Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one segment of public postsecondary education in the state. Under existing law, the board of governors appoints a chief executive officer, who is known as the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges. Existing law establishes community college districts throughout the state and authorizes these districts to provide instruction at the community college campuses they operate and maintain. Existing law requests the campuses of the California Community Colleges to give priority housing to current and former homeless youth and current and former foster youth, as specified.

This bill would require the governing board of each community college district to adopt a plan to offer an overnight parking program to eligible students, as defined, and would require the plan to be developed in consultation with basic needs coordinators and campus security, as specified. The bill would require the plan to include, among other things, a procedure for issuing an overnight parking permit at no cost to students. The bill would impose duties on basic needs coordinators related to the community college programs, including when acceptance of applications from eligible students would begin. The bill would require the governing board of each community college district, on or before December 31, 2026, to vote to establish determine if the community colleges within the district will establish an overnight parking program that aligns with the plan except, if the governing board does not vote to establish the program, the bill would require the governing board to annually vote on whether to establish an overnight program plan until it votes to establish the program. plan.

This bill would provide that a campus is not civilly liable for a campus employees good faith act or omission that fails to prevent an injury to a participating student that occurs in, or in close proximity to, and during the hours of operation of, overnight parking, as provided.

This bill would require campuses to report to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges certain information, including, among other information, the socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds of participating students, as specified. The bill would additionally require the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to report to the Legislature and the Governor on the campus programs, as provided. The bill would require these reports to be included as part of a specified report related to basic needs services and resources.

To the extent that this bill would impose new duties on community college districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

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 California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one segment of public postsecondary education in the state. Under existing law, the board of governors appoints a chief executive officer, who is known as the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges. Existing law establishes community college districts throughout the state and authorizes these districts to provide instruction at the community college campuses they operate and maintain. Existing law requests the campuses of the California Community Colleges to give priority housing to current and former homeless youth and current and former foster youth, as specified.

This bill would require the governing board of each community college district to adopt a plan to offer an overnight parking program to eligible students, as defined, and would require the plan to be developed in consultation with basic needs coordinators and campus security, as specified. The bill would require the plan to include, among other things, a procedure for issuing an overnight parking permit. permit at no cost to students. The bill would impose duties on basic needs coordinators related to the community college programs, including when acceptance of applications from eligible students would begin. The bill would require the governing board of each community college district, on or before December 31, 2026, to vote to establish an overnight parking program that aligns with the plan except, if the governing board does not vote to establish the program, the bill would require the governing board to annually vote on whether to establish an overnight program plan until it votes to establish the program.

This bill would provide that a campus is not civilly liable for a campus employees good faith act or omission that fails to prevent an injury to a participating student that occurs in, or in close proximity to, and during the hours of operation of, overnight parking, as provided.

This bill would require campuses to report to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges certain information, including, among other information, the socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds of participating students, as specified. The bill would additionally require the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to report to the Legislature and the Governor on the campus programs, as provided. The bill would require these reports to be included as part of a specified report related to basic needs services and resources.

To the extent that this bill would impose new duties on community college districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

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 California Community Colleges and the California State University as 2 of the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in the state. Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one segment of public postsecondary education in the state. Under existing law, the board of governors appoints a chief executive officer, who is known as the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges. Existing law establishes community college districts throughout the state and authorizes these districts to provide instruction at the community college campuses they operate and maintain. Existing law requests the campuses of the California Community Colleges, and requires the campuses of the California State University, Colleges to give priority housing to current and former homeless youth and current and former foster youth, as specified.

This bill would require the governing board of each community college district to adopt a plan to offer an overnight parking program to eligible students, as defined, and would require the plan to be developed in consultation with basic needs coordinators and campus security, as specified. The bill would require the plan to include, among other things, a procedure for issuing an overnight parking permit. The bill would impose duties on basic needs coordinators related to the community college programs, including when acceptance of applications from eligible students would begin. The bill would require the governing board of each community college district, on or before December 31, 2026, to vote to establish an overnight parking program that aligns with the plan except, if the governing board does not vote to establish the program, the bill would require the governing board to annually vote on whether to establish an overnight program plan until it votes to establish the program.

This bill would provide that a campus is not civilly liable for a campus employees good faith act or omission that fails to prevent an injury to a participating student that occurs in, or in close proximity to, and during the hours of operation of, overnight parking, as provided.

This bill would require campuses to report to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges or the Chancellor of the California State University, as applicable, certain information, including, among other information, the socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds of participating students, as specified. The bill would additionally require the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the Chancellor of the California State University, as applicable, to report to the Legislature and the Governor on the campus programs, as provided. The bill would require these reports to be included as part of a specified report related to basic needs services and resources.

To the extent that this bill would impose new duties on community college districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

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 California Community Colleges and the California State University as 2 of the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in the state. Existing law requests the campuses of the California Community Colleges, and requires the campuses of the California State University, to give priority housing to current and former homeless youth and current and former foster youth, as specified.

This bill would require the governing board of each community college district and the Chancellor of the California State University to establish a program, as specified, to allow overnight parking by eligible students, as defined, and would require the governing board of each community college district, with the participation of basic needs coordinators, and the Chancellor of the California State University, with the participation of student representatives, to determine a plan of action for implementing these programs that includes, among other things, the issuance of to adopt a plan to offer an overnight parking program to eligible students, as defined, and would require the plan to be developed in consultation with basic needs coordinators and campus security, as specified. The bill would require the plan to include, among other things, a procedure for issuing an overnight parking permit. The bill would impose duties on basic needs coordinators related to the community college programs, including when acceptance of applications from eligible students would begin. The bill would require the governing board of each community college district, on or before December 31, 2026, to vote to establish an overnight parking program that aligns with the plan except, if the governing board does not vote to establish the program, the bill would require the governing board to annually vote on whether to establish an overnight program plan until it votes to establish the program.

This bill would also require an eligible student who participates in a program to be granted access to overnight parking until the student is provided access to a suitable alternative, including, among other things, a hotel voucher through a public agency or community organization. The bill would provide that a campus is not civilly liable for a campus employees good faith act or omission that fails to prevent an injury to a participating student that occurs in, or in close proximity to, and during the hours of operation of, overnight parking, as provided.

This bill would require campuses to report to the office of the Chancellor the California Community Colleges or the Chancellor of the California State University, as applicable, certain information, including, among other information, the socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds of participating students, as specified. The bill would additionally require the office of the Chancellor the California Community Colleges and the Chancellor of the California State University, as applicable, to report to the Legislature and the Governor on the campus programs, as provided. The bill would require the reports on the community college programs these reports to be included as part of a specified report related to basic needs services and resources.

To the extent that this bill would impose new duties on community college districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

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 California Community Colleges and the California State University as 2 of the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in the state. Existing law requests the campuses of the California Community Colleges, and requires the campuses of the California State University, to give priority housing to current and former homeless youth and current and former foster youth, as specified.

This bill would require the governing board of each community college district and the Chancellor of the California State University to establish a program, as specified, to allow overnight parking by eligible students, as defined, and would require the governing board of each community college district, with the participation of basic needs coordinators, and the Chancellor of the California State University, with the participation of student representatives, to determine a plan of action for implementing these programs that includes, among other things, the issuance of an overnight parking permit. The bill would impose duties on basic needs coordinators related to the community college programs, including when acceptance of applications from eligible students would begin.

This bill would also require an eligible student who participates in a program to be granted access to overnight parking until the student is provided access to a suitable alternative, including, among other things, a hotel voucher through a public agency or community organization. The bill would provide that a campus is not civilly liable for a campus employees good faith act or omission that fails to prevent an injury to a participating student that occurs in, or in close proximity to, and during the hours of operation of, overnight parking, as provided.

This bill would require campuses to report to the office of the Chancellor the California Community Colleges or the Chancellor of the California State University, as applicable, certain information, including, among other information, the socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds of participating students, as specified. The bill would additionally require the office of the Chancellor the California Community Colleges and the Chancellor of the California State University, as applicable, to report to the Legislature and the Governor on the campus programs, as provided. The bill would require the reports on the community college programs to be included as part of a specified report related to basic needs services and resources.

To the extent that this bill would impose new duties on community college districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

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.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON

Senator Anna Caballero, Chair

2025 - 2026 Regular Session

AB 90 (Jackson) - Public postsecondary education: overnight student parking

Bill Summary:

This bill requires community college districts to adopt a plan for offering an overnight parking program for students to stay in their car overnight until an alternative is provided. The bill also requires each campus that offers an overnight parking program to provide participants with information on housing services and resources.

Fiscal Impact:

• The Chancellor’s Office estimates one-time Proposition 98 General Fund costs of between $1.2 million and $1.8 million for all 72 community college districts to develop a plan to offer an overnight parking program for consideration by their governing boards. This estimate assumes that the costs for the plans would range from $15,983 to $24,377 per district. However, the Chancellor’s office indicates that actual costs could be closer to the planning grants that the community colleges received to determine the feasibility of offering affordable student housing which ranged from $50,000 to $845,000. Ultimately, the costs would depend on factors such as the size of the college, size and location of the parking lot, and the location of services and facilities needed for overnight parking.
• To the extent the governing board of a district approves a plan for overnight parking, the Chancellor’s Office estimates ongoing Proposition 98 General Fund costs that range from $552,777 to $694,444 per district to maintain an overnight parking program, or $39.8 million to $50 million statewide assuming that all 72 districts adopt and implement a program. The exact costs will depend on the number of colleges and students that participate and the services that are made available.
• While the bill includes protections against civil liability, the Chancellor’s Office indicates that community college districts may incur additional, unknown cost pressures to respond to potential litigation.
• This bill could result in ongoing General Fund costs of $60,000 each year for the Chancellor’s Office to update its data system to allow for district reporting and issue an overnight parking program report.

Background:

Existing law requires that CSU and the University of California (UC), and requests that the California Community Colleges (CCCs), in order to ensure current and former homeless youth and current and former foster youth have stable housing, give priority for housing to these students.

Existing law requires campuses of the CSU and UC, and requests campuses of the CCCs, that maintain student housing facilities open for occupation during school breaks, or on a year-round basis, to give first priority to current and former foster and homeless youth for residence in the housing facilities that are open for uninterrupted year-round occupation.

Existing law extends priority for housing at the UC, the CSU, and the CCCs to homeless

youth, and requests campuses to develop plans to ensure that homeless and foster youth have housing during breaks.

Existing law defines “homeless youth” as a student under 25 years of age, who has been verified as a homeless child or youth (as defined by Federal law). It also provides that a student who is verified as a former homeless youth retains that status for a period of six years from the date of admission.

Proposed Law:

This bill requires, by September 1, 2026, the governing board of each community college district to adopt, as part of the annual campus safety plan, a plan to offer an overnight parking program to students enrolled at each campus within the district. The bill states that it is the Legislature’s intent that the plan provide overnight parking to students who are experiencing housing insecurity and allow students to stay in their cars overnight at designated parking lots and parking spots on campus as specified.

