SB 271: Public postsecondary education: students with dependent children: childcare services, resources, and programs.
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: Senate
- Latest Version Date: 2025-10-11
Current Status:
Passed
(2025-10-11: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 600, Statutes of 2025.)
Introduced
In Committee
Awaiting First Chamber Vote
Passed First Chamber
In Committee
Awaiting Second Chamber Vote
Passed Second Chamber
Enacted
Existing law establishes the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, as the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in this state.
Existing law requires each community college campus and each California State University campus, and requests each University of California campus, to establish the position of the Basic Needs Coordinator to assist students, among other responsibilities, with basic needs services and resources, including childcare, and to establish a Basic Needs Center where basic needs services, resources, and staff are made available to students, as provided. Existing law requires each Basic Needs Center to, among other things, connect students to the financial aid department or financial aid office, as appropriate, to ensure that students are receiving all available financial aid.
This bill would expand the definition of basic needs services and resources to include childcare services and resources, as defined, and would authorize that childcare services and support to include direct financial and service support. The bill would explicitly state that all available financial aid includes supplemental awards such as the Cal Grant award for students with dependent children. If a campus has an existing center or office that supports parenting students, the bill would authorize a Basic Needs Center to direct that student to the student parent center or office if the student would be better served by that center or office.
Existing law requires each campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges, and requests each campus of the University of California, to host on its internet website a student parent internet web page that contains information that clearly lists all on- and off-campus student parent services and resources, as specified.
This bill would require the financial aid office of each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University, and request the financial aid office of each campus of the University of California, to provide students with dependent children information on the campus childcare development center and childcare offerings, if applicable, a referral to the campus Basic Needs Center, and information on supplemental awards such as the Cal Grant award for students with dependent children, as provided.
Existing law authorizes public postsecondary institutions to establish and maintain child development programs on or near their campuses.
This bill would require child development programs or preschools established by the California Community Colleges and the California State University, and request child development programs or preschools established by the University of California, to provide students with dependent children seeking childcare with a referral to the campus Basic Needs Center and the campus financial aid office, as specified.
By imposing additional duties on community college districts, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 66023.5 of the Education Code proposed by SB 148 and AB 148 to be operative only if this bill and either SB 148 or AB 148 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Existing law establishes the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, as the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in this state.
Existing law requires each community college campus and each California State University campus, and requests each University of California campus, to establish the position of the Basic Needs Coordinator to assist students, among other responsibilities, with basic needs services and resources, including childcare, and to establish a Basic Needs Center where basic needs services, resources, and staff are made available to students, as provided. Existing law requires each Basic Needs Center to, among other things, connect students to the financial aid department or financial aid office, as appropriate, to ensure that students are receiving all available financial aid.
This bill would expand the definition of basic needs services and resources to include childcare services and resources, as defined, and would authorize that childcare services and support to include direct financial and service support. The bill would explicitly state that all available financial aid includes supplemental awards such as the Cal Grant award for students with dependent children. If a campus has an existing center or office that supports parenting students, the bill would authorize a Basic Needs Center to direct that student to the student parent center or office if the student would be better served by that center or office.
Existing law requires each campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges, and requests each campus of the University of California, to host on its internet website a student parent internet web page that contains information that clearly lists all on- and off-campus student parent services and resources, as specified.
This bill would require the financial aid office of each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University, and request the financial aid office of each campus of the University of California, to provide students with dependent children information on the campus childcare development center and childcare offerings, if applicable, a referral to the campus Basic Needs Center, and information on supplemental awards such as the Cal Grant award for students with dependent children, as provided.
Existing law authorizes public postsecondary institutions to establish and maintain child development programs on or near their campuses.
This bill would require child development programs or preschools established by the California Community Colleges and the California State University, and request child development programs or preschools established by the University of California, to provide students with dependent children seeking childcare with a referral to the campus Basic Needs Center and the campus financial aid office, as specified.
By imposing additional duties on community college districts, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 66023.5 of the Education Code proposed by SB 148 and AB 148 to be operative only if this bill and either SB 148 or AB 148 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Existing law establishes the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, as the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in this state.
Existing law requires each community college campus and each California State University campus, and requests each University of California campus, to establish the position of the Basic Needs Coordinator to assist students, among other responsibilities, with basic needs services and resources, including childcare, and to establish a Basic Needs Center where basic needs services, resources, and staff are made available to students, as provided. Existing law requires each Basic Needs Center to, among other things, connect students to the financial aid department or financial aid office, as appropriate, to ensure that students are receiving all available financial aid.
This bill would expand the definition of basic needs services and resources to include childcare services and resources, as defined, and would authorize that childcare services and support to include direct financial and service support. The bill would explicitly state that all available financial aid includes supplemental awards such as the Cal Grant award for students with dependent children. If a campus has an existing center or office that supports parenting students, the bill would authorize a Basic Needs Center to direct that student to the student parent center or office if the student would be better served by that center or office.
Existing law requires each campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges, and requests each campus of the University of California, to host on its internet website a student parent internet web page that contains information that clearly lists all on- and off-campus student parent services and resources, as specified.
This bill would require the financial aid office of each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University, and request the financial aid office of each campus of the University of California, to provide students with dependent children information on the campus childcare development center and childcare offerings, if applicable, a referral to the campus Basic Needs Center, and information on supplemental awards such as the Cal Grant award for students with dependent children, as provided.
Existing law authorizes public postsecondary institutions to establish and maintain child development programs on or near their campuses.
This bill would require child development programs or preschools established by the California Community Colleges and the California State University, and request child development programs or preschools established by the University of California, to provide students with dependent children seeking childcare with a referral to the campus Basic Needs Center and the campus financial aid office, as specified.
By imposing additional duties on community college districts, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 66023.5 of the Education Code proposed by SB 148 and AB 148 to be operative only if this bill and either SB 148 or AB 148 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Existing law establishes the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, as the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in this state.
Existing law requires each community college campus and each California State University campus, and requests each University of California campus, to establish the position of the Basic Needs Coordinator to assist students, among other responsibilities, with basic needs services and resources, including childcare, and to establish a Basic Needs Center where basic needs services, resources, and staff are made available to students, as provided. Existing law requires each Basic Needs Center to, among other things, connect students to the financial aid department or financial aid office, as appropriate, to ensure that students are receiving all available financial aid.
This bill would expand the definition of basic needs services and resources to include childcare services and resources, as defined. defined, and would authorize that childcare services and support to include direct financial and service support. The bill would also explicitly state that all available financial aid includes supplemental awards such as the Cal Grant award for students with dependent children. If a campus has an existing center or office that supports parenting students, the bill would authorize a Basic Needs Center to direct that student to the student parent center or office if the student would be better served by that center or office.
Existing law requires each campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges, and requests each campus of the University of California, to host on its internet website a student parent internet web page that contains information that clearly lists all on- and off-campus student parent services and resources, as specified.
This bill would require the financial aid office of each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University, and request the financial aid office of each campus of the University of California, to provide students with dependent children information on the campus childcare development center and childcare offerings, if applicable, a referral to the campus Basic Needs Center, and information on supplemental awards such as the Cal Grant award for students with dependent children, as provided.
Existing law authorizes public postsecondary institutions to establish and maintain child development programs on or near their campuses.
This bill would require child development programs or preschools established by the California Community Colleges and the California State University, and request child development programs or preschools established by the University of California, to provide students with dependent children seeking childcare with a referral to the campus Basic Needs Center and the campus financial aid office, as specified.
By imposing additional duties on community college districts, the this 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 University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, as the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in this state.
Existing law requires each community college campus and each California State University campus, and requests each University of California campus, to establish the position of the Basic Needs Coordinator to assist students, among other responsibilities, with basic needs services and resources, including childcare, and to establish a Basic Needs Center where basic needs services, resources, and staff are made available to students, as provided. Existing law requires each Basic Needs Center to, among other things, connect students to the financial aid department or financial aid office, as appropriate, to ensure that students are receiving all available financial aid.
This bill would expand the definition of basic needs services and resources to include childcare services and resources, as defined. The bill would also explicitly state that all available financial aid includes supplemental awards such as the Cal Grant award for students with dependent children.
Existing law requires each campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges, and requests each campus of the University of California, to host on its internet website a student parent internet web page that contains information that clearly lists all on- and off-campus student parent services and resources, as specified.
This bill would require the financial aid office of each campus of the California Community Colleges, Colleges and the California State University, and request the financial aid office of each campus of the University of California California, to provide students with dependent children information on the campus childcare development center and childcare offerings, if applicable, a referral to the campus Basic Needs Center, and information on supplemental awards such as the Cal Grant award for students with dependent children, as provided.
Existing law authorizes public postsecondary institutions to establish and maintain child development programs on or near their campuses.
This bill would require child development programs or preschools established by the California Community Colleges, Colleges and the California State University, and request child development programs or preschools established by the University of California California, to provide students with dependent children seeking childcare with a referral to the campus Basic Needs Center and information on the campus financial aid office, as specified.
By imposing additional 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 University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, as the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in this state.
Existing law requires each community college campus and each California State University campus, and requests each University of California campus, to establish the position of the Basic Needs Coordinator to assist students, among other responsibilities, with basic needs services and resources, including childcare, and to establish a Basic Needs Center where basic needs services, resources, and staff are made available to students, as provided. Existing law requires each Basic Needs Center to, among other things, connect students to the financial aid department or financial aid office, as appropriate, to ensure that students are receiving all available financial aid.
This bill would expand the definition of basic needs services and resources to include childcare services and resources, as defined. The bill would also explicitly state that all available financial aid includes supplemental awards such as the Cal Grant award for students with dependent children.
Existing law requires each campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges, and requests each campus of the University of California, to host on its internet website a student parent internet web page that contains information that clearly lists all on- and off-campus student parent services and resources, as specified.
This bill would require the financial aid office of each campus of the California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California to provide students with dependent children information on the campus childcare development center and childcare offerings, if applicable, a referral to the campus Basic Needs Center, and information on supplemental awards such as the Cal Grant award for students with dependent children, as provided.
