Bill Commons

CA AB 79

enacted

Public social services: higher education.

California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · lower

Quick answers

Did CA AB 79 pass?

Yes. CA AB 79 has been enacted into law as of 2025-10-11. Latest recorded action (2025-10-11): Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 607, Statutes of 2025.

What is CA AB 79 about?

Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, and the University of California, under the administration of the Regents of the University of California, as segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law establishes community college districts, locations of the California State University, and campuses of the University of California throughout the state. Existing law requires each California Community College and each California State University campus to designate a staff person as the basic needs coordinator to, among other things, act as a broker in identifying, supporting, and linking students to on- and off-campus housing, food, mental health, and other basic needs services and resources. Existing law establishes the State Department of Social Services and requires the department and the counties to administer public social services programs. Existing law requires a county human services agency to designate at least one employee as a staff liaison to serve as a point of contact for academic counselors and other professional staff at a campus of an institution of public higher education located within the county. Existing law requires a county human services agency, with input from the public institutions of higher learning in the county, to develop protocols for engagement between the agency and a campus of an institution of public higher education located within the county and encourages those entities to consult with specified stakeholders in the development of those protocols. This bill would require a county human services agency to additionally receive input from basic needs directors, basic needs coordinators, or designated staff, as specified, when developing the above-described protocols for engagement between the county human services agency and institutions of public higher education. The bill would require the department, in consultation with staff liaisons and basic needs directors or basic needs coordinators, to develop a training with a focus on public social services topics, as specified, to be available for basic needs directors, staff of a campus basic needs center, other designated professional staff from each campus of an institution of higher education, and eligibility workers. The bill would require the department to convene a workgroup to share best practices, address challenges, and identify statewide issues that includes county staff liaisons and representatives from the segments of postsecondary education, as specified. By imposing additional duties on counties, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would require the department, on or before May 1, 2027, and every 3 years thereafter, to submit a report to the Legislature with findings and recommendations relating to enrollment success trends, best practices, and services offered by the department that may be available to students attending a campus of an institution of public higher education. 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.

Who sponsors CA AB 79?

Arambula is the primary sponsor of CA AB 79.

Description

Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, and the University of California, under the administration of the Regents of the University of California, as segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law establishes community college districts, locations of the California State University, and campuses of the University of California throughout the state. Existing law requires each California Community College and each California State University campus to designate a staff person as the basic needs coordinator to, among other things, act as a broker in identifying, supporting, and linking students to on- and off-campus housing, food, mental health, and other basic needs services and resources. Existing law establishes the State Department of Social Services and requires the department and the counties to administer public social services programs. Existing law requires a county human services agency to designate at least one employee as a staff liaison to serve as a point of contact for academic counselors and other professional staff at a campus of an institution of public higher education located within the county. Existing law requires a county human services agency, with input from the public institutions of higher learning in the county, to develop protocols for engagement between the agency and a campus of an institution of public higher education located within the county and encourages those entities to consult with specified stakeholders in the development of those protocols. This bill would require a county human services agency to additionally receive input from basic needs directors, basic needs coordinators, or designated staff, as specified, when developing the above-described protocols for engagement between the county human services agency and institutions of public higher education. The bill would require the department, in consultation with staff liaisons and basic needs directors or basic needs coordinators, to develop a training with a focus on public social services topics, as specified, to be available for basic needs directors, staff of a campus basic needs center, other designated professional staff from each campus of an institution of higher education, and eligibility workers. The bill would require the department to convene a workgroup to share best practices, address challenges, and identify statewide issues that includes county staff liaisons and representatives from the segments of postsecondary education, as specified. By imposing additional duties on counties, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would require the department, on or before May 1, 2027, and every 3 years thereafter, to submit a report to the Legislature with findings and recommendations relating to enrollment success trends, best practices, and services offered by the department that may be available to students attending a campus of an institution of public higher education. 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.

