California regarding collaborative approaches to meeting regional workforce needs. (g) (1) The Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges shall develop, and adopt by regulation, a funding model for the support of the statewide baccalaureate degree program that is based on a calculation of the number of full-time equivalent students enrolled in all district baccalaureate degree programs. (2) Funding for each full-time equivalent student shall be at a marginal cost calculation, as determined by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, that shall not exceed the community college credit instruction marginal cost calculation for a full-time equivalent student, as determined pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 84750.5. (3) A student in a baccalaureate degree program authorized by this article shall not be charged fees higher than the mandatory systemwide fees charged for baccalaureate degree programs at the California State University. (4) Fees for coursework in a baccalaureate degree program shall be consistent with Article 1 (commencing with Section 76300) of Chapter 2 of Part 47. (5) A district shall, in addition to the fees charged pursuant to paragraph (4), charge a fee for upper division coursework in a baccalaureate degree program of eighty-four dollars ($84) per unit. (h) The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall ensure all of the following for the application and review process for community college districts to participate in the baccalaureate degree program: (1) A community college district is provided with two timelines in which to apply for a baccalaureate degree program per year. A community college district may submit an application to the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges by no later than January 15 and shall receive notice of approval or rejection on or before May 31. A community college district may submit an application to the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges by no later than August 15 and shall receive notice of approval or rejection on or before December 31. (2) Only 15 baccalaureate degree programs are approved during each application period, allowing for a total of 30 approved baccalaureate degree programs per academic year. (3) The total number of baccalaureate degree programs offered by a community college district, at any time, does not exceed 25 percent of the total number of associate degree programs offered by the community college district, including associate degrees for transfer. (4) The review process takes no less than 30 days from the receipt of a completed application to validate the information submitted and assess the workforce value of the proposed program by the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges. (i) (1) The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall consult with and seek feedback from the Chancellor of the California State University, the President of the University of California, and the President of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities about proposed baccalaureate degree programs. (2) The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall notify and send relevant materials to the California State University, the University of California, and the President of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities who may notify institutions with physical campuses in the service area of the community college district seeking the proposed baccalaureate degree program. (3) The California State University and the University of California may assess whether proposed baccalaureate degree programs are duplicative of existing baccalaureate programs offered by state universities, and may submit written comments to the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges regarding proposed baccalaureate degree programs. If the California State University or the University of California believes there is program duplication, written objections with supporting evidence shall be submitted to the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges within 30 working days of receipt of the proposal. Upon receipt of written objections, the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall have 30 working days to convene with the applicant and the segment or segments that raised an objection to collaborate and establish a written agreement before the program is approved. (4) A formal objection filed by either the California State University or the University of California pursuant to paragraph (3) shall address, at a minimum, each of the following issues in order to facilitate the consultation process: (A) The name and description of the baccalaureate degree program currently offered by the objecting segment that may be duplicated by the proposed baccalaureate degree program, including the campuses that offer the program. (B) The specific components of the proposed baccalaureate degree program deemed as duplicative. (5) The written agreement established between the objecting segment and the Chancellor of the Califo [Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]