Existing law authorizes public postsecondary institutions to establish and maintain child development programs on or near their campuses.
This bill would require child development programs or preschools established by the California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California to provide students with dependent children seeking childcare with a referral to the campus Basic Needs Center and information on the campus financial aid office, as specified.
By imposing additional 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.
(a)As used in this section:
(1)Basic needs services and resources includes, but is not limited to, housing, food, clothing, feminine hygiene, diapers, technology, childcare services and resources, and mental health services and resources.
(2)Childcare services and resources includes, but is not limited to, providing information on affordable childcare options on and near campus and information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying to state and federal childcare subsidies and programs and finding local childcare providers, including, but not limited to, the California state preschool program, Head Start, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) childcare program, and general child care and development programs. Childcare services and resources may also include direct financial or service support.
(3)Coordinator means a basic needs coordinator established pursuant to this section.
(b)Each campus of the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, do all of the following:
(1)On or before July 1, 2025, establish the position of the Basic Needs Coordinator, and designate a staff person as the Basic Needs Coordinator to serve as the single point of contact for students experiencing basic needs insecurity related to basic needs services and resources. The coordinator shall 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. To ensure the effectiveness and impact of this position, the coordinator shall be a dedicated position solely focused on addressing the basic needs of students and meet qualifications such as experience providing services to high-need and diverse populations. The coordinator shall oversee and coordinate with other staff tasked with addressing students basic needs, shall inform students of on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources and how to access them, and shall develop on- and off-campus partnerships to provide basic needs services and resources to their students.
(2)(A)On or before July 1, 2025, establish a Basic Needs Center, which means a central location on campus where basic needs services, resources, and staff are made available to students. The Basic Needs Center is intended to be a one-stop, single location and point of contact for students to more easily access and gain awareness of basic needs services and resources. The campus shall make a reasonable effort to locate all on-campus basic needs services and resources at the Basic Needs Center. If the campus cannot reasonably locate all basic needs services or resources at the Basic Needs Center, the campus shall provide students with the location and contact information, including name, telephone number, and email address, for all basic needs services and resources not located in the Basic Needs Center. The coordinator shall be housed in the Basic Needs Center.
(B)Each Basic Needs Center shall do all of the following:
(i)Help ensure that students have the information they need to enroll in CalFresh, the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC), the California Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and other relevant government benefits programs. This clause does not require campus Basic Needs Centers to provide tax advising or preparation services.
(ii)If a campus has an existing center or office that supports parenting students and a student may be better served by that center or office, have the authority to direct that student to the student parent center or office.
(iii)Coordinate with their campus financial aid department or financial aid office. This clause does not require nor encourage the Basic Needs Center to be combined or colocated with the financial aid department or financial aid office.
(iv)Connect students to the financial aid department or financial aid office, as appropriate, to ensure that students are receiving all available financial aid, including supplemental awards such as the awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42.
(v)Coordinate with their local homelessness response system to refer students to community resources available to address homelessness in addition to services and resources provided by the campus.
(C)Basic Needs Centers may provide support to students who can be reasonably expected to enroll in the upcoming term and to provide support to students during summer and winter breaks who were previously enrolled or are enrolled for the upcoming fall or spring term.
(D)Campuses shall endeavor, to the extent feasible, to use a portion of any funds made available for basic needs support for providing funds directly to students to address urgent needs. To the extent that a Basic Needs Center is already in place, that center may be used to satisfy the requirements of this section. If the existing Basic Needs Center fulfills only part of the requirements of this section, basic needs services and resources shall be expanded as needed to satisfy all the requirements of this section.
(E)The childcare services and resources a Basic Needs Center may provide for parenting students includes, but is not limited to, direct financial or service support.
(3)(A)On or before February 1, 2025, develop a document that shall be provided to students at the Basic Needs Center, once established pursuant to paragraph (2), in either electronic format or paper form, and that shall be made available to students online, that clearly lists on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(i)The description of the service or resource.
(ii)The location of where the service or resource is provided.
(iii)The point of contact for the service or resource, including a name, telephone number, and email address.
(iv)Any eligibility restrictions on accessing the service or resource.
(v)The United States Department of Agricultures Food and Nutrition Services SNAP Retail Locator internet website link, which contains a map with locations that are authorized retail food stores under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and accept the use of electronic benefits transfer cards issued pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 10065) of Part 1 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(B)Provide the document to students as a part of campus orientations in either electronic format or paper form.
(C)Provide to faculty the online link to the electronic format of the document, the location of the Basic Needs Center, once established pursuant to paragraph (2), and the contact information for the coordinator, once designated pursuant to paragraph (1), and encourage faculty to include the online link to the electronic format of the document, the location of the Basic Needs Center, and the contact information for the coordinator in their syllabi.
(D)To ensure that the document remains useful to students, the document shall be reviewed, updated, and made available online on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution, as specified in paragraph (6), no later than the first day of every fall semester or fall quarter.
(4)On or before February 1, 2025, streamline the application and intake process for on-campus basic needs services and resources to minimize duplication and eliminate barriers to access. If an application is required, develop and use a single application for students to receive on-campus basic needs services and resources.
(5)On or before February 1, 2025, develop and implement a plan to identify and provide outreach to students, including nontraditional students, who have basic needs insecurity related to housing, food, and mental health. Once the coordinator is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Basic Needs Center is established pursuant to paragraph (2), the outreach shall include information about the coordinator and the Basic Needs Center.
(6)On or before February 1, 2025, provide a student basic needs tab that is clearly visible and easily accessible from a drop-down menu on the home page of the campus internet website and include the information described in paragraph (3) conspicuously on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution. Once the coordinator is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Basic Needs Center is established pursuant to paragraph (2), information about the coordinator and Basic Needs Center shall also be included on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution.
(c)(1)Each campus of the California State University shall report to the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, and each campus of the University of California is requested to report to the office of the President of the University of California, information that shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(A)The description and number of basic needs services and resources, broken down by category.
(B)The number of students served by the basic needs services and resources.
(C)Any existing and available data regarding the socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds of these students.
(D)Challenges and best practices in the implementation of the basic needs services and resources.
(E)Whether students who used the basic needs services and resources remained enrolled or graduated from that campus.
(F)The number of students who first started receiving CalFresh benefits in the previous year and the total number of students in the previous year who received CalFresh benefits, as provided by the State Department of Social Services.
(G)Whether the campus has a data sharing agreement with the relevant county operating the CalFresh program for the purpose of identifying new, continuing, and returning students who are potentially eligible for CalFresh benefits, or efforts underway to enact such an agreement.
(2)The data and information reported under this subdivision shall be disaggregated by each basic needs service and resource, where applicable.
(3)Campuses are encouraged to collaborate with the State Department of Social Services to obtain the data identified in paragraph (1), as applicable.
(d)(1)The office of the Chancellor of the California State University shall, and the office of the President of the University of California is requested to, develop and submit to the Governor and the Legislature, on or before March 1 of each year from 2026 to 2030, inclusive, a report based on the data and information reported by campuses pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (c) and information on the use of funds made available from the Budget Act of 2022 to implement this section.
(2)A legislative report that includes the information required to be reported in this subdivision and submitted in any of the years 2026 to 2030, inclusive, shall fulfill the reporting requirement pursuant to this subdivision to reduce duplicative efforts.
(e)This section does not preclude the California State University and the University of California from having additional basic needs staff who assist the Basic Needs Coordinator in completing the requirements of subdivision (b).
SEC. 2.Section 66023.5 of the Education Code is amended to read:66023.5.(a)As used in this section:
(1)Basic needs services and resources includes, but is not limited to, housing, food, clothing, feminine hygiene, diapers, technology, childcare services and resources, and mental health services and resources.
(2)Childcare services and resources includes, but is not limited to, providing information on affordable childcare options on and near campus and information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying to state and federal childcare subsidies and programs and finding local childcare providers, including, but not limited to, the California state preschool program, Head Start, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) childcare program, and general child care and development programs. Childcare services and resources may also include direct financial support or service support.
(3)Coordinator means a basic needs coordinator established pursuant to this section.
(b)Each campus of the California Community Colleges shall do all of the following:
(1)No later than July 1, 2022, establish the position of the Basic Needs Coordinator, and designate a staff person as the Basic Needs Coordinator to serve as the single point of contact for students experiencing basic needs insecurity related to basic needs services and resources. The coordinator shall 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. To ensure the effectiveness and impact of this position, the coordinator shall be a dedicated position solely focused on addressing the basic needs of students and meet qualifications such as experience providing services to high-need and diverse populations. The coordinator shall oversee and coordinate with other staff tasked with addressing students basic needs, shall inform students of on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources and how to access them, and shall develop on- and off-campus partnerships to provide basic needs services and resources to their students.
(2)(A)No later than July 1, 2022, establish a Basic Needs Center, which means a central location on campus where basic needs services, resources, and staff are made available to students. The Basic Needs Center is intended to be a one-stop, single location and point of contact for students to more easily access and gain awareness of basic needs services and resources. The campus shall make a reasonable effort to locate all on-campus basic needs services and resources at the Basic Needs Center. If the campus cannot reasonably locate all basic needs services or resources at the Basic Needs Center, the campus shall provide students with the location and contact information, including name, telephone number, and email address, for all basic needs services and resources not located in the Basic Needs Center. The coordinator shall be housed in the Basic Needs Center.
(B)Each Basic Needs Center shall help ensure that students have the information they need to enroll in CalFresh, the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC), the California Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and other relevant government benefits programs. If a campus has an existing center or office that supports parenting students and a student may be better served by that center or office, the Basic Needs Center may direct that student to the student parent center or office. Each Basic Needs Center shall coordinate with their campus financial aid department or financial aid office. This section does not require nor encourage the Basic Needs Center to be combined or colocated with the financial aid department or financial aid office. The funding made available by the Budget Act of 2021 to implement this section, or any subsequent Budget Act or statute to implement this section, shall not be used to combine or colocate the Basic Needs Center with the financial aid department or financial aid office and shall not be used for the administration of student financial aid programs, including staffing. Each Basic Needs Center shall connect students to the financial aid department or financial aid office, as appropriate, to ensure that students are receiving all available financial aid, including supplemental awards such as the awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42. Each Basic Needs Center shall coordinate with their local homelessness response system to refer students to community resources available to address homelessness in addition to services and resources provided by the campus. Basic Needs Centers may provide support to students who can be reasonably expected to enroll in the upcoming term and to provide support to students during summer and winter breaks who were previously enrolled or are enrolled for the upcoming fall or spring term.