Introduced
2024-12-18
Latest action
2025-10-11 — Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 607, Statutes of 2025.
Bill type
bill
Last updated

Subjects

Sponsors

  • Arambulaauthor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

  1. 2024-12-18

    Introduced. To print.

    introduction

  2. 2024-12-19

    From printer. May be heard in committee January 18.

  3. 2025-01-06

    Read first time.

    reading-1

  4. 2025-02-03

    Referred to Coms. on HUM. S. and HIGHER ED.

    referral-committee

  5. 2025-03-04

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

    amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee

  6. 2025-03-05

    Re-referred to Com. on HUM. S.

    referral-committee

  7. 2025-03-11

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on HIGHER ED. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (March 11). Re-referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee

  8. 2025-03-24

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

    amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee

  9. 2025-03-25

    Re-referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.

    referral-committee

  10. 2025-04-23

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee

  11. 2025-04-30

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

    referral-committee

  12. 2025-05-23

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 23).

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable

  13. 2025-05-27

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    reading-1,reading-2,reading-3

  14. 2025-05-29

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 69. Noes 0. Page 1779.)

    passage,reading-1,reading-3

  15. 2025-05-29

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

    reading-1,referral-committee

  16. 2025-06-11

    Referred to Coms. on HUMAN S. and ED.

    referral-committee

  17. 2025-07-01

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on ED. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (June 30). Re-referred to Com. on ED.

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee

  18. 2025-07-09

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 9). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee

  19. 2025-08-18

    In committee: Referred to suspense file.

    referral-committee

  20. 2025-08-29

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 29).

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable

  21. 2025-08-29

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    reading-1,reading-2,reading-3

  22. 2025-09-02

    Ordered to special consent calendar.

  23. 2025-09-04

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 2520.).

    passage,reading-1,reading-3

  24. 2025-09-04

    In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.

    committee-passage

  25. 2025-09-11

    Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.

    executive-receipt

  26. 2025-10-11

    Approved by the Governor.

    executive-signature

  27. 2025-10-11

    Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 607, Statutes of 2025.

    became-law

Versions

  • 12/18/24 - Introduced — 2024-12-18Compare
  • 03/04/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-03-04Compare
  • 03/24/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-03-24Compare
  • 09/08/25 - Enrolled — 2025-09-08Compare
  • 10/11/25 - Chaptered — 2025-10-11Compare
  • AB79Compare
  • (document, no version)Compare

Documents

Votes

  • Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Higher Education] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar

    2025-03-11 · pass · 6-0

    Member-level votes (7)
    • Celeste Rodriguez: yes
    • Lee: yes
    • Calderon: yes
    • Jackson: yes
    • Castillo: yes
    • Elhawary: yes
    • Essayli: other
  • Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar

    2025-04-22 · pass · 10-0

    Member-level votes (10)
    • Patel: yes
    • Boerner: yes
    • Jeff Gonzalez: yes
    • Sharp-Collins: yes
    • Jackson: yes
    • Celeste Rodriguez: yes
    • Fong: yes
    • DeMaio: yes
    • Tangipa: yes
    • Muratsuchi: yes
  • Do pass.

    2025-05-23 · pass · 14-0

    Member-level votes (15)
    • Calderon: yes
    • Elhawary: yes
    • Dixon: yes
    • Hart: yes
    • Mark González: yes
    • Arambula: yes
    • Pacheco: yes
    • Solache: yes
    • Ta: yes
    • Caloza: yes
    • Wicks: yes
    • Pellerin: yes
    • Fong: yes
    • Tangipa: yes
    • Sanchez: other
  • AB 79 Arambula Assembly Third Reading