This bill requires the plan to be developed in consultation with the campus’ basic needs coordinator and with the campus’ security, and that it include all of the following:

1. A written agreement with campus’ security for monitoring overnight parking lots and spots. The agreement is to include a procedure for reporting and responding to any threats to the safety of a participating student.
2. An overnight parking program application developed by the campus’ basic needs coordinator. Eligible students are to acknowledge and agree to the rules for the overnight parking program in the application, and that any violation of these rules will result in the student’s immediate removal from the parking program.
3. Designation of bathroom and shower facilities that will be made available to participating students and an agreement with custodial staff for the maintenance of those designated facilities.
4. A determination as to whether the CCD’s governing board will prohibit use of recreational vehicles for parking under the program.
5. The designation of, but not limited to, at least one parking lot on campus for use by participating students under the program.
6. Overnight parking program rules that a participating student must follow when using overnight parking facilities include the campus student code of conduct and a zero tolerance policy for intimidation, harassment, and the use of drugs or alcohol. A violation of the overnight parking program rules is to be reported and investigated in the same manner as a student code of conduct violation. A finding that the student violated rules is to be grounds for immediate removal from the parking program.
7. A procedure for registering and verifying the identity of an eligible student and the student’s vehicle through the issuance of an overnight parking permit at no cost to the student. This information is to be used solely for the purpose of implementing the overnight parking program and not to be disclosed for any other purpose, except pursuant to the specified court-issued warrant.
8. Daily time of use or hours of operation requirements for overnight parking under the program that ensure that the daily time of use or hours of operation for overnight under the program align with campus operation hours. The bill requires that these requirements provide for parking to occur overnight and include a plan to maintain the overnight parking program during holidays and academic breaks.
9. A procedure for issuing an overnight parking permit to students, including a specified timeframe in which the parking permit is valid. This timeframe is to be at least four weeks but not more than one semester or the quarterly equivalent.
10. A requirement for the campus’ basic needs coordinator to prioritize securing sustainable housing alternatives for participating students.
11. A procedure for issuing an overnight parking permit to students, including: a specified timeframe in which the parking permit is valid and a process for informing students about the bathroom and shower facilities designated and providing students with a copy of the overnight parking program required rules.
12. A requirement for a campus’ basic needs coordinator to prioritize securing sustainable housing alternatives for participating students.
13. A procedure for students to apply for and obtain approval to participate in the overnight parking program. The procedure is to include a process for informing students about the designated bathroom and shower facilities and providing students with a copy of the overnight parking program rules.
14. An estimation of the cost of implementing the overnight parking program.

This bill requires the district’s governing board, by December 31, 2026, to vote to determine if the community colleges within the district will establish an overnight parking program that aligns with the plan adopted. It also requires, if the majority of the governing board votes in favor of establishing an overnight parking program, a basic needs coordinator for each campus to implement the plan immediately and commence accepting applications for the overnight parking program within three months of the vote. The bill provides that nothing prohibits a governing board of a community college district from revisiting the establishment of the overnight parking program to determine its feasibility if it is not approved.

This bill requires each campus that offers an overnight parking program to do all of the following:

1. Send a stand-alone email to each of its students as specified describing available student housing services, and provide a description of these services at each campus student orientation.
2. Provide a description of available student housing services at each student orientation at the campus.
3. Provide a housing assistance tab that is clearly visible and easily accessible on the campus’ internet website, as specified.

This bill requires a participating student to be granted access to overnight parking until the student is provided access to a sustainable housing alternative offered by a campus’ basic needs coordinator.

The bill provides that a campus that complies with the requirements of the bill is not civilly liable for a campus employee’s good faith act or omission that fails to prevent an injury to a participating student that occurs in, or in close proximity to, and during the hours of operation of, overnight parking. The immunity provision does not apply to gross negligence, intentional misconduct, or violations of other laws.

This bill requires each campus to report annually to the Chancellor’s Office on specified outcomes, and the Chancellor’s Office to report on the overnight parking programs based on the information provided in the campus report.

Related Legislation:

AB 1818 (Jackson, 2024) would have required the CCC Chancellor’s Office and the CSU Chancellor’s Office to each establish a pilot program to allow overnight parking on select campuses by students. AB 1818 was held on the Suspense File in this Committee.

AB 302 (Berman, 2019) would have required a community college campus that has parking facilities on campus to grant overnight access to those facilities to any homeless student who is enrolled in coursework, has paid any enrollment fees that have not been waived, and is in good standing with the community college for the purpose of sleeping in the student’s vehicle overnight. This bill was moved to the inactive file on the Senate Floor.

Staff Comments:

The California Community College system consists of 72 community college districts and 114 campuses statewide, serving about 1.8 million students each year. About 64 percent of these students are considered low-income based on federal standards. Current law requires a CCC campus that has shower facilities for student use to grant access to those facilities to any homeless student who is enrolled in coursework, has paid enrollment fees and is in good standing with the community college district.

This bill requires the development of a plan that permits students to stay in their car overnight. It outlines several requirements that the plan must fulfill, including an agreement with campus security for monitoring overnight parking areas and addressing any threats to student safety. The plan must also allocate bathroom and shower facilities for participants and establish rules of conduct. Additionally, the bill provides that at least one parking lot on campus must have a minimum of 50 designated parking spots for overnight parking. According to the author, “AB 90 seeks to provide a backstop and an alternative for emergency shelter, by allowing California community college students to stay overnight in their personal vehicles while parked on the campus of their college where they are a registered student. While emergency shelter in a vehicle is not ideal, just knowing a student may have a place to shelter, will go a long way to stabilizing their health and providing additional time to find a long term housing solution.”

-- END --

SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Senator Thomas Umberg, Chair

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill No: AB 90 (Author:Jackson)

Version: July 8, 2025

Hearing Date: July 15, 2025

Fiscal: Yes

Urgency: No

Consultant: ID

SUBJECT

Public postsecondary education: overnight student parking

DIGEST

This bill requires the governing boards of California Community College districts to adopt, by September 1, 2026, a plan for an overnight parking program, and that the governing board vote on whether to establish the program by December 31, 2026, as specified.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The cost of college has increased significantly over the last few decades. According to research, housing has been the key driver in the rising cost of attending public colleges. For many students, meeting these costs has become exceedingly difficult. A 2023 report by the Community College League of California found that almost three out of every five CCC students are housing insecure, and that about 25% of CCC students experience homelessness. Some students who are experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity choose to sleep in their vehicles.

AB 90 proposes to require that community college districts adopt plans for an overnight parking program that offers enrolled students the option to use an overnight parking lot to stay in their vehicles overnight. AB 90 specifies various requirements for the program, including that it include an agreement with campus security for the monitoring and security of the overnight parking lot and spots, and that the plan establish program rules that include zero tolerance for intimidation, harassment, and the use of drugs or alcohol. AB 90 also provides that a campus that complies with its provisions is not civilly liable for a campus employee’s good faith act or omission that fails to prevent injury to a participating student that occurs in, or in close proximity to, and during the hours of operation of, the overnight parking, except as specified. AB 90 requires the governing board of the community college district to adopt the plan by September 1, 2026, and to vote on whether to establish the program by December 31, 2026.

AB 90 is author-sponsored, and is supported by the Student Senate for California Community Colleges and student groups and other organizations. It is opposed by a coalition of community colleges and community college districts. It previously passed out of the Senate Education Committee by a vote of 4 to 2.

PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE LAW

Existing law:

1. Requests that the CCCs that maintain student housing facilities give priority for housing to current and former homeless youth and current and former foster youth in order to ensure that they have stable housing, including to facilities that are open for occupation year-round if the school provides year-round housing facilities. (Ed. Code § 76010.)
2. Requests that CCC campuses develop plans to ensure that current and former homeless and foster youth can access housing resources during and between academic terms, including during academic and campus breaks, regardless of whether the campus maintains student housing facilities. (Ed. Code § 76010(b).)
3. Defines “homeless youth” as a student under 25 years of age, who has been verified as a homeless child or youth (as defined by Federal law). Provides that a student who is verified as a former homeless youth retains that status for a period of six years from the date of admission. (Ed. Code §§ 76010, 90001.5, and 92660.)
4. Requires a CCC campus that has shower facilities for student use on campus to grant access to those facilities to any homeless student who is enrolled in coursework, has paid enrollment fees, and is in good standing with the community college district, without requiring the student to enroll in additional courses. (Ed. Code § 76011.)
5. Provides that no community college district, or any officer or employee of such district or board, is responsible or in any way liable for the conduct or safety of any student of the public universities and colleges at any time when such student is not on school property, unless such district has provided transportation for such student to and from the school premises, has undertaken a school-sponsored activity off the premises of such university or college, has otherwise specifically assumed such responsibility or liability, or has failed to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances. In the event of such a specific undertaking, the district is liable or responsible for the conduct or safety of any student only while such student is or should be under the immediate and direct supervision of an employee of such district or board. (Ed. Code § 87706.)
6. Requires the governing board of a community college district to procure insurance against liability to the district for damages for death, injury to person, or damage or loss of property, including such liability arising from officers or employees of the district acting within the scope of their employment. (Ed. Code § 72506(a).)
7. Requires every CCC to establish a Basic Needs Coordinator as the single point of contact for students experiencing basic needs insecurity related to basic needs services and resources, and requires that the basic needs coordinator 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. Requires each CCC campus to report to the office of the Chancellor of the CCCs specified information relating to basic needs services and students, disaggregated by each basic needs service and resource. (Ed. Code § 66023.5.)
8. Specifies that, except as provided by statute, a public entity is not liable for an injury, whether such injury arises out of an act or omission of a public entity or a public employee or any other person, and specifies that the liability created in various relevant provisions is subject to an immunity of the public entity provided by statute, and is subject to any defenses that would be available to the public entity if it were a private person. (Gov. Code § 815.)
9. Specifies that a public entity is liable for injury proximately caused by an act or omission of an employee of the public entity within the scope of their employment if the act or omission would, apart from this section, have given rise to a cause of action against that employee or his personal representative. Provides that a public entity is not liable for the act or omission of an employee where the employee is immune from liability. (Gov. Code § 815.2.)

This bill:

1. Requires that, on or before September 1, 2026, the governing board of each community college district adopt, as part of its annual campus safety plan, a plan to offer an overnight parking program to students enrolled at each campus within the district. Specifies that it is the intent of the Legislature that the plan provides overnight parking to students who are experiencing housing insecurity and allows students to stay in their cars overnight at designated parking lots and spots on campus, and requires that the plan be developed in consultation with the campus’ basic needs coordinator and campus safety.
2. Requires the plan for an overnight parking program to include the following:
   1. a written agreement with campus security for monitoring the overnight parking lots and spots, to include a procedure for reporting and responding to any threats to the safety of a participating student;
   2. a program application developed by each campus’ basic needs coordinator that requires an eligible student to acknowledge that the campus cannot guarantee the student’s safety and to acknowledge and agree to the program rules;
   3. designated bathroom and shower facilities available to participating students, and an agreement with custodial staff to maintain these designated facilities;
   4. a determination of whether recreational vehicles will be allowed or prohibited from the overnight parking;
   5. the designation of at least one parking lot on campus for use by participating students, with the campus determining the number of parking spots designated within the parking lot;
   6. rules for the program that participating students must follow when using overnight parking, to include the campus’ student code of conduct and a zero tolerance policy for intimidation, harassment, and the use of drugs or alcohol;
   7. rules that specify that a violation of the program rules must be reported and investigated by the campus in the same manner as a student code of conduct violation, and that a participating student who violates the rules must be immediately removed from the overnight parking program;
   8. procedures for registering and verifying the identity of a participating student and their vehicle through the issuance of an overnight parking permit, and a requirement that this information be used solely for the purpose of implementing the overnight parking program, and cannot be disclosed for any other purpose, unless pursuant to a particularized, court-issued warrant;
   9. daily time of use or hours of operation for the overnight parking that at least align with the campus’ operational hours and provide for parking overnight and during holidays and academic breaks;
   10. procedures for issuing an overnight parking permit to participating students at no cost, with a specified timeframe for validity not to be less than four weeks and no more than one semester or quarter;
   11. a requirement for the campus’ basic needs coordinator to prioritize securing sustainable housing alternatives for participating students;
   12. procedures for students to apply for and obtain approval to participate in the program that informs participating students of the bathroom and shower facilities available and the program rules; and
   13. an estimated cost for the implementation of the program.
3. Requires, on or before December 31, 2026, the governing board of each community college district to vote whether the community colleges within the district will establish an overnight parking program that aligns with the adopted plan for an overnight parking program.
4. Specifies that, if a majority of the governing board votes in favor of establishing an overnight parking program, the basic needs coordinator for each campus within the district must implement, with immediate effect, the plan adopted for the overnight parking program, and that the basic needs coordinator must commence accepting applications for the overnight parking program within three months of the vote.
5. Specifies that it does not prohibit the governing board of a community college district from revisiting the establishment of an overnight parking program to determine feasibility if not approved pursuant to (3), above.
6. Specifies that each campus that offers an overnight parking program must:
   1. Send a stand-alone email to each student enrolled at the campus at the beginning of each semester or the quarterly equivalent describing available student housing services;
   2. Provide a description of available student housing services at each student orientation at the campus; and
   3. Provide a housing assistance tab that is clearly visible and easily accessible from a drop-down menu on the home page of the campus’ website.
7. Requires that a participating student in an overnight parking program be granted access to overnight parking until the student is provided access to a sustainable housing alternative offered by the campus’ basic needs coordinator.
8. Specifies that a campus that complies with these requirements is not civilly liable for a campus employee’s good faith act or omission that fails to prevent an injury to a participating student that occurs in, or in close proximity to, and during the hours of operation of, overnight parking. Specifies that this immunity does not apply to gross negligence, intentional misconduct, or violations of other laws.
9. Requires each CCC campus to report annually in their basic needs report to the Chancellor’s office, as required by Education Code section 66023.5, the following:
   1. The use of overnight parking facilities by participating students;
   2. The number of participating students served by overnight parking facilities;
   3. The socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds of participating students;
   4. Other housing services offered to its students;
   5. Challenges and best practices in the ongoing operations of overnight parking facilities; and
   6. Whether participating students remained enrolled or graduated from a campus within the district.
10. Requires that the Chancellor’s office report, as part of its annual report to the Governor and Legislature, on the overnight parking programs based on the information reported pursuant to (9), above.
11. Defines, for the purposes of its provisions, the following:
    1. “basic needs coordinator” to mean the coordinator defined in Education Code section 66023.5, or the coordinator’s designee;
    2. “campus” to mean a California community college campus;
    3. “Chancellor’s office” to mean the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges;
    4. “eligible student” to mean a student who meets both of the following requirements:
       1. The student is enrolled in coursework at a community college offering an overnight parking program established pursuant to these provisions; and
       2. The student has paid their enrollment fees, if not waived.
    5. “participating student” to mean a student who has applied to and been approved to use overnight parking facilities;
    6. “recreational vehicle” to mean a motor home, travel trailer, truck camper, or camping trailer, with or without motive power, designed for human habitation for recreational, emergency, or other occupancy; and
    7. “sustainable housing alternative” to mean a housing option that provides a participating student with stable housing for more than three weeks.

COMMENTS

1. Author’s statement

According to the author:

AB 90 seeks to provide a backstop and an alternative for emergency shelter, by allowing California college students to stay overnight in their personal vehicles while parked on the campus of their college or university where they are a registered student. While emergency shelter in a vehicle is not ideal, just knowing a student may have a place to shelter, will go a long way to stabilizing their health and providing additional time to find a long-term housing solution.

1. Housing insecurity and homelessness among CCC students

The cost of college has increased significantly over the last few decades.^[1] Tremendous increases in the price of tuition, course books and supplies, and student housing has contributed to this historic increase in the cost of college. At the same time, the cost of living and the cost of housing of many university cities have also increased significantly in recent years. In fact, according to research from the Public Policy Institute of California, housing has been the key driver in the rising cost of public colleges.^[2] For many students, meeting these costs has become exceedingly difficult. These increases have pushed many university students to demand “cost-of-living” increases in their student worker pay.^[3] Still, many students struggle to keep and afford housing.

A 2023 report by the Community College League of California found that almost three out of every five CCC students are housing insecure, and that about 25% of CCC students experience homelessness.^[4] This report found that African American, Native American, and LGBTQ+ students are much more likely to report experiencing homelessness. It further found that half of the CCC students surveyed worried about running out of food before being able to afford more, and that 60% were housing insecure and concerned about being able to pay their housing expenses due to increases in rent, mortgage payments, and utility rates. Homelessness can seriously impact students, resulting in higher levels of anxiety and poorer physical health, less access to nutritional food, and poor academic performance.^[5]

1. The CCCs and current efforts to support housing insecure students

Universities and the Legislature have taken some steps in recent years to help ensure that the state’s public university students have housing. The Middle Class Scholarship program, created in 2013, was reformed in 2021 to be based on total cost of attendance of college, thereby factoring in the costs of housing. (SB 169, Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, Ch. 262, Stats. 2021.) In addition, the Student Success Completion Grant program provides CCC students grants of up to $8,000 per school year to help offset the total cost of community college attendance.^[6] In addition, the Legislature created the Higher Education Student Housing Grant program as part of the 2022-2023 budget agreement to provide $1.5 billion in funding for grants to support the construction of affordable student housing at the state’s public universities. (SB 169, Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, Ch. 262, Stats. 2021.) In the 2024-2025 budget, the Higher Education Student Housing Grant program was redesigned to be a state lease revenue bond program to provide bond funding to specified housing projects at the community colleges. (SB 155, Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, Ch. 71, Stats. 2024.)

At least one community college has implemented a program to help students who are experiencing homelessness and need to sleep in their cars. Long Beach City College launched a pilot program for student overnight parking in 2021, providing enrolled students a secure location in which to sleep in their cars if they need.^[7] The program provides students access to a designated parking structure at night, with access to wifi and restrooms throughout the night, and case management from staff to help them find long-term, stable housing. Participating students are also provided access to showers. Reporting suggests the program has generally been a success and has had no safety issues since its launch.^[8]

1. AB 90 requires the CCCs to consider a program to allow students experiencing homelessness to park overnight on campus

AB 90 proposes to require the governing boards of each community college district to design and consider a plan for an overnight parking program at each CCC within the district. The plan would be required to include the following elements:

• A written agreement with campus security for monitoring the overnight parking lots and spots, to include a procedure for reporting and responding to any threats to the safety of a participating student;
• A program application developed by each campus’ basic needs coordinator that requires an eligible student to acknowledge that the campus cannot guarantee the student’s safety and to acknowledge and agree to the program rules;
• Designated bathroom and shower facilities available to participating students;
• A determination of whether recreational vehicles will be allowed or prohibited from the overnight parking;
• The designation of at least one parking lot on campus for use by participating students;
• Rules for the program that participating students must follow when using overnight parking, to include the campus’ student code of conduct and a zero tolerance policy for intimidation, harassment, and the use of drugs or alcohol;
• Rules that specify that a violation of the program rules must be reported and investigated by the campus in the same manner as a student code of conduct violation, and that a participating student who violates the rules must be immediately removed from the overnight parking program;
• Procedures for registering and verifying the identity of a participating student and their vehicle through the issuance of an overnight parking permit;
• Daily time of use or hours of operation for the overnight parking that at least align with the campus’ operational hours and provide for parking overnight and during holidays and academic breaks;
• Procedures for issuing an overnight parking permit to participating students at no cost, with a specified timeframe for validity not to be less than four weeks and no more than one semester or quarter;
• A requirement for the campus’ basic needs coordinator to prioritize securing sustainable housing alternatives for participating students;
• Procedures for students to apply for, and obtain approval to participate in, the program that informs participating students of the bathroom and shower facilities available and the program rules; and
• An estimated cost for the implementation of the program.

AB 90 would require the governing board of each community college district to adopt, as part of its annual campus safety plan, this plan for the overnight parking program by September 1, 2026. However, the governing board would not be required to establish an overnight parking program pursuant to that adopted plan unless the board votes to establish it. AB 90 requires that the governing board vote whether it will establish such a program by December 31, 2026. If the governing board votes to establish the program, each campus’ basic needs coordinator must immediately implement the program’s plan and begin accepting applications within three months. Each campus that offers an overnight parking program must also send an email to enrolled students at the beginning of each semester or quarter describing available student housing services, provide a description of those services at each student orientation, and include a clearly visible tab on the campus’ website for housing assistance.

AB 90 also specifies that a participating student in an overnight parking program at a CCC campus must be granted access to the overnight parking until the student is provided access to a sustainable housing alternative offered by the campus’ basic needs coordinator. Each CCC campus is also required to include in the annual report regarding basic needs services that it must provide to the Chancellor of the CCC information related to the use of overnight parking facilities by students, the number and demographic composition of participating students, best practices and challenges to the program, and other specified information.

1. AB 90 provides limited liability to a CCC for such a program

AB 90 provides a campus that provides a compliant overnight parking program limitation from civil liability for a campus employee’s good faith act or omission that fails to prevent an injury to a participating student that occurs in, or in close proximity to, and during the operating hours of the overnight parking program. This limitation on liability would not apply to gross negligence, intentional misconduct, or violations of other laws.

Generally, because public universities are public entities, their liability for torts is limited. (Gov. Code § 815.) However, they may still be vicariously liable for the tortious acts of university employees who are acting within the scope of their employment. (Gov. Code § 815.2.) For negligence, a plaintiff must show that the defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff, that the defendant breached this duty of care, and that the breach was the proximate cause of plaintiff’s injury. The duty required under negligence only applies to a defendant’s own actions and not those of a third party, unless there is a “special relationship” between the defendant and the plaintiff. (Regents of the University of California v. Superior Court, (2018) 4 Cal.5th 607.)

Special relationships typically exist where one party relies to some degree on the other for protection, and the other party has some control over that protection or the dependent party’s welfare. (Regents, 4 Cal.5th 621.) Special relationships include those between common carriers and their passengers, landlords and their tenants, and colleges and students engaged in curricular activities. In the Regents case, the California Supreme Court found that a “special relationship” exists between a university and its students, but only if the students are “engaged in activities that are part of the school’s curriculum or closely related to its delivery of educational services.” (Regents, 4 Cal.5th at pp. 624-625.) In that case, the court found that the plaintiff’s university had a duty to protect her from a dangerous student who attacked her during class.

AB 90’s limitation on liability would shield a CCC from liability for the tortious conduct of its employees in the operation of the overnight parking program. This would include negligent conduct; including, for example, if a campus safety officer failed to prevent an attack on another student in the overnight parking facilities. The college might otherwise be found to have a special relationship with students participating in the overnight parking program, such that the school would owe a duty to exercise reasonable care to protect participating students from reasonable harm. By limiting this liability, the college’s exposure to liability could thus be considerably limited. However, as noted, the limitation on liability would not apply to gross negligence, intentional misconduct, or violations of other laws.

Limitations on liability are not generally favored, as they prevent a party who has been injured from being able to be made whole. In the context of an overnight parking program, the college is arguably providing a program meant to provide participating students with some level of protection or security that is more than they would have if they were sleeping in their vehicle outside of the school grounds. Thus, the school should have a duty to provide some level of protection for participating students. On the other hand, an overnight parking program, in which students are staying in their vehicles in a parking lot or structure that is not as completely or easily secured as a school dormitory or building, the school likely has less of an ability to control or secure the premises. Given that and concerns from the community colleges regarding liability, AB 90 provides participating schools with protection from the tortious acts of school employees related to the overnight parking program. It is also worth mentioning that the bill requires participating students to acknowledge that the school cannot guarantee their safety in the overnight parking facility. This requirement may ensure that the student is aware of existent risks, and perhaps also serve as a defense against negligence as an assumption of the risk by participating in overnight parking.

1. Arguments in support

According to the Student Senate for California Community Colleges, which supports AB 90:

California’s college students are facing unprecedented costs to attend school, driven by a historic rise in the price of housing. The impacts of this are extensive and among them may lead to students struggling to academically perform or even complete their education. The data also shows students who are facing homelessness or housing insecurity suffer from higher anxiety, poor physical health, and less access to healthy food.