(C)Campuses shall endeavor, to the extent feasible, to use a portion of any funds made available for basic needs support for providing funds directly to students to address urgent needs. To the extent that a Basic Needs Center is already in place, that center may be used to satisfy the requirements of this section. If the existing Basic Needs Center fulfills only part of the requirements of this section, basic needs services and resources shall be expanded as needed to satisfy all the requirements of this section.
(D)The childcare services and resources a Basic Needs Center may provide for parenting students includes, but is not limited to, direct financial or service support.
(3)(A)No later than February 1, 2022, develop a document that shall be provided to students at the Basic Needs Center, once established pursuant to paragraph (2), in either electronic format or paper form, and that shall be made available to students online, that clearly lists on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(i)The description of the service or resource.
(ii)The location of where the service or resource is provided.
(iii)The point of contact for the service or resource, including a name, telephone number, and email address.
(iv)Any eligibility restrictions on accessing the service or resource.
(B)On or before September 1, 2025, update the document developed pursuant to subparagraph (A) to include in the list of on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources the United States Department of Agricultures Food and Nutrition Services SNAP Retail Locator internet website link, which contains a map with locations that are authorized retail food stores under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and accept the use of electronic benefits transfer cards issued pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 10065) of Part 1 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(C)Provide the document to students as a part of campus orientations in either electronic format or paper form.
(D)Provide to faculty the online link to the electronic format of the document, the location of the Basic Needs Center, once established pursuant to paragraph (2), and the contact information for the coordinator, once designated pursuant to paragraph (1), and encourage faculty to include the online link to the electronic format of the document, the location of the Basic Needs Center, and the contact information for the coordinator in their syllabi.
(E)To ensure that the document remains useful to students, the document shall be reviewed, updated, and made available online on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution, as specified in paragraph (6), no later than the first day of every fall and spring semester or no later than the first day of every fall and spring quarter.
(4)No later than February 1, 2022, streamline the application and intake process for on-campus basic needs services and resources to minimize duplication and eliminate barriers to access. If an application is required, develop and use a single application for students to receive on-campus basic needs services and resources.
(5)No later than February 1, 2022, develop and implement a plan to identify and provide outreach to students, including nontraditional students, who have basic needs insecurity related to housing, food, and mental health. Once the coordinator is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Basic Needs Center is established pursuant to paragraph (2), the outreach shall include information about the coordinator and the Basic Needs Center.
(6)No later than February 1, 2022, provide a student basic needs tab that is clearly visible and easily accessible from a drop-down menu on the home page of the campus internet website and include the information described in paragraph (3) conspicuously on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution. Once the coordinator is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Basic Needs Center is established pursuant to paragraph (2), information about the coordinator and Basic Needs Center shall also be included on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution.
(c)(1)Each campus of the California Community Colleges shall report to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges information that shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(A)The description and number of basic needs services and resources, broken down by category.
(B)The number of students served by the basic needs services and resources.
(C)Any existing and available data regarding the socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds of these students.
(D)Challenges and best practices in the implementation of the basic needs services and resources.
(E)Whether students who used the basic needs services and resources remained enrolled or graduated from that campus.
(F)The number of students who first started receiving CalFresh benefits in the previous year and the total number of students in the previous year who received CalFresh benefits, as provided by the State Department of Social Services.
(G)Whether the campus has a data sharing agreement with the relevant county operating the CalFresh program for the purpose of identifying new, continuing, and returning students who are potentially eligible for CalFresh benefits, or efforts underway to enact such an agreement.
(2)The data and information reported under this subdivision shall be disaggregated by each basic needs service and resource, where applicable.
(3)Campuses are encouraged to collaborate with the State Department of Social Services to obtain the data identified in paragraph (1), as applicable.
(d)(1)The office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall develop and submit to the Governor and the Legislature every year beginning on or before May 1, 2023, a report based on the data and information reported by campuses pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (c) and information on the use of funds made available from the Budget Act of 2022 to implement this section.
(2)A legislative report that includes the information required to be reported in this subdivision and submitted in any of the years required by paragraph (1) shall fulfill the reporting requirement pursuant to this subdivision to reduce duplicative efforts.
SEC. 2.5.Section 66023.5 of the Education Code is amended to read:66023.5.(a)As used in this section:
(1)Basic needs services and resources includes, but is not limited to, housing, food, clothing, feminine hygiene, diapers, technology, childcare, childcare services and resources, and mental health services and resources.
(2)Childcare services and resources include, but are not limited to, providing information on affordable childcare options on and near campus and information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying to state and federal childcare subsidies and programs and finding local childcare providers, including, but not limited to, the California state preschool program, Head Start, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) childcare program, and general child care and development programs. Childcare services and resources may also include direct financial support or service support.
(3)Coordinator means a basic needs coordinator established pursuant to this section.
(b)Each campus of the California Community Colleges shall do all of the following:
(1)No later than July 1, 2022, establish the position of the Basic Needs Coordinator, and designate a staff person as the Basic Needs Coordinator to serve as the single point of contact for students experiencing basic needs insecurity related to basic needs services and resources. The coordinator shall 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. To ensure the effectiveness and impact of this position, the coordinator shall be a dedicated position solely focused on addressing the basic needs of students and meet qualifications such as experience providing services to high-need and diverse populations. The coordinator shall oversee and coordinate with other staff tasked with addressing students basic needs, shall inform students of on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources and how to access them, and shall develop on- and off-campus partnerships to provide basic needs services and resources to their students.
(2)(A)No later than July 1, 2022, establish a Basic Needs Center, which means a central location on campus where basic needs services, resources, and staff are made available to students. The Basic Needs Center is intended to be a one-stop, single location and point of contact for students to more easily access and gain awareness of basic needs services and resources. The campus shall make a reasonable effort to locate all on-campus basic needs services and resources at the Basic Needs Center. If the campus cannot reasonably locate all basic needs services or resources at the Basic Needs Center, the campus shall provide students with the location and contact information, including name, telephone number, and email address, for all basic needs services and resources not located in the Basic Needs Center. The coordinator shall be housed in the Basic Needs Center.
(B)Each Basic Needs Center shall help ensure that students have the information they need to enroll in CalFresh, the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC), the California Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and other relevant government benefits programs. If a campus has an existing center or office that supports parenting students and a student may be better served by that center or office, the Basic Needs Center may direct that student to the student parent center or office. Each Basic Needs Center shall coordinate with their campus financial aid department or financial aid office. This section does not require nor encourage the Basic Needs Center to be combined or colocated with the financial aid department or financial aid office. The funding made available by the Budget Act of 2021 to implement this section, or any subsequent Budget Act or statute to implement this section, shall not be used to combine or colocate the Basic Needs Center with the financial aid department or financial aid office and shall not be used for the administration of student financial aid programs, including staffing. Each Basic Needs Center shall connect students to the financial aid department or financial aid office, as appropriate, to ensure that students are receiving all available financial aid, including supplemental awards such as the awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42. Each Basic Needs Center shall coordinate with their local homelessness response system to refer students to community resources available to address homelessness in addition to services and resources provided by the campus. Basic Needs Centers may provide support to students who can be reasonably expected to enroll in the upcoming term and to provide support to students during summer and winter breaks who were previously enrolled or are enrolled for the upcoming fall or spring term.
(C)Campuses shall endeavor, to the extent feasible, to use a portion of any funds made available for basic needs support for providing funds directly to students to address urgent needs. To the extent that a Basic Needs Center is already in place, that center may be used to satisfy the requirements of this section. If the existing Basic Needs Center fulfills only part of the requirements of this section, basic needs services and resources shall be expanded as needed to satisfy all the requirements of this section.
(D)The childcare services and resources a Basic Needs Center may provide for parenting students include, but are not limited to, direct financial or service support.
(3)(A)No later than February 1, 2022, develop a document that shall be provided to students at the Basic Needs Center, once established pursuant to paragraph (2), in either electronic format or paper form, and that shall be made available to students online, that clearly lists on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(i)The description of the service or resource.
(ii)The location of where the service or resource is provided.
(iii)The point of contact for the service or resource, including a name, telephone number, and email address.
(iv)Any eligibility restrictions on accessing the service or resource.
(B)On or before September 1, 2025, update the document developed pursuant to subparagraph (A) to include in the list of on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources the United States Department of Agricultures Food and Nutrition Services SNAP Retail Locator internet website link, which contains a map with locations that are authorized retail food stores under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and accept the use of electronic benefits transfer cards issued pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 10065) of Part 1 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(C)Provide the document to students as a part of campus orientations in either electronic format or paper form.
(D)Provide to faculty the online link to the electronic format of the document, the location of the Basic Needs Center, once established pursuant to paragraph (2), and the contact information for the coordinator, once designated pursuant to paragraph (1), and encourage faculty to include the online link to the electronic format of the document, the location of the Basic Needs Center, and the contact information for the coordinator in their syllabi.
(E)To ensure that the document remains useful to students, the document shall be reviewed, updated, and made available online on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution, as specified in paragraph (6), no later than the first day of every fall and spring semester or no later than the first day of every fall and spring quarter.
(4)No later than February 1, 2022, streamline the application and intake process for on-campus basic needs services and resources to minimize duplication and eliminate barriers to access. If an application is required, develop and use a single application for students to receive on-campus basic needs services and resources.
(5)No later than February 1, 2022, develop and implement a plan to identify and provide outreach to students, including nontraditional students, who have basic needs insecurity related to housing, food, and mental health. Once the coordinator is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Basic Needs Center is established pursuant to paragraph (2), the outreach shall include information about the coordinator and the Basic Needs Center.