    2025-05-29 · pass · 69-0

    Member-level votes (79)
    • Ávila Farías: yes
    • Stefani: yes
    • Lowenthal: yes
    • Haney: yes
    • Calderon: yes
    • DeMaio: yes
    • Ahrens: yes
    • Bennett: yes
    • Rogers: yes
    • Dixon: yes
    • Aguiar-Curry: yes
    • Pacheco: yes
    • Hart: yes
    • Gabriel: yes
    • Pellerin: yes
    • Ramos: yes
    • Patterson: yes
    • Lee: yes
    • Garcia: yes
    • Papan: yes
    • Bauer-Kahan: yes
    • Ortega: yes
    • Arambula: yes
    • Wilson: yes
    • Flora: yes
    • Muratsuchi: yes
    • Schiavo: yes
    • Zbur: yes
    • Alanis: yes
    • Petrie-Norris: yes
    • Ransom: yes
    • Mark González: yes
    • Wicks: yes
    • Hadwick: yes
    • Macedo: yes
    • Berman: yes
    • Schultz: yes
    • Valencia: yes
    • Addis: yes
    • Connolly: yes
    • Jeff Gonzalez: yes
    • Hoover: yes
    • Kalra: yes
    • Patel: yes
    • McKinnor: yes
    • Gipson: yes
    • Bains: yes
    • Gallagher: yes
    • Fong: yes
    • Ellis: yes
    • Michelle Rodriguez: yes
    • Krell: yes
    • Davies: yes
    • Rivas: yes
    • Sanchez: yes
    • Irwin: yes
    • Ta: yes
    • Quirk-Silva: yes
    • Celeste Rodriguez: yes
    • Lackey: yes
    • Wallis: yes
    • Bonta: yes
    • Harabedian: yes
    • Elhawary: yes
    • Jackson: yes
    • Boerner: yes
    • Castillo: yes
    • Blanca Rubio: yes
    • Carrillo: yes
    • Alvarez: other
    • Nguyen: other
    • Sharp-Collins: other
    • Chen: other
    • Ward: other
    • Bryan: other
    • Caloza: other
    • Solache: other
    • Soria: other
    • Tangipa: other
  • Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Education] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar

    2025-06-30 · pass · 5-0

    Member-level votes (5)
    • Becker: yes
    • Limón: yes
    • Ochoa Bogh: yes
    • Arreguín: yes
    • Pérez: yes
  • Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar

    2025-07-09 · pass · 7-0

    Member-level votes (7)
    • Laird: yes
    • Ochoa Bogh: yes
    • Choi: yes
    • Cabaldon: yes
    • Pérez: yes
    • Cortese: yes
    • Gonzalez: yes
  • Placed on suspense file

    2025-08-18 · pass · 7-0

    Member-level votes (7)
    • Richardson: yes
    • Seyarto: yes
    • Caballero: yes
    • Cabaldon: yes
    • Dahle: yes
    • Wahab: yes
    • Grayson: yes
  • Do pass

    2025-08-29 · pass · 7-0

    Member-level votes (7)
    • Richardson: yes
    • Grayson: yes
    • Wahab: yes
    • Dahle: yes
    • Seyarto: yes
    • Caballero: yes
    • Cabaldon: yes
  • Special Consent AB79 Arambula By Pérez

    2025-09-04 · pass · 39-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Stern: yes
    • Durazo: yes
    • Cabaldon: yes
    • McGuire: yes
    • Laird: yes
    • Limón: yes
    • Valladares: yes
    • Menjivar: yes
    • Wahab: yes
    • Alvarado-Gil: yes
    • Rubio: yes
    • Pérez: yes
    • Cortese: yes
    • Gonzalez: yes
    • Choi: yes
    • Umberg: yes
    • Allen: yes
    • Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
    • Richardson: yes
    • Blakespear: yes
    • Arreguín: yes
    • Hurtado: yes
    • Padilla: yes
    • Caballero: yes
    • Weber Pierson: yes
    • Niello: yes
    • Grove: yes
    • Jones: yes
    • Ashby: yes
    • Ochoa Bogh: yes
    • Archuleta: yes
    • Grayson: yes
    • Dahle: yes
    • Wiener: yes
    • Cervantes: yes
    • Seyarto: yes
    • Strickland: yes
    • McNerney: yes
    • Becker: yes
    • Reyes: other

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T01:34:27.960412Z

Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:

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