AB 90 aims to alleviate the housing insecurity of students attending California’s public colleges and universities by allowing them to park overnight on campus while they work toward securing stable housing. It is also important to note that AB 90 is not intended to serve as a permanent solution to student homelessness, but rather as a companion effort to those ongoing by the CCC in finding California’s college students a more suitable housing solution.

1. Arguments in opposition

According to a number of community colleges and community college districts, which oppose AB 90:

In 2023, the RealCollege Survey conducted by the Community College League of California’s Affordability, Food & Housing Access Taskforce revealed that many of our students face housing insecurity or homelessness. The resulting report concluded with a set of policy recommendations for lawmakers to consider, including proposals to expand and invest in student housing initiatives, increase coordination with local counties, strengthen partnerships with community-based organizations, identify and support student groups with disproportionally high basic needs insecurities, and equitably increase student access to state and federal financial aid. Unfortunately, AB 90 ignores these comprehensive recommendations and instead offers a remedy that doesn’t address the root issue and potentially harms other remedies colleges are enacting.

Implementing AB 90 poses significant challenges. Homeless students deserve a safe, clean, and dignified place to sleep at night. According to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, implementing safe parking lots would result in ongoing costs of $623,000 per campus. This encompasses costs related to student safety and security, student verification processes, sanitation and custodial services, restroom availability, liability insurance, and reporting requirements. As the lowest-funded education system in California, community colleges do not have the resources available to establish safe parking lot programs without making significant cuts elsewhere.

Many community colleges provide temporary housing support to students through hotel or Airbnb vouchers, direct aid via emergency housing grants, rental subsidies, rapid rehousing, partnerships with local non-profit organizations, and referrals to transitional housing. If AB 90 is enacted, these existing programs would be at risk of being cut, as colleges would be forced to make difficult decisions on beginning new programs without adequate funding.

SUPPORT

California Coalition for Youth

California Teachers Association

CFT- a Union of Educators & Classified Professionals, Aft, AFL-CIO

League of Women Voters of California

Nextgen California

Oakland Privacy

Public Advocates

Student Homes Coalition

Student Senate for California Community Colleges

OPPOSITION

Allan Hancock College

Association of California Community College Administrators

Association of Chief Business Officials

Barstow Community College

Berkeley City College

Butte-Glenn Community College District

Cabrillo College

California Mobility and Parking Association

Ceo Affordability, Food & Housing Access Taskforce/Real College California

Cerritos College

Chabot College

Chabot-Las Positas Community College District

Chaffey College

Citrus College

Clovis Community College

Coalinga College

Coast Community College District

College of Alameda

College of Marin

College of the Redwoods

College of the Sequoias

College of the Siskiyous

Columbia College

Community College Facility Coalition

Community College League of California

Contra Costa Community College District

Copper Mountain College

Cosumnes River College

Cuesta College

Cuyamaca College

Cypress College

Feather River College

Folsom Lake College

Foothill-de Anza Community College District

Fresno City College

Gavilan College

Glendale Community College

Grossmont College

Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District

Hartnell College

Irvine Valley College

Lake Tahoe Community College District

Laney College

Las Positas College

Lassen Community College

Lemoore College

Los Angeles Community College District

Los Rios Community College District

Madera Community College

Mendocino-lake Community College District

Merced College

Merritt College

Miracosta College

Modesto Junior College

Mt. San Antonio College

Mt. San Jacinto College

Napa Valley College

North Orange Community College District

North Orange County Community College District

Ohlone College

Palomar College

Peralta Community College District

Reedley Community College

Rio Hondo College

Riverside Community College District

Sacramento City College

Saddleback College

San Bernardino Community College District

San Diego City College

San Diego College of Continuing Education

San Diego Community College District

San Diego Mesa College

San Diego Miramar College

Santa Rosa Junior College

Sierra College

Solano Community College

South Orange County Community College District

Southwestern College

State Center Community College District

Taft College

Ventura County Community College District

Victor Valley College

West Hills Community College District

Woodland Community College

Yosemite Community College District

Yuba College

Yuba Community College District

RELATED LEGISLATION

Pending Legislation: AB 648 (Zbur, 2025) exempts the construction of faculty and staff housing projects, student housing projects, and university housing development projects of CCCs from local zoning regulations of any city, county, or city and county, when they are constructed on property owned or leased by a community college district. AB 648 is currently pending before the Senate Local Government Committee.

Prior Legislation:

AB 1818 (Jackson, 2025) would have required the California State University and California Community Colleges to develop a pilot program for overnight parking on campus for eligible students. AB 1818 died in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

SB 155 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, Ch. 71, Stats. 2024.) redesigned the Higher Education Student Housing Grant program to be a state lease revenue bond program to provide bond funding to specified housing projects at the community colleges.

AB 2416 (Gabriel, Ch. 285, Stats. 2020) required institutions of higher education to consider homelessness as an extenuating circumstance for considering if the student has met “satisfactory academic progress” requirements for student financial aid, and allowed students to appeal their loss of student financial aid if they fail to meet "satisfactory academic progress" due to homelessness.

AB 806 (Bloom, Ch. 163, Stats. 2019) removed the January 1, 2020 sunset in AB 1228 (Gipson, Ch. 571, Stats. 2015) that provided former homeless youth priority enrollment at campuses of the CCC, CSU, and the UC, aligned the definition of “homeless youth” to other provisions of existing law; and specified that current or former homeless youth are eligible for the CCC fee waiver.

AB 302 (Berman, 2019) would have required, on or before July 1, 2020, a CCC campus that has parking facilities on campus to grant overnight access to those facilities for the purpose of sleeping in the student’s vehicle overnight to any student experiencing homelessness who is enrolled in coursework, has paid any enrollment fees that have not been waived, and is in good standing with the community college. This bill died on the inactive file on the Senate Floor.

AB 2784 (Caballero, 2018) would have established a program to provide loans for housing expenses to students experiencing homelessness at three CSU campuses. AB 2784 was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

AB 1228 (Gipson, Ch. 571, Stats. 2015) extended priority for housing at the UC, the CSU, and the CCC to homeless youth, and requested campuses to develop plans to ensure that homeless and foster youth have housing during breaks.

AB 1393 (Skinner, Ch. 391, Stats. 2009) required CCC and CSU campuses to give priority for housing to current and former foster youth, and required that CCC and CSU campuses keep student housing open during school breaks, or on a year-round basis, to give first priority to current and former foster youth for residence for year-round occupation.

PRIOR VOTES:

Senate Education Committee (Ayes 4, Noes 2)

Assembly Floor (Ayes 50, Noes 14)

Assembly Appropriations Committee (Ayes 11, Noes 1)

Assembly Higher Education Committee (Ayes 6, Noes 2)

**************

1. Emma Karr and Sarah Wood, “A look at 20 years of tuition costs at national universities,” U.S. News & World Report (Sept. 22, 2023), https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/see-20-years-of-tuition-growth-at-national-universities. ↑

2. Marisol Cuellar Mejia et al., “Is college worth it?” Public Policy Institute of California (accessed Jul. 3, 2025) https://www.ppic.org/publication/is-college-worth-it/. ↑

3. Kim Kelly, “UCSC grad students are on strike for a living wage, Teen Vogue (Feb. 24, 2020), available at https://www.teenvogue.com/story/why-university-california-santa-cruz-grad-students-strike. ↑

4. Community College League of California, Real College California: Basic Needs Among California Community College Students, Affordability, Food, and Housing Access Taskforce Report (Sept. 2023), available at https://ccleague.org/about-us/press-releases-statements/basic-needs-among-california-community-college-students-2023. ↑

5. Brian Soika, “The impacts of college student homelessness,” USC Rossier School of Edu. (Dec. 3, 2021), https://rossier.usc.edu/news-insights/news/impacts-college-student-homelessness. ↑

6. Coast Community College District, “Student Success Completion Grant (SSCG)” (Apr. 10, 2023), https://www.cccd.edu/students/financial-aid/student-success-completion-grant.html. ↑

7. Long Beach City College, “LBCC launches pilot program for student overnight parking” (Nov. 1, 2021), https://www.lbcc.edu/press-release/lbcc-launches-pilot-program-student-overnight-parking. ↑

8. Briana Mendez-Padilla, “Homeless students can sleep safely in their cars at LBCC. Other campuses say no,” CalMatters (Sept. 18, 2024), https://calmatters.org/education/2024/09/california-homeless-college-students/#:~:text=When%20students%20aren't%20allowed,sleeping%20in%20their%20vehicles%20overnight. ↑

ASSEMBLY THIRD READING

ATR Bill Id:AB 90

Author:(Jackson)

As Amended Ver:May 23, 2025

Majority vote

SUMMARY

Establishes the procedures for how a community college may offer an overnight parking program for homeless or housing insecure students.

Major Provisions

1. Requires, by September 1, 2026, for each local governing board of a community college district to adopt, as part of the annual campus safety plan, a plan to offer students on campus overnight parking. The plan for the overnight parking will be developed in consultation with the basic needs coordinator for each campus within the community college district and with campus security. The plan to offer overnight parking will include the following:
   1. A written agreement between the campus and campus security to monitor the overnight parking program, as defined.
   2. An overnight parking application developed by the basic needs coordinator;
   3. The designation of a bathroom and shower facility for students to use as part of the overnight parking program and an agreement with custodial staff to maintain the bathroom and shower facility;
   4. A determination as to whether or not recreational vehicles will be permitted as part of the overnight parking program;
   5. The designation of at least 50 parking spots on campus and at least one parking lot that will be used for the overnight parking program;
   6. Overnight safe parking program rules that students must follow including, a zero tolerance policy for intimidation, harassment, and the use of drugs or alcohol. A violation of the overnight parking program rules will be reported and investigated in the same manner as a student code of conduct violations and if a student if found to have violated the rules, the student will be removed from the program;
   7. A procedure for registering and verifying the identity of an eligible student and their vehicle, including providing the student with an overnight parking permit. The information gathered from the student as part of the overnight parking program will not be disclosed unless as required by a court-issued warrant.
   8. Daily time of use or hours of operation for the overnight parking program. Requires the daily time of use or hours of operation to align with the campus′ operational hours;
   9. A procedure for issuing the overnight parking permit to students. The permit shall allow the student to park on campus overnight between four weeks and one semester/quarter, as determined by the plan;
   10. A requirement for the basic needs coordinator to prioritize providing secure housing to students who participate in the overnight parking program;
   11. A procedure for students to apply to participate in the overnight parking program and the procedures for approving participation. The process will include informing students of the overnight parking rules and the location of the bathroom and shower facilities associated with the overnight parking program; and,
   12. An estimation of the cost of implementing the overnight parking program.
2. Requires, by December 31, 2026, for the local governing board of the community college district to vote on establishing the overnight parking program.
   1. If the majority of the governing board votes to establish the overnight parking program, the basic needs coordinator for each of community college within the community college district will implement the plan as described above. Applications for the overnight parking program will begin three months after the affirmative vote of the governing board of the community college district.
   2. If the majority of the governing board votes against establishing the overnight parking program, the governing board will vote each year by December 31 to establish the program, until the program is implemented.
3. Each community college that offers an overnight parking program will do the following:
   1. Send a standalone email to students informing the students of the available student housing services;
   2. Provide a description of the housing services at each student orientation; and,
   3. Provide a housing assistance tab that is clearly visible and assessable from a drop-down menu on the home page of the campus′ internet website.
4. Clarifies a student is no longer permitted to participate in the overnight parking program, if the student has been offered access to sustainable housing alternatives by the basic needs coordinator.
5. Exempts a community college that follows the requirements as listed above, from civil liability for a campus employee′s good faith or omission that fails to prevent an injury for a student who is participating in an overnight program. The provided immunity does not apply to gross negligence, intentional misconduct, or violations of other laws.
6. Requires a community college to report on specified outcomes of the overnight parking program as part of the campus′ annual basic needs report to the Chancellor′s Office of the CCC.