(6)No later than February 1, 2022, provide a student basic needs tab that is clearly visible and easily accessible from a drop-down menu on the home page of the campus internet website and include the information described in paragraph (3) conspicuously on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution. Once the coordinator is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Basic Needs Center is established pursuant to paragraph (2), information about the coordinator and Basic Needs Center shall also be included on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution.
(7)(A)For the 202627 and 202728 fiscal years, provide classified employees with access to food pantry services offered by the Basic Needs Center.
(B)It is the intent of the Legislature to redirect funding in the 202627 and 202728 fiscal years from the Classified Community College Employee Summer Assistance Program established pursuant to Article 11 (commencing with Section 88280) of Chapter 4 of Part 51 of Division 7 to support the activities described in subparagraph (A).
(c)(1)Each campus of the California Community Colleges shall report to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges information that shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(A)The description and number of basic needs services and resources, broken down by category.
(B)The number of students served by the basic needs services and resources.
(C)Any existing and available data regarding the socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds of these students.
(D)Challenges and best practices in the implementation of the basic needs services and resources.
(E)Whether students who used the basic needs services and resources remained enrolled or graduated from that campus.
(F)The number of students who first started receiving CalFresh benefits in the previous year and the total number of students in the previous year who received CalFresh benefits, as provided by the State Department of Social Services.
(G)Whether the campus has a data sharing agreement with the relevant county operating the CalFresh program for the purpose of identifying new, continuing, and returning students who are potentially eligible for CalFresh benefits, or efforts underway to enact such an agreement.
(2)The data and information reported under this subdivision shall be disaggregated by each basic needs service and resource, where applicable.
(3)Campuses are encouraged to collaborate with the State Department of Social Services to obtain the data identified in paragraph (1), as applicable.
(4)The data and information reported by each campus of the California Community Colleges for the 202627 and 202728 fiscal years shall also include both of the following for the applicable reporting period:
(A)The number of classified employees served pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (7) of subdivision (b).
(B)If appropriate, whether the use of food pantry services by classified employees pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (7) of subdivision (b) impacted resources available to students.
(d)(1)The office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall develop and submit to the Governor and the Legislature every year beginning on or before May 1, 2023, a report based on the data and information reported by campuses pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (c) and information on the use of funds made available from the Budget Act of 2022 to implement this section.
(2)A legislative report that includes the information required to be reported in this subdivision and submitted in any of the years required by paragraph (1) shall fulfill the reporting requirement pursuant to this subdivision to reduce duplicative efforts.
(3)The reports submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) for the 202627 and 202728 fiscal years shall also include the data and information reported by campuses pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (c) for the appropriate reporting period.
SEC. 3.Section 66027.83 is added to the Education Code, to read:66027.83.The financial aid office on each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and the financial aid office on each campus of the University of California is requested to, provide all of the following to students with dependent children:
(a)Information on the campus childcare development center and childcare offerings, if applicable.
(b)Referral to the campus Basic Needs Center established pursuant to Section 66023.4 or 66023.5 for support accessing information, including, but not limited to, information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying for state and federal childcare subsidies and programs and finding local childcare providers.
(c)Information on any supplemental awards such as the awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42.
SEC. 4.Section 66062 is added to the Education Code, to read:66062.A child development center or preschool established pursuant to Section 66060 by the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and a child development center or preschool established pursuant to Section 66060 by the University of California is requested to, provide students with dependent children seeking childcare with both of the following:
(a)Referral to the campus Basic Needs Center established pursuant to Section 66023.4 or 66023.5 for support accessing information, including, but not limited to, information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying for state and federal childcare subsidies and programs and finding local childcare providers.
(b)Referral to the campus financial aid office, including information on the awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42.
SEC. 5.Section 2.5 of this bill incorporates amendments to Section 66023.5 of the Education Code proposed by this bill, Senate Bill 148, and Assembly Bill 148. That section of this bill shall only become operative if (1) both bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2026, (2) this bill and either Senate Bill 148 or Assembly Bill 148, as enacted, amends Section 66023.5 of the Education Code, and (3) this bill is enacted last of these bills amending Section 66023.5 of the Education Code, in which case Section 66023.5 of the Education Code, as amended by Senate Bill 148 or Assembly Bill 148, shall remain operative only until the operative date of this bill, at which time Section 2.5 of this bill shall become operative, and Section 2 of this bill shall not become operative.
SEC. 6If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(a)As used in this section:
(1)Basic needs services and resources includes, but is not limited to, housing, food, clothing, feminine hygiene, diapers, technology, childcare services and resources, and mental health services and resources.
(2)Childcare services and resources includes, but is not limited to, providing information on affordable childcare options on and near campus and information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying to state and federal childcare subsidies and programs and finding local childcare providers, including, but not limited to, the California state preschool program, Head Start, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) childcare program, and general child care and development programs. Childcare services and resources may also include direct financial or service support.
(3)Coordinator means a basic needs coordinator established pursuant to this section.
(b)Each campus of the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, do all of the following:
(1)On or before July 1, 2025, establish the position of the Basic Needs Coordinator, and designate a staff person as the Basic Needs Coordinator to serve as the single point of contact for students experiencing basic needs insecurity related to basic needs services and resources. The coordinator shall 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. To ensure the effectiveness and impact of this position, the coordinator shall be a dedicated position solely focused on addressing the basic needs of students and meet qualifications such as experience providing services to high-need and diverse populations. The coordinator shall oversee and coordinate with other staff tasked with addressing students basic needs, shall inform students of on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources and how to access them, and shall develop on- and off-campus partnerships to provide basic needs services and resources to their students.
(2)(A)On or before July 1, 2025, establish a Basic Needs Center, which means a central location on campus where basic needs services, resources, and staff are made available to students. The Basic Needs Center is intended to be a one-stop, single location and point of contact for students to more easily access and gain awareness of basic needs services and resources. The campus shall make a reasonable effort to locate all on-campus basic needs services and resources at the Basic Needs Center. If the campus cannot reasonably locate all basic needs services or resources at the Basic Needs Center, the campus shall provide students with the location and contact information, including name, telephone number, and email address, for all basic needs services and resources not located in the Basic Needs Center. The coordinator shall be housed in the Basic Needs Center.
(B)Each Basic Needs Center shall do all of the following:
(i)Help ensure that students have the information they need to enroll in CalFresh, the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC), the California Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and other relevant government benefits programs. This clause does not require campus Basic Needs Centers to provide tax advising or preparation services.
(ii)If a campus has an existing center or office that supports parenting students and a student may be better served by that center or office, have the authority to direct that student to the student parent center or office.
(iii)Coordinate with their campus financial aid department or financial aid office. This clause does not require nor encourage the Basic Needs Center to be combined or colocated with the financial aid department or financial aid office.
(iv)Connect students to the financial aid department or financial aid office, as appropriate, to ensure that students are receiving all available financial aid, including supplemental awards such as the awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42.
(v)Coordinate with their local homelessness response system to refer students to community resources available to address homelessness in addition to services and resources provided by the campus.
(C)Basic Needs Centers may provide support to students who can be reasonably expected to enroll in the upcoming term and to provide support to students during summer and winter breaks who were previously enrolled or are enrolled for the upcoming fall or spring term.
(D)Campuses shall endeavor, to the extent feasible, to use a portion of any funds made available for basic needs support for providing funds directly to students to address urgent needs. To the extent that a Basic Needs Center is already in place, that center may be used to satisfy the requirements of this section. If the existing Basic Needs Center fulfills only part of the requirements of this section, basic needs services and resources shall be expanded as needed to satisfy all the requirements of this section.
(E)The childcare services and resources a Basic Needs Center may provide for parenting students includes, but is not limited to, direct financial or service support.
(3)(A)On or before February 1, 2025, develop a document that shall be provided to students at the Basic Needs Center, once established pursuant to paragraph (2), in either electronic format or paper form, and that shall be made available to students online, that clearly lists on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(i)The description of the service or resource.
(ii)The location of where the service or resource is provided.
(iii)The point of contact for the service or resource, including a name, telephone number, and email address.
(iv)Any eligibility restrictions on accessing the service or resource.
(v)The United States Department of Agricultures Food and Nutrition Services SNAP Retail Locator internet website link, which contains a map with locations that are authorized retail food stores under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and accept the use of electronic benefits transfer cards issued pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 10065) of Part 1 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(B)Provide the document to students as a part of campus orientations in either electronic format or paper form.
(C)Provide to faculty the online link to the electronic format of the document, the location of the Basic Needs Center, once established pursuant to paragraph (2), and the contact information for the coordinator, once designated pursuant to paragraph (1), and encourage faculty to include the online link to the electronic format of the document, the location of the Basic Needs Center, and the contact information for the coordinator in their syllabi.
(D)To ensure that the document remains useful to students, the document shall be reviewed, updated, and made available online on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution, as specified in paragraph (6), no later than the first day of every fall semester or fall quarter.
(4)On or before February 1, 2025, streamline the application and intake process for on-campus basic needs services and resources to minimize duplication and eliminate barriers to access. If an application is required, develop and use a single application for students to receive on-campus basic needs services and resources.
(5)On or before February 1, 2025, develop and implement a plan to identify and provide outreach to students, including nontraditional students, who have basic needs insecurity related to housing, food, and mental health. Once the coordinator is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Basic Needs Center is established pursuant to paragraph (2), the outreach shall include information about the coordinator and the Basic Needs Center.
(6)On or before February 1, 2025, provide a student basic needs tab that is clearly visible and easily accessible from a drop-down menu on the home page of the campus internet website and include the information described in paragraph (3) conspicuously on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution. Once the coordinator is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Basic Needs Center is established pursuant to paragraph (2), information about the coordinator and Basic Needs Center shall also be included on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution.
(c)(1)Each campus of the California State University shall report to the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, and each campus of the University of California is requested to report to the office of the President of the University of California, information that shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(A)The description and number of basic needs services and resources, broken down by category.
(B)The number of students served by the basic needs services and resources.
(C)Any existing and available data regarding the socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds of these students.
(D)Challenges and best practices in the implementation of the basic needs services and resources.
(E)Whether students who used the basic needs services and resources remained enrolled or graduated from that campus.
(F)The number of students who first started receiving CalFresh benefits in the previous year and the total number of students in the previous year who received CalFresh benefits, as provided by the State Department of Social Services.
(G)Whether the campus has a data sharing agreement with the relevant county operating the CalFresh program for the purpose of identifying new, continuing, and returning students who are potentially eligible for CalFresh benefits, or efforts underway to enact such an agreement.
(2)The data and information reported under this subdivision shall be disaggregated by each basic needs service and resource, where applicable.
(3)Campuses are encouraged to collaborate with the State Department of Social Services to obtain the data identified in paragraph (1), as applicable.
(d)(1)The office of the Chancellor of the California State University shall, and the office of the President of the University of California is requested to, develop and submit to the Governor and the Legislature, on or before March 1 of each year from 2026 to 2030, inclusive, a report based on the data and information reported by campuses pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (c) and information on the use of funds made available from the Budget Act of 2022 to implement this section.
(2)A legislative report that includes the information required to be reported in this subdivision and submitted in any of the years 2026 to 2030, inclusive, shall fulfill the reporting requirement pursuant to this subdivision to reduce duplicative efforts.
(e)This section does not preclude the California State University and the University of California from having additional basic needs staff who assist the Basic Needs Coordinator in completing the requirements of subdivision (b).
SEC. 2.Section 66023.5 of the Education Code is amended to read:66023.5.(a)As used in this section:
(1)Basic needs services and resources includes, but is not limited to, housing, food, clothing, feminine hygiene, diapers, technology, childcare services and resources, and mental health services and resources.
(2)Childcare services and resources includes, but is not limited to, providing information on affordable childcare options on and near campus and information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying to state and federal childcare subsidies and programs and finding local childcare providers, including, but not limited to, the California state preschool program, Head Start, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) childcare program, and general child care and development programs. Childcare services and resources may also include direct financial support or service support.
(3)Coordinator means a basic needs coordinator established pursuant to this section.
(b)Each campus of the California Community Colleges shall do all of the following:
(1)No later than July 1, 2022, establish the position of the Basic Needs Coordinator, and designate a staff person as the Basic Needs Coordinator to serve as the single point of contact for students experiencing basic needs insecurity related to basic needs services and resources. The coordinator shall 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. To ensure the effectiveness and impact of this position, the coordinator shall be a dedicated position solely focused on addressing the basic needs of students and meet qualifications such as experience providing services to high-need and diverse populations. The coordinator shall oversee and coordinate with other staff tasked with addressing students basic needs, shall inform students of on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources and how to access them, and shall develop on- and off-campus partnerships to provide basic needs services and resources to their students.
(2)(A)No later than July 1, 2022, establish a Basic Needs Center, which means a central location on campus where basic needs services, resources, and staff are made available to students. The Basic Needs Center is intended to be a one-stop, single location and point of contact for students to more easily access and gain awareness of basic needs services and resources. The campus shall make a reasonable effort to locate all on-campus basic needs services and resources at the Basic Needs Center. If the campus cannot reasonably locate all basic needs services or resources at the Basic Needs Center, the campus shall provide students with the location and contact information, including name, telephone number, and email address, for all basic needs services and resources not located in the Basic Needs Center. The coordinator shall be housed in the Basic Needs Center.
(B)Each Basic Needs Center shall help ensure that students have the information they need to enroll in CalFresh, the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC), the California Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and other relevant government benefits programs. If a campus has an existing center or office that supports parenting students and a student may be better served by that center or office, the Basic Needs Center may direct that student to the student parent center or office. Each Basic Needs Center shall coordinate with their campus financial aid department or financial aid office. This section does not require nor encourage the Basic Needs Center to be combined or colocated with the financial aid department or financial aid office. The funding made available by the Budget Act of 2021 to implement this section, or any subsequent Budget Act or statute to implement this section, shall not be used to combine or colocate the Basic Needs Center with the financial aid department or financial aid office and shall not be used for the administration of student financial aid programs, including staffing. Each Basic Needs Center shall connect students to the financial aid department or financial aid office, as appropriate, to ensure that students are receiving all available financial aid, including supplemental awards such as the awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42. Each Basic Needs Center shall coordinate with their local homelessness response system to refer students to community resources available to address homelessness in addition to services and resources provided by the campus. Basic Needs Centers may provide support to students who can be reasonably expected to enroll in the upcoming term and to provide support to students during summer and winter breaks who were previously enrolled or are enrolled for the upcoming fall or spring term.
(C)Campuses shall endeavor, to the extent feasible, to use a portion of any funds made available for basic needs support for providing funds directly to students to address urgent needs. To the extent that a Basic Needs Center is already in place, that center may be used to satisfy the requirements of this section. If the existing Basic Needs Center fulfills only part of the requirements of this section, basic needs services and resources shall be expanded as needed to satisfy all the requirements of this section.
(D)The childcare services and resources a Basic Needs Center may provide for parenting students includes, but is not limited to, direct financial or service support.
(3)(A)No later than February 1, 2022, develop a document that shall be provided to students at the Basic Needs Center, once established pursuant to paragraph (2), in either electronic format or paper form, and that shall be made available to students online, that clearly lists on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(i)The description of the service or resource.
(ii)The location of where the service or resource is provided.
(iii)The point of contact for the service or resource, including a name, telephone number, and email address.
(iv)Any eligibility restrictions on accessing the service or resource.
(B)On or before September 1, 2025, update the document developed pursuant to subparagraph (A) to include in the list of on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources the United States Department of Agricultures Food and Nutrition Services SNAP Retail Locator internet website link, which contains a map with locations that are authorized retail food stores under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and accept the use of electronic benefits transfer cards issued pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 10065) of Part 1 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(C)Provide the document to students as a part of campus orientations in either electronic format or paper form.
(D)Provide to faculty the online link to the electronic format of the document, the location of the Basic Needs Center, once established pursuant to paragraph (2), and the contact information for the coordinator, once designated pursuant to paragraph (1), and encourage faculty to include the online link to the electronic format of the document, the location of the Basic Needs Center, and the contact information for the coordinator in their syllabi.
(E)To ensure that the document remains useful to students, the document shall be reviewed, updated, and made available online on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution, as specified in paragraph (6), no later than the first day of every fall and spring semester or no later than the first day of every fall and spring quarter.
(4)No later than February 1, 2022, streamline the application and intake process for on-campus basic needs services and resources to minimize duplication and eliminate barriers to access. If an application is required, develop and use a single application for students to receive on-campus basic needs services and resources.
(5)No later than February 1, 2022, develop and implement a plan to identify and provide outreach to students, including nontraditional students, who have basic needs insecurity related to housing, food, and mental health. Once the coordinator is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Basic Needs Center is established pursuant to paragraph (2), the outreach shall include information about the coordinator and the Basic Needs Center.
(6)No later than February 1, 2022, provide a student basic needs tab that is clearly visible and easily accessible from a drop-down menu on the home page of the campus internet website and include the information described in paragraph (3) conspicuously on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution. Once the coordinator is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Basic Needs Center is established pursuant to paragraph (2), information about the coordinator and Basic Needs Center shall also be included on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution.
(c)(1)Each campus of the California Community Colleges shall report to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges information that shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(A)The description and number of basic needs services and resources, broken down by category.
(B)The number of students served by the basic needs services and resources.
(C)Any existing and available data regarding the socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds of these students.
(D)Challenges and best practices in the implementation of the basic needs services and resources.
(E)Whether students who used the basic needs services and resources remained enrolled or graduated from that campus.
(F)The number of students who first started receiving CalFresh benefits in the previous year and the total number of students in the previous year who received CalFresh benefits, as provided by the State Department of Social Services.
(G)Whether the campus has a data sharing agreement with the relevant county operating the CalFresh program for the purpose of identifying new, continuing, and returning students who are potentially eligible for CalFresh benefits, or efforts underway to enact such an agreement.
(2)The data and information reported under this subdivision shall be disaggregated by each basic needs service and resource, where applicable.
(3)Campuses are encouraged to collaborate with the State Department of Social Services to obtain the data identified in paragraph (1), as applicable.
(d)(1)The office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall develop and submit to the Governor and the Legislature every year beginning on or before May 1, 2023, a report based on the data and information reported by campuses pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (c) and information on the use of funds made available from the Budget Act of 2022 to implement this section.
(2)A legislative report that includes the information required to be reported in this subdivision and submitted in any of the years required by paragraph (1) shall fulfill the reporting requirement pursuant to this subdivision to reduce duplicative efforts.
SEC. 2.5.Section 66023.5 of the Education Code is amended to read:66023.5.(a)As used in this section:
(1)Basic needs services and resources includes, but is not limited to, housing, food, clothing, feminine hygiene, diapers, technology, childcare, childcare services and resources, and mental health services and resources.
(2)Childcare services and resources include, but are not limited to, providing information on affordable childcare options on and near campus and information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying to state and federal childcare subsidies and programs and finding local childcare providers, including, but not limited to, the California state preschool program, Head Start, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) childcare program, and general child care and development programs. Childcare services and resources may also include direct financial support or service support.
(3)Coordinator means a basic needs coordinator established pursuant to this section.
(b)Each campus of the California Community Colleges shall do all of the following:
(1)No later than July 1, 2022, establish the position of the Basic Needs Coordinator, and designate a staff person as the Basic Needs Coordinator to serve as the single point of contact for students experiencing basic needs insecurity related to basic needs services and resources. The coordinator shall 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. To ensure the effectiveness and impact of this position, the coordinator shall be a dedicated position solely focused on addressing the basic needs of students and meet qualifications such as experience providing services to high-need and diverse populations. The coordinator shall oversee and coordinate with other staff tasked with addressing students basic needs, shall inform students of on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources and how to access them, and shall develop on- and off-campus partnerships to provide basic needs services and resources to their students.