COMMENTS

Basic needs support services at California Community Colleges (CCC). Prior to the global COVID – 19 pandemic, student advocacy groups had raised awareness regarding the rising cost associated with attending college and universities in California as being directly correlated to the rising cost of affordability in the State. A shift in focus occurred from focusing on tuition and academic financial assistance to a holistic approach of providing financial assistance for the all costs affiliated with attending a college or university. In 2021, due to a collaborative effort by Assemblymember Berman and the Assembly Budget Committee, the CCC received $30 million in funding to hire Basic Needs Coordinators and establish basic needs centers on each college campus. The Coordinators and centers were to provide a one-stop shop to assist students in accessing basic necessities such as housing, food, clothing, feminine hygiene, diapers, technology, childcare, and mental health services and resources. Since the original allocation additional funding has been provided for a total of $43.5 million in ongoing funding.

As a condition of the funding, each community college is required to report annually on the services provided by the basic needs center to the CCC Chancellor′s Office. In May 2024, the Chancellor′s Office published the ″Basic Needs Center Report for Fiscal Year 2022-2023.″ The report identified that across the system, 3,813 students were provided housing services by either the Basic Needs Coordinator or the CCC basic needs centers. The services provided to the students included provided rapid rehousing, rental vouchers, eviction assistance, emergency funds for rent payments, referrals to county housing authority, and other types of services designed to provide housing stability to students, The report highlighted that students who received basic needs services had an average course success rate that was 2% higher than the overall course success rate for all students. The report provided multiple data points on the service provided, but did not speak to the unmet needs of students.

In September 2023, the Community College League of California Affordability, Food, and Housing Access Taskforce (Taskforce) partnered with Research and Planning Group for California Community Colleges (RP Group) to conduct a student survey to ascertain the basic needs of community college students. The report contained data from 66,741 respondents from 88 different community college campuses; the survey results yielded the following data points:

1. Two out of every three community college student surveyed identified struggled to meet one basic need.
2. Three out of every five community college student surveyed identified as housing insecure.
3. About one in four are homeless, with homelessness being defined as not having a staple place to live.

The survey asked students if they were able to access public support programs to address their basic needs insecurities and less than a quarter of those who identified as housing insecure and homeless were able to access housing supports.

In addition to providing data points on student basic needs insecurities, the Taskforce report contained recommendations on how to improve students′ access to basic needs supports. One of the suggestions was to advocate for additional state funding for affordable student housing on campus.

CCC housing and housing investments. In March 2023, the CCC Chancellor′s Office published an ″Affordable Student Housing Taskforce″ report, which contained recommendations for how the system could actively engage in providing affordable housing to assist students in meeting their academic and educational goals. At the time of the publication of the report, the CCC had the capacity to house 2,369 students with only twelve districts offering student housing on campus. Throughout the report, recommendations were made as to how the CCC and the Legislature could eliminate bureaucratic barriers, construct more housing on campus, and how the CCC could partner with local services to help students gain more access to housing.

According to the Author

As provided by the author, ″AB 90 seeks to provide a backstop and an alternative for emergency shelter, by allowing California college students to stay overnight in their personal vehicles while parked on the campus of their college or university where they are a registered student. While emergency shelter in a vehicle is not ideal, it seems just knowing a student may have a place to shelter, will go a long way to stabilizing their health and providing additional time to find a long term housing solution.″

Arguments in Support

The Student Senate for California Community Colleges emphasis the need for AB 90 (Jackson), as ″California′s college students are facing unprecedented costs to attend school, driven by a historic rise in the price of housing. The impacts of this are extensive and among them may lead to students struggling to academically perform or even complete their education. The data also shows students who are facing homelessness or housing insecurity suffer from higher anxiety, poor physical health, and less access to healthy food. AB 90 aims to alleviate the housing insecurity of students attending California′s public colleges and universities by allowing them to park overnight on campus while they work toward securing stable housing. It is also important to note that AB 90 is not intended to serve as a permanent solution to student homelessness, but rather as a companion effort to those ongoing by the CSU and CCC in finding California′s college students a more suitable housing solution.″

Additional support for the measure is provided by the California Federation of Teachers, ″A report from the Community College League of California found that two out of three of the state′s community college students struggle to meet their basic needs and almost three out of five are housing insecure. A project in Long Beach City College has already illustrated and demonstrated great gains and this legislation could help make parking options a reality for more students experiencing homelessness. CFT is proud to support the legislation in a time of housing crisis that would provide a safe and viable option for students, who are seeking to better themselves and our communities.″

Arguments in Opposition

Concerns regarding the measure are raised by the Association of California Community College Administrators, as ″AB 90 does not fix the real housing and affordability challenges that our students face. Our colleges are already launching programs to assist unhoused students, and a ′one size fits all′ mandate does not make sense for the diverse community college system and would result in significant incurred costs and increased liability implications. We believe a safer and more feasible approach is for the state to provide additional funding to CCDs outside of Proposition 98 to construct affordable housing for our students. While we understand that revenues may not allow for additional housing investments this year, we do not believe that a mandated overnight parking program is the answer in the short term.″

FISCAL COMMENTS

According to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations:

1. Ongoing Proposition 98 General Fund costs of approximately $1.5 million for 72 CCDs to develop an annual plan to offer an overnight parking program for consideration by the governing board of the CCD. This estimate assumes that costs to develop annual plan would range between $15,983 and $24,377 per CCD. Ongoing costs would decrease in later years once the governing board of the CCD votes to adopt the plan.
2. Ongoing Proposition 98 General Fund costs of an unknown amount but potentially in the tens of millions of dollars. The CCCCO estimates a cost of approximately $623,000 for an individual CCD to establish and maintain an overnight parking program meeting all of the requirements of the bill. The exact costs will depend on the number of students participating and the services made available and the extent to which other resource options are foregone as a result of this program.
3. Ongoing Proposition 98 General Fund cost pressures to the extent CCDs face an increased number of lawsuits resulting from the program and have to respond, even though the bill includes protections against civil liability.
4. Ongoing General Fund costs to the CCCCO of $60,000 to update its data system to allow for district reporting and issue an overnight parking program report.

VOTES

ASM HIGHER EDUCATION: 6-2-2

YES: Fong, Boerner, Jackson, Patel, Celeste Rodriguez, Sharp-Collins

NO: Essayli, Jeff Gonzalez

ABS, ABST OR NV: DeMaio, Muratsuchi

ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 11-1-3

YES: Wicks, Arambula, Calderon, Caloza, Elhawary, Fong, Mark González, Hart, Pacheco, Pellerin, Solache

NO: Dixon

ABS, ABST OR NV: Sanchez, Ta, Tangipa

UPDATED

VERSION: May 23, 2025

CONSULTANT: Ellen Cesaretti-Monroy / HIGHER ED. / (916) 319-3960 FN: 0000851

Date of Hearing: April 9, 2025

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Buffy Wicks, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 90

Author:(Jackson) – As Amended Ver:March 20, 2025

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: Yes Reimbursable: Yes

SUMMARY:

This bill requires the California Community Colleges (CCCs) and the California State University (CSU) Chancellor, on or before September 1, 2026, to adopt a plan or a policy, respectively, regarding overnight student parking programs at each campus for students experiencing housing insecurity.

Specifically, this bill requires each Community College District (CCD) to adopt an overnight student parking plan as part of its larger annual campus safety plans required by existing law, on or before September 1, 2026. The plan must include details about the program such as security monitoring, safety disclaimers, bathroom and shower facilities to be made available, and the cost estimated to implement the program, as well as annual reporting to the California Community College Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) regarding participation data and services offered by the program. This bill also requires that each community college district (CCD) governing board vote to establish an overnight parking program by December 31, 2026, for immediate implementation within three months of the vote, unless a majority of governing board members vote against it, in which case the bill requires an annual vote on the program until established. Lastly, the bill requires CCCCO to include within its annual reporting pursuant to existing law the data reported to it by each CCD pursuant to this bill.

This bill requires the CSU chancellor to establish an overnight parking program policy for each campus, substantially similar to the requirements for CCDs, including reporting by each campus and by the chancellor, for vote by the Trustees of the CSU on or before September 1, 2026. Implementation of the CSU policy is not required until within three months after a vote to establish a program and upon appropriation by the Legislature for this purpose.

FISCAL EFFECT:

1. Ongoing Proposition 98 General Fund costs of approximately $1.5 million for 72 CCDs to develop an annual plan to offer an overnight parking program for consideration by the governing board of the CCD. This estimate assumes that costs to develop annual plan would range between $15,983 and $24,377 per CCD. Ongoing costs would decrease in later years once the governing board of the CCD votes to adopt the plan.
2. Ongoing Proposition 98 General Fund costs of an unknown amount but potentially in the tens of millions of dollars. The CCCCO estimates a cost of approximately $623,000 for an individual CCD to establish and maintain an overnight parking program meeting all of the requirements of the bill. The exact costs will depend on the number of students participating and the services made available and the extent to which other resource options are foregone as a result of this program.
3. Ongoing Proposition 98 General Fund cost pressures to the extent CCDs face an increased number of lawsuits resulting from the program and have to respond, even though the bill includes protections against civil liability.
4. Ongoing General Fund costs to the CCCCO of $60,000 to update its data system to allow for district reporting and issue an overnight parking program report.
5. Ongoing General Fund cost pressure of a significant amount for the Legislature to appropriate funding to the CSU and for the CSU campuses to establish overnight parking program policies thereafter.

COMMENTS:

1. Purpose. According to the author:

AB 90 seeks to provide a backstop and an alternative for emergency shelter, by allowing California college students to stay overnight in their personal vehicles while parked on the campus of their college or university where they are a registered student. While emergency shelter in a vehicle is not ideal, it seems just knowing a student may have a place to shelter, will go a long way to stabilizing their health and providing additional time to find a long term housing solution.

1. Background

Student Housing at the CCCs. According to a student survey conducted in 2023, three out of every five community college students identified as housing insecure and about one in four are homeless, with homelessness defined as not having a stable place to live. However, according to the 2024 CCC Student Housing Report, the entire CCC system has capacity to house only 2,751 students, only 14 CCDs offer student housing, and 11 of those have waitlists.

Student Housing at CSU Campuses. As part of the CSU Basic Needs Initiative, all 23 CSU campuses provide housing support services to students. Every campus offers some form of emergency housing, with some campuses offering both on- and off-campus emergency housing services. The length of stay for emergency housing ranges from 14 days to one semester, with extensions being considered on a case by case basis. 17 CSU campuses provide financial assistance to students who are experiencing financial barriers in securing long-term housing. Financial assistance includes move-in costs, rent, and utilities. Case management support is provided to all students to help students find and locate permanent housing. In school year 2022-23, 14,000 CSU students received some form of support, and an additional 5,037 received emergency funding for housing. According to the most recent report from the CSU in November 2024, there were 67,752 available beds on CSU campuses, with a wait list of 3,998.

Recent Investments in Basic Needs and Student Housing at the CCCs and CSUs. As part of the Budget Act of 2021, the Higher Education Student Housing Grant program and Capacity Expansion Grant program have resulted in significant state investment in housing projects at the CCCs and CSU campuses. For example, $19 million in ongoing funding is allocated through the Homeless and Housing Insecurity Pilot Program, which resulted in 1,386 students assisted with housing across 14 CCCs in school year 2022-23. In 2022-2023 fiscal year, $17.9 million was allocated for the purpose of providing planning grants to CCC to explore how to offer affordable student housing. 70 CCCs received the funding. Lastly, the Budget Act of 2024 appropriated an additional $112.1 million to support three CCDs in fully funding their housing projects. The total bed count will be 5,210 additional beds when the projects are concluded.

In 2019, the Legislature appropriated $6.5 million in ongoing funds to provide rapid rehousing services to students on CSU campuses so they could secure permanent housing for students who are facing challenges in securing housing. Eight campuses participate in the program and from 2019-2023, a total of 797 students have been housed, and 454 have transitioned to secure housing. Additionally, in 2022 the Legislature appropriated $25 million to sustain and expand the CSU Basic Needs Initiative, aimed at addressing basic needs services such as food and housing insecurities of students.

With funding from the State provided as part of Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program, the CSU has either added or is in the process of adding 8,217 beds across 12 CSU campuses. Those campuses are CSU Dominguez Hills, Fresno State University, Cal State Fullerton, Cal Poly Humboldt, Cal State Long Beach, Sacramento State University, San Francisco State University, San José State University, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CSU San Marcos, and Stanislaus State University.

Analysis Prepared by: Aaron Heredia / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: March 18, 2025

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Mike Fong, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 90 (

Author:Jackson) – As Introduced Ver:January 6, 2025

SUBJECT: Public postsecondary education: overnight student parking

SUMMARY: Establishes the procedures by which a campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University can offer an overnight parking program for homeless or housing insecure students. Specifically, this bill:

California Community Colleges (CCC).

1. Requires the local governing board of a community college district (CCD) to adopt, as part of the annual campus safety plan, a plan to offer students on campus overnight parking. The plan for the overnight parking will be developed in consultation with the Basic Needs Coordinator for each campus within the CCD and with campus security. The plan to offer overnight parking will include the following:
   1. A written agreement between the campus and campus security to monitor the overnight parking program. The agreement will include a procedure for reporting and responding to threats against the physical safety of students who participate in the safe overnight program;
   2. An overnight parking application developed by the basic needs coordinator. The overnight parking application will require an eligible student to acknowledge that the campus is not able to secure a student’s safety if the student elects to participate in the overnight parking program. The application will require a student to acknowledge the overnight parking program rules and that any violation of the rules will result in the immediate removal of the student from the overnight parking program;
   3. An agreement with custodial staff to maintain the selected bathroom and shower facilities that will be available to students who participate in the overnight parking program;
   4. A prohibition on recreational vehicles;
   5. A designation of at least one parking lot and at least 50 parking slots for use by participants in the overnight parking program;
   6. Overnight safe parking program rules that students must follow including, a zero tolerance policy for intimidation, harassment, and the use of drugs or alcohol. The overnight safe parking program rules will include the same rules affiliated with the student code of conduct. Students will report and be informed of the rules in the same manner as they are informed about the student code of conduct. A violation of the overnight safe parking program rules will result in the immediate removal from the program;
   7. A procedure for registering a student’s vehicle for participation in the overnight parking program. The information gathered from the student as part of the overnight parking program will not be disclosed unless as required by a court-issued warrant.
   8. Daily time of use or hours of operation for the overnight parking program;
   9. Requirements for the parking permit used for the overnight parking program to last two weeks and a procedure for the renewal of the permit; and,
   10. An estimation of the cost of implementing the overnight parking program.
2. Authorizes, after the completion of the plan to offer an overnight parking program, for the local governing board of the CCD to vote once a year until the local governing board approves the program. Upon approval to offer the program, each basic needs coordinator located on a campus within the district will do the following:
   1. Develop a document describing the rules and procedures for participating in the overnight parking program and provide the document to students;
   2. Begin accepting applications for the overnight parking program;
   3. Post information about the overnight parking program at the safe overnight facility and online on the student basic needs tab on the campus website.
3. Permits campuses who offer a safe parking program to allow eligible students to participate in the overnight parking program until the student has been provided access to suitable alternative housing which has been verified by the student basic needs coordinator. The alternative housing can include: A grant that secures or prevents the imminent loss of housing, a hotel voucher, or rapid rehousing referral services and placement.
4. Exempts a community college that follows the requirements as listed above, from civil liability for a campus employee’s good faith or omission that fails to prevent an injury for a student who is participating in an overnight program. The provided immunity does not apply to gross negligence, intentional misconduct, or violations of other laws.
5. Requires a community college to report on specified outcomes of the overnight parking program as part of the campus’ annual basic needs report to the Chancellor’s Office of the CCC.
6. Defines for purposes of the measure the following:
   1. “Eligible student” to mean a student who is enrolled in coursework at the college, is in good standing, and has paid their enrollment fees.
   2. “Recreational vehicle” to mean a motor home, travel trailer, truck camper, or camping trailer with or without motive power designed for recreational or emergency living.

California State University (CSU)

1. Requires the Chancellor of the CSU to establish a pilot program to allow each CSU campus to provide safe overnight parking to qualifying students. Prohibits the overnight parking program offered by the campus to allow recreational vehicles to park overnight.
2. Requires the Chancellor of the CSU to work collaboratively with student representatives to establish a plan of action for the safe overnight parking pilot program which will include the following:
   1. A plan for monitoring the overnight parking facilities and a procedure for reporting and responding to incidents that may endanger the participating students;
   2. An overnight parking application for students to complete which includes a clause that the campus cannot ensure the safety of a participating student;
   3. The designation of at least one parking lot with at least 10 parking slots on campus for the safe overnight parking pilot program;
   4. Overnight parking rules which must be followed by participating students. The rules will include a zero tolerance policy for a violation of the student code of conduct, including the use of drugs and alcohol;
   5. A procedure for identifying and reporting activity that poses a substantial threat to the physical safety of other students;
   6. A procedure for revoking a student’s eligibility to participate in the safe overnight parking pilot program either on a temporary or permanent basis;
   7. A procedure for registering and identifying the vehicles used by students participating in the safe overnight parking pilot program. The information gathered as part of this subdivision will not be disclosed unless as required by a court-issued warrant.
   8. A list of the daily time of use and hours of operation for the safe overnight parking pilot program;
   9. Requirements for issuing the campus parking permit for the safe overnight parking pilot program and a procedure for renewing the parking permit;
3. Authorizes the Chancellor of the CSU, upon completion of the plan of action described in (2) to develop a document with the rules and procedures for the safe overnight parking pilot program and to disseminate the document to students and to include the document on the internet website of the campus.
4. Permits an eligible student who participates in the safe overnight parking pilot program to be granted overnight parking unless the student has received a grant for housing, a hotel voucher, or has been placed in rapid rehousing as provided by the campus.
5. Clarifies the safe overnight parking pilot program is a basic needs tool to help students with a temporary safe housing option and should not be viewed as a permanent solution to the housing crisis on campus. Students should not remain in their cars for more than two weeks at a time.
6. Exempts a CSU campus who follows the requirements as listed above, from civil liability for a campus employee’s good faith or omission that fails to prevent an injury for a student who is participating in an overnight program. The provided immunity does not apply to gross negligence, intentional misconduct, or violations of other laws.
7. Requires each CSU campus to report specific metrics on the participation and outcomes of the safe overnight parking pilot program beginning on July 1, 2028. The Chancellor of the CSU will in turn submit a report containing the data points to the Legislature by January 31, 2029.
8. Stipulates the CSU section of the bill will only be implemented upon apportionment by the Legislature and for the CSU section to remain operative until January 1, 2030 at which point the section will be repealed.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Requires each campus of the CSU and requests each campus of the UC to establish a position of a Basic Needs Coordinator and requires the basic needs coordinator to oversee and coordinate the provision of basic needs services to students from both on- and off- campus entities and to complete other assigned duties for the purposes of streamlining access for students to basic needs services, as defined. Establishes a basic needs center on CSU campuses and requests the UC to establish the center. Requires each CSU and requests each UC to report on specified basic needs services as provided to students and for the report to be submitted to the Legislature by March 1 of each year (Education Code (EDC) Section 66023.4)
2. Establishes by July 1, 2022 Basic Needs Centers and the position of a Basic Needs Coordinator at CCC campuses to provide students with single point of contact for on-and off-campus basic needs services, as defined (EDC Section 66023.5).
3. Requires each campus of the CSU and CCC and requests the UC to include on the internet website-based student account associated with the student’s attendance at the institution information, including the weblink, on the following public services and programs:
   1. The CalFresh program;
   2. Resources as determined by the institution for county or local housing services, as defined; and,
   3. Resources as determined by the institution for county or mental health services (EDC Section 66027.6).
4. Stipulates any action taken by the local governing board of a CCD to procure insurance as required by the authority invested in the local governing board of the CCD by EDC Sections 70902 and 75003 and, where applicable, by Sections 989 to 991.2 of the Government Code. The governing board of the CCD will insure against all of the following:
   1. The liability, other than specified liability confined within the Labor Code as defined, of the district for damages for death, injury to a person, or damage or loss of property; and,
   2. The personal liability of members of the board and of the officers and employees of the district for damages for death, injury to a person, or damage or loss of property caused by the negligent act or omission of a representative of the district within the scope of their office or employment (EDC Section 72506).
5. Requires the CCC that provide on-campus housing to provide priority housing for current and former homeless youth and current and former foster youth. Requires the housing to be available year round and at no extra cost to the current and former homeless youth and current and former foster youth. The CCC is requested to develop a plan to ensure for current and former homeless youth, and current and former foster youth, to access housing resources throughout the year regardless of whether the campus has student housing. Defines for purposes of the section homeless youth and states if a student is verified as a former homeless youth, the student shall retain the status for purposes of housing security for six years from the date of admission to the campus (EDC Section 76010).
6. Requires a CCC campus that has shower facilities for student use to grant access, as specified, to those facilities to any homeless student who is enrolled in coursework, has paid enrollment fees, and is in good standing with the CCD. Requires the CCC to determine a plan of action to implement this requirement (EDC Section 76011).
7. Prohibits a CCD or any officer or any employee of such district or board to be responsible or liable for conduct or safety of any student of the public school at any time when the student is not in school property unless the district has provided transportation to and from the school premise for a school function or school sponsored activity. If the district has taken a student from campus for a school sponsored activity or school function, the district shall be liable for the conduct or safety of the student only when the student is under the immediate and direct supervision of an employee of the district or local governing board (EDC Section 87706).
8. Requires the CSU who provide on-campus housing to provide priority housing for current and former homeless youth and current and former foster youth. Requires the housing to be available year round and at no extra cost to the current and former homeless youth and current and former foster youth. The CSU is requested to develop a plan to ensure, current and former homeless youth and current and former foster youth, have access to housing resources throughout the year regardless of whether the campus has student housing. Defines for purposes of the section homeless youth and states if a student is verified as a former homeless youth, the student shall retain the status for purposes of housing security for six years from the date of admission to the campus (EDC Section 90001.5).

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown.

COMMENTS: Author’s intent. As provided by the author, “AB 90 seeks to provide a backstop and an alternative for emergency shelter, by allowing California college students to stay overnight in their personal vehicles while parked on the campus of their college or university where they are a registered student. While emergency shelter in a vehicle is not ideal, it seems just knowing a student may have a place to shelter, will go a long way to stabilizing their health and providing additional time to find a long term housing solution.”