(2)(A)No later than July 1, 2022, establish a Basic Needs Center, which means a central location on campus where basic needs services, resources, and staff are made available to students. The Basic Needs Center is intended to be a one-stop, single location and point of contact for students to more easily access and gain awareness of basic needs services and resources. The campus shall make a reasonable effort to locate all on-campus basic needs services and resources at the Basic Needs Center. If the campus cannot reasonably locate all basic needs services or resources at the Basic Needs Center, the campus shall provide students with the location and contact information, including name, telephone number, and email address, for all basic needs services and resources not located in the Basic Needs Center. The coordinator shall be housed in the Basic Needs Center.
(B)Each Basic Needs Center shall help ensure that students have the information they need to enroll in CalFresh, the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC), the California Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and other relevant government benefits programs. If a campus has an existing center or office that supports parenting students and a student may be better served by that center or office, the Basic Needs Center may direct that student to the student parent center or office. Each Basic Needs Center shall coordinate with their campus financial aid department or financial aid office. This section does not require nor encourage the Basic Needs Center to be combined or colocated with the financial aid department or financial aid office. The funding made available by the Budget Act of 2021 to implement this section, or any subsequent Budget Act or statute to implement this section, shall not be used to combine or colocate the Basic Needs Center with the financial aid department or financial aid office and shall not be used for the administration of student financial aid programs, including staffing. Each Basic Needs Center shall connect students to the financial aid department or financial aid office, as appropriate, to ensure that students are receiving all available financial aid, including supplemental awards such as the awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42. Each Basic Needs Center shall coordinate with their local homelessness response system to refer students to community resources available to address homelessness in addition to services and resources provided by the campus. Basic Needs Centers may provide support to students who can be reasonably expected to enroll in the upcoming term and to provide support to students during summer and winter breaks who were previously enrolled or are enrolled for the upcoming fall or spring term.
(C)Campuses shall endeavor, to the extent feasible, to use a portion of any funds made available for basic needs support for providing funds directly to students to address urgent needs. To the extent that a Basic Needs Center is already in place, that center may be used to satisfy the requirements of this section. If the existing Basic Needs Center fulfills only part of the requirements of this section, basic needs services and resources shall be expanded as needed to satisfy all the requirements of this section.
(D)The childcare services and resources a Basic Needs Center may provide for parenting students include, but are not limited to, direct financial or service support.
(3)(A)No later than February 1, 2022, develop a document that shall be provided to students at the Basic Needs Center, once established pursuant to paragraph (2), in either electronic format or paper form, and that shall be made available to students online, that clearly lists on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(i)The description of the service or resource.
(ii)The location of where the service or resource is provided.
(iii)The point of contact for the service or resource, including a name, telephone number, and email address.
(iv)Any eligibility restrictions on accessing the service or resource.
(B)On or before September 1, 2025, update the document developed pursuant to subparagraph (A) to include in the list of on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources the United States Department of Agricultures Food and Nutrition Services SNAP Retail Locator internet website link, which contains a map with locations that are authorized retail food stores under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and accept the use of electronic benefits transfer cards issued pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 10065) of Part 1 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(C)Provide the document to students as a part of campus orientations in either electronic format or paper form.
(D)Provide to faculty the online link to the electronic format of the document, the location of the Basic Needs Center, once established pursuant to paragraph (2), and the contact information for the coordinator, once designated pursuant to paragraph (1), and encourage faculty to include the online link to the electronic format of the document, the location of the Basic Needs Center, and the contact information for the coordinator in their syllabi.
(E)To ensure that the document remains useful to students, the document shall be reviewed, updated, and made available online on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution, as specified in paragraph (6), no later than the first day of every fall and spring semester or no later than the first day of every fall and spring quarter.
(4)No later than February 1, 2022, streamline the application and intake process for on-campus basic needs services and resources to minimize duplication and eliminate barriers to access. If an application is required, develop and use a single application for students to receive on-campus basic needs services and resources.
(5)No later than February 1, 2022, develop and implement a plan to identify and provide outreach to students, including nontraditional students, who have basic needs insecurity related to housing, food, and mental health. Once the coordinator is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Basic Needs Center is established pursuant to paragraph (2), the outreach shall include information about the coordinator and the Basic Needs Center.
(6)No later than February 1, 2022, provide a student basic needs tab that is clearly visible and easily accessible from a drop-down menu on the home page of the campus internet website and include the information described in paragraph (3) conspicuously on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution. Once the coordinator is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Basic Needs Center is established pursuant to paragraph (2), information about the coordinator and Basic Needs Center shall also be included on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution.
(7)(A)For the 202627 and 202728 fiscal years, provide classified employees with access to food pantry services offered by the Basic Needs Center.
(B)It is the intent of the Legislature to redirect funding in the 202627 and 202728 fiscal years from the Classified Community College Employee Summer Assistance Program established pursuant to Article 11 (commencing with Section 88280) of Chapter 4 of Part 51 of Division 7 to support the activities described in subparagraph (A).
(c)(1)Each campus of the California Community Colleges shall report to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges information that shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(A)The description and number of basic needs services and resources, broken down by category.
(B)The number of students served by the basic needs services and resources.
(C)Any existing and available data regarding the socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds of these students.
(D)Challenges and best practices in the implementation of the basic needs services and resources.
(E)Whether students who used the basic needs services and resources remained enrolled or graduated from that campus.
(F)The number of students who first started receiving CalFresh benefits in the previous year and the total number of students in the previous year who received CalFresh benefits, as provided by the State Department of Social Services.
(G)Whether the campus has a data sharing agreement with the relevant county operating the CalFresh program for the purpose of identifying new, continuing, and returning students who are potentially eligible for CalFresh benefits, or efforts underway to enact such an agreement.
(2)The data and information reported under this subdivision shall be disaggregated by each basic needs service and resource, where applicable.
(3)Campuses are encouraged to collaborate with the State Department of Social Services to obtain the data identified in paragraph (1), as applicable.
(4)The data and information reported by each campus of the California Community Colleges for the 202627 and 202728 fiscal years shall also include both of the following for the applicable reporting period:
(A)The number of classified employees served pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (7) of subdivision (b).
(B)If appropriate, whether the use of food pantry services by classified employees pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (7) of subdivision (b) impacted resources available to students.
(d)(1)The office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall develop and submit to the Governor and the Legislature every year beginning on or before May 1, 2023, a report based on the data and information reported by campuses pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (c) and information on the use of funds made available from the Budget Act of 2022 to implement this section.
(2)A legislative report that includes the information required to be reported in this subdivision and submitted in any of the years required by paragraph (1) shall fulfill the reporting requirement pursuant to this subdivision to reduce duplicative efforts.
(3)The reports submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) for the 202627 and 202728 fiscal years shall also include the data and information reported by campuses pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (c) for the appropriate reporting period.
SEC. 3.Section 66027.83 is added to the Education Code, to read:66027.83.The financial aid office on each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and the financial aid office on each campus of the University of California is requested to, provide all of the following to students with dependent children:
(a)Information on the campus childcare development center and childcare offerings, if applicable.
(b)Referral to the campus Basic Needs Center established pursuant to Section 66023.4 or 66023.5 for support accessing information, including, but not limited to, information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying for state and federal childcare subsidies and programs and finding local childcare providers.
(c)Information on any supplemental awards such as the awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42.
SEC. 4.Section 66062 is added to the Education Code, to read:66062.A child development center or preschool established pursuant to Section 66060 by the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and a child development center or preschool established pursuant to Section 66060 by the University of California is requested to, provide students with dependent children seeking childcare with both of the following:
(a)Referral to the campus Basic Needs Center established pursuant to Section 66023.4 or 66023.5 for support accessing information, including, but not limited to, information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying for state and federal childcare subsidies and programs and finding local childcare providers.
(b)Referral to the campus financial aid office, including information on the awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42.
SEC. 5.Section 2.5 of this bill incorporates amendments to Section 66023.5 of the Education Code proposed by this bill, Senate Bill 148, and Assembly Bill 148. That section of this bill shall only become operative if (1) both bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2026, (2) this bill and either Senate Bill 148 or Assembly Bill 148, as enacted, amends Section 66023.5 of the Education Code, and (3) this bill is enacted last of these bills amending Section 66023.5 of the Education Code, in which case Section 66023.5 of the Education Code, as amended by Senate Bill 148 or Assembly Bill 148, shall remain operative only until the operative date of this bill, at which time Section 2.5 of this bill shall become operative, and Section 2 of this bill shall not become operative.
SEC. 6If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(a)As used in this section:
(1)Basic needs services and resources includes, but is not limited to, housing, food, clothing, feminine hygiene, diapers, technology, childcare services and resources, and mental health services and resources.
(2)Childcare services and resources includes, but is not limited to, providing information on affordable childcare options on and near campus and information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying to state and federal childcare subsidies and programs and finding local childcare providers, including, but not limited to, the California state preschool program, Head Start, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) childcare program, and general child care and development programs. Childcare services and resources may also include direct financial or service support.
(3)Coordinator means a basic needs coordinator established pursuant to this section.
(b)Each campus of the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, do all of the following:
(1)On or before July 1, 2025, establish the position of the Basic Needs Coordinator, and designate a staff person as the Basic Needs Coordinator to serve as the single point of contact for students experiencing basic needs insecurity related to basic needs services and resources. The coordinator shall 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. To ensure the effectiveness and impact of this position, the coordinator shall be a dedicated position solely focused on addressing the basic needs of students and meet qualifications such as experience providing services to high-need and diverse populations. The coordinator shall oversee and coordinate with other staff tasked with addressing students basic needs, shall inform students of on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources and how to access them, and shall develop on- and off-campus partnerships to provide basic needs services and resources to their students.
(2)(A)On or before July 1, 2025, establish a Basic Needs Center, which means a central location on campus where basic needs services, resources, and staff are made available to students. The Basic Needs Center is intended to be a one-stop, single location and point of contact for students to more easily access and gain awareness of basic needs services and resources. The campus shall make a reasonable effort to locate all on-campus basic needs services and resources at the Basic Needs Center. If the campus cannot reasonably locate all basic needs services or resources at the Basic Needs Center, the campus shall provide students with the location and contact information, including name, telephone number, and email address, for all basic needs services and resources not located in the Basic Needs Center. The coordinator shall be housed in the Basic Needs Center.