Basic needs support services at California Community Colleges (CCC). Prior to the global COVID – 19 pandemic, student advocacy groups had raised awareness regarding the rising cost associated with attending college and universities in California as being directly correlated to the rising cost of affordability in the State. A shift in focus occurred from focusing on tuition and academic financial assistance to a holistic approach of providing financial assistance for the all costs affiliated with attending a college or university. In 2021, due to a collaborative effort by Assemblymember Berman and the Assembly Budget Committee, the CCC received $30 million in funding to hire Basic Needs Coordinators and establish basic needs centers on each college campus. The Coordinators and centers were to provide a one-stop shop to assist students in accessing basic necessities such as housing, food, clothing, feminine hygiene, diapers, technology, childcare, and mental health services and resources. Since the original allocation additional funding has been provided for a total of $43.5 million in ongoing funding.^[1]

As a condition of the funding, each community college is required to report annually on the services provided by the basic needs center to the CCC Chancellor’s Office. In May 2024, the Chancellor’s Office published the “Basic Needs Center Report for Fiscal Year 2022-2023.” The report identified that across the system, 3,813 students were provided housing services by either the Basic Needs Coordinator or the CCC basic needs centers. The services provided to the students included provided rapid rehousing, rental vouchers, eviction assistance, emergency funds for rent payments, referrals to county housing authority, and other types of services designed to provide housing stability to students.¹ The report highlighted that students who received basic needs services had an average course success rate that was 2% higher than the overall course success rate for all students.¹ The report provided multiple data points on the service provided, but did not speak to the unmet needs of students. Currently, the State does not consistently collect data on the unmet basic needs of community college students.

In September 2023, the Community College League of California Affordability, Food, and Housing Access Taskforce (Taskforce) partnered with Research and Planning Group for California Community Colleges (RP Group) to conduct a student survey to ascertain the basic needs of community college students. The report contained data from 66,741 respondents from 88 different community college campuses; the survey results yielded the following data points:

1. Two out of every three community college student surveyed identified struggled to meet one basic need.
2. Three out of every five community college student surveyed identified as housing insecure.
3. About one in four are homeless, with homelessness being defined as not having a staple place to live.^[2]

The survey asked students if they were able to access public support programs to address their basic needs insecurities and less than a quarter of those who identified as housing insecure and homeless were able to access housing supports.²

In addition to providing data points on student basic needs insecurities, the Taskforce report contained recommendations on how to improve students’ access to basic needs supports. One of the suggestions was to advocate for additional state funding for affordable student housing on campus.

CCC housing and housing investments. In March 2023, the CCC Chancellor’s Office published an “Affordable Student Housing Taskforce” report, which contained recommendations for how the system could actively engage in providing affordable housing to assist students in meeting their academic and educational goals. At the time of the publication of the report, the CCC had the capacity to house 2,369 students with only twelve districts offering student housing on campus.^[3] Throughout the report, recommendations were made as to how the CCC and the Legislature could eliminate bureaucratic barriers, construct more housing on campus, and how the CCC could partner with local services to help students gain more access to housing.

Since the Budget Act of 2021-2022, with the creation of the, “Higher Education Student Housing Grant program and Capacity Expansion Grant Program,” the State has made significant investments in assisting community colleges plan, build, and manage housing projects on campus. Below is a list of funding that has been provided and the resulting outcomes at the CCC:

According to the latest report on student housing published by the CCC Chancellor’s office, the current housing availability to students on campus is as follows:

Source: 2024 CCC Student Housing Report.⁵

Of the fourteen districts who offer on-campus housing to students, eleven have a wait lists.

Basic needs support services at CSU campuses. All 23 CSU campuses have made significant investments to provide mental health services and basic needs services to address the food and housing insecurities of students. The investment became known as the CSU Basic Needs Initiative. In 2022, the Legislature allocated $15 million in ongoing funding for mental health resources and $25 million to sustain and expand the CSU Basic Needs Initiative. As part of the CSU Basic Needs Initiative, all 23 CSU campuses provide housing support services to students. Every campus offers some form of emergency housing, with some campuses offering both on- and off-campus emergency housing services. The length of stay for emergency housing ranges from 14 days to one semester, with extensions being considered on a case by case basis. 17 CSU campuses provide fiscal assistance to students who are experiencing financial barriers in securing long-term housing. Fiscal assistance includes move-in costs, rent, and utilities. Case management support is provided to all students to help students find and locate permanent housing. In 2022-2023, 14,000 CSU students received some form of support, and an additional 5,037 received emergency funding for housing.^[6]

As part of the Budget Act of 2019, the Legislature dedicated $6.5 million in ongoing funds to provide rapid rehousing services to students on CSU campuses. The intent of the program is to secure permanent housing for students who are facing challenges in security housing. Eight campuses participate in the program and from 2019-2023, a total of 797 students have been housed, and 454 have transitioned to secure housing.^[7]

CSU housing and housing investments. Each year, the CSU provides a report to the Legislature on the available housing offered on campuses. The latest report, published in November 2024, stated there were 67,752 available beds on CSU campuses, with a wait list of 3,998.^[8]

The CSU is part of the State’s Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program. With funding from the State, the CSU has either added or is in the process of adding 8,217 beds across 12 CSU campuses. Those campuses are CSU Dominguez Hills, Fresno State University, Cal State Fullerton, Cal Poly Humboldt, Cal State Long Beach, Sacramento State University, San Francisco State University, San José State University, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CSU San Marcos, and Stanislaus State University.^[9]

Arguments in support. The Student Senate for California Community Colleges emphasis the need for AB 90 (Jackson), as “California’s college students are facing unprecedented costs to attend school, driven by a historic rise in the price of housing. The impacts of this are extensive and among them may lead to students struggling to academically perform or even complete their education. The data also shows students who are facing homelessness or housing insecurity suffer from higher anxiety, poor physical health, and less access to healthy food. AB 90 aims to alleviate the housing insecurity of students attending California’s public colleges and universities by allowing them to park overnight on campus while they work toward securing stable housing. It is also important to note that AB 90 is not intended to serve as a permanent solution to student homelessness, but rather as a companion effort to those ongoing by the CSU and CCC in finding California’s college students a more suitable housing solution.”

Additional support for the measure is provided by the California Federation of Teachers, “A report from the Community College League of California found that 2 out of 3 of the state’s community college students struggle to meet their basic needs and almost 3 out of 5 are housing insecure. A project in Long Beach City College has already illustrated and demonstrated great gains and this legislation could help make parking options a reality for more students experiencing homelessness. CFT is proud to support the legislation in a time of housing crisis that would provide a safe and viable option for students, who are seeking to better themselves and our communities.”

Arguments in opposition. Concerns regarding the measure are raised by the Association of California Community College Administrators, as “AB 90 does not fix the real housing and affordability challenges that our students face. Our colleges are already launching programs to assist unhoused students, and a ‘one size fits all’ mandate does not make sense for the diverse community college system and would result in significant incurred costs and increased liability implications. We believe a safer and more feasible approach is for the state to provide additional funding to CCDs outside of Proposition 98 to construct affordable housing for our students. While we understand that revenues may not allow for additional housing investments this year, we do not believe that a mandated overnight parking program is the answer in the short term.”

Additional concerns are raised by the Chancellor’s Office of the CSU, “The state currently invests more than $26 million per year in the CSU’s basic needs programs. The state and the CSU have made great strides in addressing the needs of our students through CalFresh application assistance and the establishment of food pantries on every campus, to the expansion of eighteen rapid rehousing programs from only eight a few years ago, to case management-style assistance with finding affordable housing in the local community, emergency grants, and emergency housing options available at all twenty-three universities. The CSU takes this work seriously and is always trying to improve and expand these programs. The CSU understands that students’ basic needs must be met for them to be able to focus on achieving their goal of a college degree. With competing priorities and few resources, we must also maintain our mission of academic excellence. At this time, the CSU faces a potential General Fund cut of eight percent ($375 million) as well as a deferral of future funding increases. The CSU has not faced such a cut since the Great Recession, and this will have real impacts on our students inside and outside of the classroom. If additional dollars were to be appropriated, the CSU would look forward to working with the legislature to expand our services for housing insecure students.”

Committee comments and amendments. As mentioned previously, the State does not collect annual data on unmet student housing needs at the CCC nor the CSU. While data exists regarding the number of students served and the number of available housing units on campuses, it is unknown if there exists a time delay between a student asks for housing services and when the student receives the service.

AB 90 (Jackson) provides an additional tool for CCC and CSU campuses to utilize by allowing students to park and stay overnight in their cars on campus while more secure options for housing are procured by Basic Needs Coordinators.

Concerns have been raised by the opposition as to whether the measure would supplant efforts made by the Legislature to address housing by providing a short-term solution to a long-term issue. Specifically, sleeping in one’s car is not a “safe alternative” to secure housing and the funds used to provide the overnight parking program could be used to provide additional housing on campus. Housing projects cost millions of dollars to produce and often take years before the housing is available to students.

AB 90 (Jackson) provides an “and” solution to the housing issue on campus by providing short-term overnight, on – campus parking to students, while campus administrators continue to advocate, build, or secure more robust housing solutions to meet the students’ housing needs.

To mitigate the concerns raised in opposition letters, the Committee has offered and the Author has accepted the following amendments:

1. Amends Section 76013, subdivision (a), paragraph (2), subparagraph (A) and removes subparagraph (B) to read as follows:

(A) The student is enrolled in coursework at a community college with as overnight parking program.

(B) The student is in good standing at a community college. “Good standing” does not include requirements related to a minimum number of units in which the student is enrolled.

1. Adds to Section 76013, subdivision (a), paragraph (5) to read as follows: “(5) Basic needs coordinator means the community college basic needs coordinator pursuant to Section 66023.5.”
2. Amends Section 76013, subdivision (b) to read as follows:

On or before September 1, 2026, the local governing board of each community college district shall adopt as part of the annual campus safety plan, a plan to offer an overnight parking program to students at each community college within the district. It is the intent of the Legislature for the overnight parking program to be provided to students who are experiencing housing insecurity and shall be used to allow students to stay in their cars overnight. include, as part of the annual campus safety plan, a plan of action to establish an overnight parking program permitting students to park overnight in designated parking lots and spots at each campus maintained by the community college district. The plan of action shall be developed in consultation with the campus’ basic needs coordinator designated pursuant to Section 66023.5, and with the campus’ security. The plan of action for a campus’ overnight parking program shall include all of the following:”

1. Amends Section 76013, subdivision (b), paragraph (2) – paragraph (6) to read as follows:

(2) An overnight parking program application developed by the campus’ basic needs coordinator. The application shall require an eligible student to acknowledge that the campus cannot guarantee a student’s safety if the student elects to participate in the overnight parking program. The application shall require an eligible student to acknowledge and agree to the overnight parking program rules established pursuant to paragraph (6) and to acknowledge that any violation of these rules shall may result in the student’s immediate removal from the program.

(3) Designation of bathroom and shower facilities that will be made available to participating students, and an agreement with custodial staff for the maintenance of those designated facilities.

(4) A determination as to whether the local governing board will be prohibiting the use prohibition on participating student use of recreational vehicles for parking under the program.

(5) The designation of at least one parking lot and at least 50 parking spots on campus for use by participating students under the program. Nothing in this subparagraph shall be construed to limiting the total number of parking spots nor parking lots designated by the local governing board for the overnight parking program.

(6) Overnight parking program rules that a participating student must follow when using overnight parking facilities. These rules shall include all the community college student code of conduct procedures and a zero tolerance policy for intimidation, harassment, and the use of drugs or alcohol. A violation of the overnight program parking rules shall be reported and investigated in the same manner as a student code of conduct violation. If a participating student is found to have violated the rules, the student will be immediately removed from the overnight parking program. A violation of these rules shall be reported, and students shall be informed of these rules, in the same manner as established pursuant to Section 66300. The rules shall include a procedure to ensure that any participating student found to have violated the rules is immediately removed from the overnight parking program.

1. Amends Section 76013, subdivision (b), paragraph (8) - paragraph (10) to read as follows:

(8) Daily time of use or hours of operation requirements for overnight parking under the program. At a minimum the daily time of use or hours of operation shall match the times in which the campus is operational.

(9) A procedure for providing participating students with a parking permit and a time frame in which the parking permit will be valid for overnight parking. The parking permit shall be valid for no less than four weeks and up to one semester or quarter. Requirements establishing the validity of an overnight parking permit for a period of two weeks, along with a procedure for the renewal of the permit thereafter.

(10) A requirement for the basic needs coordinator to prioritize secure housing options for students participating in the overnight parking program. An estimation of the cost of implementing the overnight parking program.

1. Adds to Section 76013, subdivision (b) – paragraph (11) and paragraph (12):

(11) A procedure for students to apply and receive approval to participate in the overnight parking program. The procedure shall include a process by which students are informed of the designated bathroom and shower facilities pursuant to paragraph (3) and are given a copy of the rules affiliated with the overnight parking program pursuant to paragraph (6).

(12) An estimation of the cost of implementing the overnight parking program.

1. Amends Section 76013, subdivision (c) to read as follows:

(c) (1) The governing board of each community college district shall on or before December 31, 2026 vote to establish the overnight parking program pursuant to subdivision (b).

(2) If the majority of the governing board votes to establish the overnight parking program, the basic needs coordinator shall with immediate effect implement the plan pursuant to subdivision (b) and accept applications for the overnight parking program within three months of the vote.

(3) If the majority of the governing board votes against establishing the overnight parking program, the local governing board shall vote each year on or before December 31 on whether or not to establish the overnight parking program. The vote shall take place annually until the local governing board votes to establish the overnight parking program. Upon establishing a plan to offer the overnight parking program of action pursuant to subdivision (b), the governing board of the community college shall vote to establish the overnight parking program consistent with the plan of action. The governing board shall conduct a vote annually, as part of the adoption of the campus safety plan, until an overnight parking program is established at each campus maintained by the community college district.

1. Amends Section 76013, subdivision (d) to read as follows:

(d) A community college campus who offers an overnight parking program shall do all of the following:

(1) Send a stand-alone email to every student enrolled at the campus at the beginning of each semester or quarter describing available student housing services, and provide a description of these services at every student orientation at the campus.

(2) Provide a housing assistance tab that is clearly visible and easily accessible from a drop-down menu on the home page of the campus’s internet website.

(d) Upon the governing board of a community college district’s approval of an overnight parking program pursuant to subdivision (c), the basic needs coordinator for the campus shall do all of the following:

(1) Develop a document that clearly and concisely describes the rules and procedures established pursuant to subdivision (b) and provide the document to participating students.

(2) Begin accepting overnight parking applications from students within one month of the governing board’s approval of the overnight parking program pursuant to subdivision (c).

(3) Post the document developed pursuant to paragraph (1) at the overnight parking facilities in paper form and on the internet website of the campus by way of the student basic needs tab.

1. Amends Section 76013, subdivision (e) to read as follows:

(e) An eligible student who participates in the overnight parking program shall be granted access to overnight parking until the student is provided access sustainable housing alternative offered by the basic needs coordinator. Sustainable housing alternative is a housing option that will provide a student with stable housing for more than three weeks. to a suitable alternative verified by the basic needs coordinator. including, but not limited to, any of the following:

(1) A grant that is necessary to secure, or prevent the imminent loss of, housing.

(2) A hotel voucher through a public agency or community organization.

(3) Rapid rehousing referral services and placement.

1. Removes from Section 90001.7, subdivision (a), paragraph (2), subparagraph (C) and amends paragraph (3) to read as follows:

(C) The student is in good standing with the campus. “Good standing” does not include requirements related to the number of units in which the student is enrolled.

(3) “Participating student” means an eligible student who uses overnight parking facilities pursuant to the pilot program.

1. Amends Section 90001.7, subdivision (b) to read as follows and moves the paragraphs from subdivision (c) to subdivision (b). The new subdivision (b) will read as follows:

Beginning on or before September 1, 2026, the Chancellor shall, with the participation of student representatives, campuses’ basic needs coordinator, and campus’ security establish a policy for the option to provide overnight parking program on each California State University campus. It is the intent of the Legislature for the overnight parking program to be provided to students who are experiencing housing insecurity and shall be used to allow students to stay in their cars overnight. The overnight parking program policy shall include, but is not limited to the following:

(1) The monitoring of overnight parking facilities and a procedure for reporting and responding to threats to the safety of a participating student.

(2) An overnight parking application that shall be completed by an eligible student seeking to access overnight parking facilities. The application shall require an eligible student to acknowledge that the campus cannot guarantee a student’s safety if the student elects to participate in the overnight parking program. The application shall require an eligible student to acknowledge and agree to the overnight parking program rules established pursuant to paragraph (4) and to acknowledge that any violation of these rules shall result in the student’s immediate removal from the program. The application shall require an eligible student to acknowledge and agree to only participate in the overnight parking program until the student is provided access to a housing alternatives offered by the campus basic needs coordinator. application shall clearly and conspicuously indicate that the campus cannot ensure the safety of a participating student.

(3) The designation of one parking lot with at least 10 parking spots designated for overnight parking at each California State University campus.

(4) Overnight parking rules that a participating student must follow when using the overnight parking facilities. These rules shall include a zero tolerance policy for a violation of the student code of conduct, including, but not limited to, the use of drugs or alcohol, harassment and intimidation.

(5) A procedure for identifying a participating student who has engaged in behavior that poses a substantial threat to the physical safety of other participating students.

(6) A procedure for revoking a student’s eligibility to participate in overnight parking on a temporary or permanent basis.

(7) A procedure for registering and verifying the identity of an eligible student and the student’s vehicle through the issuance of an overnight parking permit. This information shall be used exclusively for the purpose of implementing the pilot program and shall not be disclosed for any other purpose, except pursuant to a particularized, court-issued warrant.

(8) Daily time of use or hours of operation requirements for overnight parking under the pilot program. At a minimum the daily time of use or hours of operation shall match the times in which the campus is operational.

(9) A procedure for providing participating students with a parking permit and a time frame in which the parking permit will be valid for overnight parking. The parking permit shall be valid for no less than two weeks. Requirements establishing the validity of an overnight parking permit for a period of two weeks, along with a procedure for the renewal of the permit thereafter.

(10) A requirement for the campus’ basic needs coordinator to prioritize secure housing options for students participating in the overnight parking program. Requirements establishing the validity of an overnight parking permit for a period of two weeks, along with a procedure for the renewal of the permit thereafter.

(11) A procedure for students to apply and receive approval to participate in the overnight parking program. The procedure shall include a process by which students are informed of the designated bathroom and shower facilities pursuant to paragraph (13) and are given a copy of the rules affiliated with the overnight parking program pursuant to paragraph (4).

(12) Designation of bathroom and shower facilities that will be made available to participating students and a requirement for an agreement with custodial staff to clean the designated facilities.

(13) A clause prohibiting or permitting the use of recreational vehicles on campus as part of the overnight parking program.

(14) An estimation of the cost of implementing the overnight parking program on each California State University campus.

1. Removes from Section 90001.7 the current language of subdivision (c) and adds the following language as subdivision (c):

(c) Upon the completion of the policy, the California State University Board of Trustees shall take a vote to adopt the policy.

1. Amends Section 90001.7, subdivision (e) to subdivision (d) and amends the language to read as follows:

(d) Upon approval by the California State University Board of Trustees and upon appropriation of funding from the Legislature for an overnight parking program to the California State University campus, each President of each campus of the California State University shall establish an overnight parking program pursuant to the policy adopted pursuant to subdivision (b and accept applications for the overnight parking program within three months of the appropriation. chancellor shall develop a document that clearly and concisely describes the rules and procedures established pursuant to subdivision (c). This document shall be provided to participating students and shall be available at the overnight parking facilities in paper form, or posted conspicuously on the internet website of the campus.

(e) An eligible student who participates in the pilot program shall be granted access to overnight parking until the student is provided access to a suitable alternative, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

(1) A grant that is necessary to secure, or prevent the imminent loss of, housing.

(2) A hotel voucher through a public agency or community organization.

(3) Rapid rehousing referral services and placement.

1. Amends Section 90001.7, subdivision (f) to subdivision (e) to read as follows:

(f) The overnight parking pilot program shall only be used as a basic needs tool to provide students a safe space to live temporarily out of their vehicle while the campus finds a more secure option for housing. It is not meant as a permanent solution nor should students be remaining in their cars for more than two weeks at a time.

1. Amends Section 90001.7, subdivision (g) to subdivision (f).
2. Amends Section 90001.7, subdivision (h) to subdivision (g) and amends the language as follows:

(g) On or before July 1, 2028, each California State University campus, who has an overnight parking program, shall, as part of the report required by subdivision (c) of Section 66023.4 report all of the following to the chancellor:

(1) The use of the overnight parking facilities by participating students and the number of weeks participating students used these facilities.

(2) The number of participating students served by the overnight parking facilities.

(3) The socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds of participating students.

(4) Other housing services offered to its students.

(5) Challenges and best practices in the operation of the overnight parking facilities.

(6) Whether participating students remained enrolled or graduated from a California State University campus.

1. Amends Section 90001.7, subdivision (i) to subdivision (h) and amends the language to read as follows:

(h) The Chancellor’s office shall, as part of the report required by subdivision (d) of Section 66023.4, annually report on the overnight parking programs based on the information reported pursuant to subdivision (g). On or before January 31, 2029, the chancellor shall develop and submit to the Governor and the Legislature, pursuant to Section 9795 of the Government Code, a report based on the data and information reported pursuant to subdivision (h).

1. Removes Section 90001.7, subdivision (j) and subdivision (k).

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

Cft- a Union of Educators & Classified Professionals, Aft, Afl-cio
Oakland Privacy
Student Senate for California Community Colleges

Opposition

Association of California Community College Administrators
California State University, Office of The Chancellor
Chief Executive Officers of The California Community Colleges Board
Contra Costa Community College District
Foothill-de Anza Community College District
Kern Community College District
Mendocino Community College District
Merced Community College District
Palo Verde Community College District
San Bernardino Community College District
San Diego Community College District
Southwestern Community College District
Victor Valley Community College District

Analysis Prepared by: Ellen Cesaretti-Monroy / HIGHER ED. / (916) 319-3960

1. https://www.cccco.edu/-/media/CCCCO-Website/docs/report/2024-basic-needs-services-centers-report-a11y.pdf?la=en&hash=9FE9919ED4CB05B2BFDA847DFD37F6B66BBE1A3E ↑

2. https://www.ccleague.org/wp-content/uploads/basic_needs_among_california_community_college_students-final-2023.pdf ↑

3. https://www.cccco.edu/-/media/CCCCO-Website/docs/report/cccco-report-affordable-housing.pdf?la=en&hash=0B36F37D6CA97B7FFCCE9EE0D8D8627381FCFAD7 ↑

4. https://www.cccco.edu/-/media/CCCCO-Website/docs/report/2024-hhip-program-legislative-report-v2-a11y.pdf?la=en&hash=516812AAD38A20BD31A34FA0F4E45253BF298257 ↑

5. https://www.cccco.edu/-/media/CCCCO-Website/docs/report/2024-ccc-student-housing-reports-6-7-24-a11y.pdf?la=en&hash=A647E14A22FAB24BEAB0C9AB2320DC89DDB84E1A ↑

6. https://www.calstate.edu/impact-of-the-csu/government/Advocacy-and-State-Relations/legislativereports1/Mental-Health-and-Basic-Needs-Legislative-Report-2024.pdf ↑

7. https://www.calstate.edu/impact-of-the-csu/government/Advocacy-and-State-Relations/legislativereports1/College-Focused-Rapid-Rehousing-2024.pdf ↑

8. https://www.calstate.edu/impact-of-the-csu/government/Advocacy-and-State-Relations/legislativereports1/CSU%20Student%20Housing%20Data%20Collection%20%E2%80%93%20Annual%20Report%20-%202024.pdf ↑

9. https://www.calstate.edu/impact-of-the-csu/government/Advocacy-and-State-Relations/legislativereports1/csu-budget-compact-report-2024.pdf ↑