(B)Each Basic Needs Center shall do all of the following:
(i)Help ensure that students have the information they need to enroll in CalFresh, the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC), the California Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and other relevant government benefits programs. This clause does not require campus Basic Needs Centers to provide tax advising or preparation services.
(ii)If a campus has an existing center or office that supports parenting students and a student may be better served by that center or office, have the authority to direct that student to the student parent center or office.
(iii)Coordinate with their campus financial aid department or financial aid office. This clause does not require nor encourage the Basic Needs Center to be combined or colocated with the financial aid department or financial aid office.
(iv)Connect students to the financial aid department or financial aid office, as appropriate, to ensure that students are receiving all available financial aid, including supplemental awards such as the awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42.
(v)Coordinate with their local homelessness response system to refer students to community resources available to address homelessness in addition to services and resources provided by the campus.
(C)Basic Needs Centers may provide support to students who can be reasonably expected to enroll in the upcoming term and to provide support to students during summer and winter breaks who were previously enrolled or are enrolled for the upcoming fall or spring term.
(D)Campuses shall endeavor, to the extent feasible, to use a portion of any funds made available for basic needs support for providing funds directly to students to address urgent needs. To the extent that a Basic Needs Center is already in place, that center may be used to satisfy the requirements of this section. If the existing Basic Needs Center fulfills only part of the requirements of this section, basic needs services and resources shall be expanded as needed to satisfy all the requirements of this section.
(E)The childcare services and resources a Basic Needs Center may provide for parenting students includes, but is not limited to, direct financial or service support.
(3)(A)On or before February 1, 2025, develop a document that shall be provided to students at the Basic Needs Center, once established pursuant to paragraph (2), in either electronic format or paper form, and that shall be made available to students online, that clearly lists on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(i)The description of the service or resource.
(ii)The location of where the service or resource is provided.
(iii)The point of contact for the service or resource, including a name, telephone number, and email address.
(iv)Any eligibility restrictions on accessing the service or resource.
(v)The United States Department of Agricultures Food and Nutrition Services SNAP Retail Locator internet website link, which contains a map with locations that are authorized retail food stores under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and accept the use of electronic benefits transfer cards issued pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 10065) of Part 1 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(B)Provide the document to students as a part of campus orientations in either electronic format or paper form.
(C)Provide to faculty the online link to the electronic format of the document, the location of the Basic Needs Center, once established pursuant to paragraph (2), and the contact information for the coordinator, once designated pursuant to paragraph (1), and encourage faculty to include the online link to the electronic format of the document, the location of the Basic Needs Center, and the contact information for the coordinator in their syllabi.
(D)To ensure that the document remains useful to students, the document shall be reviewed, updated, and made available online on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution, as specified in paragraph (6), no later than the first day of every fall semester or fall quarter.
(4)On or before February 1, 2025, streamline the application and intake process for on-campus basic needs services and resources to minimize duplication and eliminate barriers to access. If an application is required, develop and use a single application for students to receive on-campus basic needs services and resources.
(5)On or before February 1, 2025, develop and implement a plan to identify and provide outreach to students, including nontraditional students, who have basic needs insecurity related to housing, food, and mental health. Once the coordinator is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Basic Needs Center is established pursuant to paragraph (2), the outreach shall include information about the coordinator and the Basic Needs Center.
(6)On or before February 1, 2025, provide a student basic needs tab that is clearly visible and easily accessible from a drop-down menu on the home page of the campus internet website and include the information described in paragraph (3) conspicuously on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution. Once the coordinator is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Basic Needs Center is established pursuant to paragraph (2), information about the coordinator and Basic Needs Center shall also be included on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution.
(c)(1)Each campus of the California State University shall report to the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, and each campus of the University of California is requested to report to the office of the President of the University of California, information that shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(A)The description and number of basic needs services and resources, broken down by category.
(B)The number of students served by the basic needs services and resources.
(C)Any existing and available data regarding the socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds of these students.
(D)Challenges and best practices in the implementation of the basic needs services and resources.
(E)Whether students who used the basic needs services and resources remained enrolled or graduated from that campus.
(F)The number of students who first started receiving CalFresh benefits in the previous year and the total number of students in the previous year who received CalFresh benefits, as provided by the State Department of Social Services.
(G)Whether the campus has a data sharing agreement with the relevant county operating the CalFresh program for the purpose of identifying new, continuing, and returning students who are potentially eligible for CalFresh benefits, or efforts underway to enact such an agreement.
(2)The data and information reported under this subdivision shall be disaggregated by each basic needs service and resource, where applicable.
(3)Campuses are encouraged to collaborate with the State Department of Social Services to obtain the data identified in paragraph (1), as applicable.
(d)(1)The office of the Chancellor of the California State University shall, and the office of the President of the University of California is requested to, develop and submit to the Governor and the Legislature, on or before March 1 of each year from 2026 to 2030, inclusive, a report based on the data and information reported by campuses pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (c) and information on the use of funds made available from the Budget Act of 2022 to implement this section.
(2)A legislative report that includes the information required to be reported in this subdivision and submitted in any of the years 2026 to 2030, inclusive, shall fulfill the reporting requirement pursuant to this subdivision to reduce duplicative efforts.
(e)This section does not preclude the California State University and the University of California from having additional basic needs staff who assist the Basic Needs Coordinator in completing the requirements of subdivision (b).
SEC. 2.Section 66023.5 of the Education Code is amended to read:66023.5.(a)As used in this section:
(1)Basic needs services and resources includes, but is not limited to, housing, food, clothing, feminine hygiene, diapers, technology, childcare services and resources, and mental health services and resources.
(2)Childcare services and resources includes, but is not limited to, providing information on affordable childcare options on and near campus and information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying to state and federal childcare subsidies and programs and finding local childcare providers, including, but not limited to, the California state preschool program, Head Start, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) childcare program, and general child care and development programs. Childcare services and resources may also include direct financial support or service support.
(3)Coordinator means a basic needs coordinator established pursuant to this section.
(b)Each campus of the California Community Colleges shall do all of the following:
(1)No later than July 1, 2022, establish the position of the Basic Needs Coordinator, and designate a staff person as the Basic Needs Coordinator to serve as the single point of contact for students experiencing basic needs insecurity related to basic needs services and resources. The coordinator shall 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. To ensure the effectiveness and impact of this position, the coordinator shall be a dedicated position solely focused on addressing the basic needs of students and meet qualifications such as experience providing services to high-need and diverse populations. The coordinator shall oversee and coordinate with other staff tasked with addressing students basic needs, shall inform students of on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources and how to access them, and shall develop on- and off-campus partnerships to provide basic needs services and resources to their students.
(2)(A)No later than July 1, 2022, establish a Basic Needs Center, which means a central location on campus where basic needs services, resources, and staff are made available to students. The Basic Needs Center is intended to be a one-stop, single location and point of contact for students to more easily access and gain awareness of basic needs services and resources. The campus shall make a reasonable effort to locate all on-campus basic needs services and resources at the Basic Needs Center. If the campus cannot reasonably locate all basic needs services or resources at the Basic Needs Center, the campus shall provide students with the location and contact information, including name, telephone number, and email address, for all basic needs services and resources not located in the Basic Needs Center. The coordinator shall be housed in the Basic Needs Center.
(B)Each Basic Needs Center shall help ensure that students have the information they need to enroll in CalFresh, the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC), the California Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and other relevant government benefits programs. If a campus has an existing center or office that supports parenting students and a student may be better served by that center or office, the Basic Needs Center may direct that student to the student parent center or office. Each Basic Needs Center shall coordinate with their campus financial aid department or financial aid office. This section does not require nor encourage the Basic Needs Center to be combined or colocated with the financial aid department or financial aid office. The funding made available by the Budget Act of 2021 to implement this section, or any subsequent Budget Act or statute to implement this section, shall not be used to combine or colocate the Basic Needs Center with the financial aid department or financial aid office and shall not be used for the administration of student financial aid programs, including staffing. Each Basic Needs Center shall connect students to the financial aid department or financial aid office, as appropriate, to ensure that students are receiving all available financial aid, including supplemental awards such as the awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42. Each Basic Needs Center shall coordinate with their local homelessness response system to refer students to community resources available to address homelessness in addition to services and resources provided by the campus. Basic Needs Centers may provide support to students who can be reasonably expected to enroll in the upcoming term and to provide support to students during summer and winter breaks who were previously enrolled or are enrolled for the upcoming fall or spring term.
(C)Campuses shall endeavor, to the extent feasible, to use a portion of any funds made available for basic needs support for providing funds directly to students to address urgent needs. To the extent that a Basic Needs Center is already in place, that center may be used to satisfy the requirements of this section. If the existing Basic Needs Center fulfills only part of the requirements of this section, basic needs services and resources shall be expanded as needed to satisfy all the requirements of this section.
(D)The childcare services and resources a Basic Needs Center may provide for parenting students includes, but is not limited to, direct financial or service support.
(3)(A)No later than February 1, 2022, develop a document that shall be provided to students at the Basic Needs Center, once established pursuant to paragraph (2), in either electronic format or paper form, and that shall be made available to students online, that clearly lists on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(i)The description of the service or resource.
(ii)The location of where the service or resource is provided.
(iii)The point of contact for the service or resource, including a name, telephone number, and email address.
(iv)Any eligibility restrictions on accessing the service or resource.
(B)On or before September 1, 2025, update the document developed pursuant to subparagraph (A) to include in the list of on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources the United States Department of Agricultures Food and Nutrition Services SNAP Retail Locator internet website link, which contains a map with locations that are authorized retail food stores under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and accept the use of electronic benefits transfer cards issued pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 10065) of Part 1 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(C)Provide the document to students as a part of campus orientations in either electronic format or paper form.
(D)Provide to faculty the online link to the electronic format of the document, the location of the Basic Needs Center, once established pursuant to paragraph (2), and the contact information for the coordinator, once designated pursuant to paragraph (1), and encourage faculty to include the online link to the electronic format of the document, the location of the Basic Needs Center, and the contact information for the coordinator in their syllabi.
(E)To ensure that the document remains useful to students, the document shall be reviewed, updated, and made available online on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution, as specified in paragraph (6), no later than the first day of every fall and spring semester or no later than the first day of every fall and spring quarter.
(4)No later than February 1, 2022, streamline the application and intake process for on-campus basic needs services and resources to minimize duplication and eliminate barriers to access. If an application is required, develop and use a single application for students to receive on-campus basic needs services and resources.
(5)No later than February 1, 2022, develop and implement a plan to identify and provide outreach to students, including nontraditional students, who have basic needs insecurity related to housing, food, and mental health. Once the coordinator is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Basic Needs Center is established pursuant to paragraph (2), the outreach shall include information about the coordinator and the Basic Needs Center.
(6)No later than February 1, 2022, provide a student basic needs tab that is clearly visible and easily accessible from a drop-down menu on the home page of the campus internet website and include the information described in paragraph (3) conspicuously on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution. Once the coordinator is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Basic Needs Center is established pursuant to paragraph (2), information about the coordinator and Basic Needs Center shall also be included on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution.
(c)(1)Each campus of the California Community Colleges shall report to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges information that shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(A)The description and number of basic needs services and resources, broken down by category.
(B)The number of students served by the basic needs services and resources.
(C)Any existing and available data regarding the socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds of these students.
(D)Challenges and best practices in the implementation of the basic needs services and resources.
(E)Whether students who used the basic needs services and resources remained enrolled or graduated from that campus.
(F)The number of students who first started receiving CalFresh benefits in the previous year and the total number of students in the previous year who received CalFresh benefits, as provided by the State Department of Social Services.
(G)Whether the campus has a data sharing agreement with the relevant county operating the CalFresh program for the purpose of identifying new, continuing, and returning students who are potentially eligible for CalFresh benefits, or efforts underway to enact such an agreement.
(2)The data and information reported under this subdivision shall be disaggregated by each basic needs service and resource, where applicable.
(3)Campuses are encouraged to collaborate with the State Department of Social Services to obtain the data identified in paragraph (1), as applicable.
(d)(1)The office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall develop and submit to the Governor and the Legislature every year beginning on or before May 1, 2023, a report based on the data and information reported by campuses pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (c) and information on the use of funds made available from the Budget Act of 2022 to implement this section.
(2)A legislative report that includes the information required to be reported in this subdivision and submitted in any of the years required by paragraph (1) shall fulfill the reporting requirement pursuant to this subdivision to reduce duplicative efforts.
SEC. 2.5.Section 66023.5 of the Education Code is amended to read:66023.5.(a)As used in this section:
(1)Basic needs services and resources includes, but is not limited to, housing, food, clothing, feminine hygiene, diapers, technology, childcare, childcare services and resources, and mental health services and resources.
(2)Childcare services and resources include, but are not limited to, providing information on affordable childcare options on and near campus and information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying to state and federal childcare subsidies and programs and finding local childcare providers, including, but not limited to, the California state preschool program, Head Start, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) childcare program, and general child care and development programs. Childcare services and resources may also include direct financial support or service support.
(2)(3)Coordinator means a basic needs coordinator established pursuant to this section.
(b)Each campus of the California Community Colleges shall do all of the following:
(1)No later than July 1, 2022, establish the position of the Basic Needs Coordinator, and designate a staff person as the Basic Needs Coordinator to serve as the single point of contact for students experiencing basic needs insecurity related to basic needs services and resources. The coordinator shall 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. To ensure the effectiveness and impact of this position, the coordinator shall be a dedicated position solely focused on addressing the basic needs of students and meet qualifications such as experience providing services to high-need and diverse populations. The coordinator shall oversee and coordinate with other staff tasked with addressing students basic needs, shall inform students of on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources and how to access them, and shall develop on- and off-campus partnerships to provide basic needs services and resources to their students.
(2)(A)No later than July 1, 2022, establish a Basic Needs Center, which means a central location on campus where basic needs services, resources, and staff are made available to students. The Basic Needs Center is intended to be a one-stop, single location and point of contact for students to more easily access and gain awareness of basic needs services and resources. The campus shall make a reasonable effort to locate all on-campus basic needs services and resources at the Basic Needs Center. If the campus cannot reasonably locate all basic needs services or resources at the Basic Needs Center, the campus shall provide students with the location and contact information, including name, telephone number, and email address, for all basic needs services and resources not located in the Basic Needs Center. The coordinator shall be housed in the Basic Needs Center.
(B)Each Basic Needs Center shall help ensure that students have the information they need to enroll in CalFresh, the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC), the California Special Supplemental Food Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and other relevant government benefits programs. If a campus has an existing center or office that supports parenting students and a student may be better served by that center or office, the Basic Needs Center may direct that student to the student parent center or office. Each Basic Needs Center shall coordinate with their campus financial aid department or financial aid office. This section does not require nor encourage the Basic Needs Center to be combined or colocated with the financial aid department or financial aid office. The funding made available by the Budget Act of 2021 to implement this section, or any subsequent Budget Act or statute to implement this section, shall not be used to combine or colocate the Basic Needs Center with the financial aid department or financial aid office and shall not be used for the administration of student financial aid programs, including staffing. Each Basic Needs Center shall connect students to the financial aid department or financial aid office office, as appropriate appropriate, to ensure that students are receiving all available financial aid. aid, including supplemental awards such as the awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42. Each Basic Needs Center shall coordinate with their local homelessness response system to refer students to community resources available to address homelessness in addition to services and resources provided by the campus. Basic Needs Centers may provide support to students who can be reasonably expected to enroll in the upcoming term and to provide support to students during summer and winter breaks who were previously enrolled or are enrolled for the upcoming fall or spring term.
(C)Campuses shall endeavor, to the extent feasible, to use a portion of any funds made available for basic needs support for providing funds directly to students to address urgent needs. To the extent that a Basic Needs Center is already in place, that center may be used to satisfy the requirements of this section. If the existing Basic Needs Center fulfills only part of the requirements of this section, basic needs services and resources shall be expanded as needed to satisfy all the requirements of this section.
(D)The childcare services and resources a Basic Needs Center may provide for parenting students include, but are not limited to, direct financial or service support.
(3)(A)No later than February 1, 2022, develop a document that shall be provided to students at the Basic Needs Center, once established pursuant to paragraph (2), in either electronic format or paper form, and that shall be made available to students online, that clearly lists on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(i)The description of the service or resource.
(ii)The location of where the service or resource is provided.
(iii)The point of contact for the service or resource, including a name, telephone number, and email address.
(iv)Any eligibility restrictions on accessing the service or resource.
(B)On or before September 1, 2025, update the document developed pursuant to subparagraph (A) to include in the list of on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources the United States Department of Agricultures Food and Nutrition Services SNAP Retail Locator internet website link, which contains a map with locations that are authorized retail food stores under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and accept the use of electronic benefits transfer cards issued pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 10065) of Part 1 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(C)Provide the document to students as a part of campus orientations in either electronic format or paper form.
(D)Provide to faculty the online link to the electronic format of the document, the location of the Basic Needs Center, once established pursuant to paragraph (2), and the contact information for the coordinator, once designated pursuant to paragraph (1), and encourage faculty to include the online link to the electronic format of the document, the location of the Basic Needs Center, and the contact information for the coordinator in their syllabi.
(E)To ensure that the document remains useful to students, the document shall be reviewed, updated, and made available online on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution, as specified in paragraph (6), no later than the first day of every fall and spring semester or no later than the first day of every fall and spring quarter.
(4)No later than February 1, 2022, streamline the application and intake process for on-campus basic needs services and resources to minimize duplication and eliminate barriers to access. If an application is required, develop and use a single application for students to receive on-campus basic needs services and resources.
(5)No later than February 1, 2022, develop and implement a plan to identify and provide outreach to students, including nontraditional students, who have basic needs insecurity related to housing, food, and mental health. Once the coordinator is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Basic Needs Center is established pursuant to paragraph (2), the outreach shall include information about the coordinator and the Basic Needs Center.
(6)No later than February 1, 2022, provide a student basic needs tab that is clearly visible and easily accessible from a drop-down menu on the home page of the campus internet website and include the information described in paragraph (3) conspicuously on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution. Once the coordinator is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Basic Needs Center is established pursuant to paragraph (2), information about the coordinator and Basic Needs Center shall also be included on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution.
(7)(A)For the 202627 and 202728 fiscal years, provide classified employees with access to food pantry services offered by the Basic Needs Center.
(B)It is the intent of the Legislature to redirect funding in the 202627 and 202728 fiscal years from the Classified Community College Employee Summer Assistance Program established pursuant to Article 11 (commencing with Section 88280) of Chapter 4 of Part 51 of Division 7 to support the activities described in subparagraph (A).
(c)(1)Each campus of the California Community Colleges shall report to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges information that shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(A)The description and number of basic needs services and resources, broken down by category.
(B)The number of students served by the basic needs services and resources.
(C)Any existing and available data regarding the socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds of these students.
(D)Challenges and best practices in the implementation of the basic needs services and resources.
(E)Whether students who used the basic needs services and resources remained enrolled or graduated from that campus.
(F)The number of students who first started receiving CalFresh benefits in the previous year and the total number of students in the previous year who received CalFresh benefits, as provided by the State Department of Social Services.
(G)Whether the campus has a data sharing agreement with the relevant county operating the CalFresh program for the purpose of identifying new, continuing, and returning students who are potentially eligible for CalFresh benefits, or efforts underway to enact such an agreement.
(2)The data and information reported under this subdivision shall be disaggregated by each basic needs service and resource, where applicable.
(3)Campuses are encouraged to collaborate with the State Department of Social Services to obtain the data identified in paragraph (1), as applicable.
(4)The data and information reported by each campus of the California Community Colleges for the 202627 and 202728 fiscal years shall also include both of the following for the applicable reporting period:
(A)The number of classified employees served pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (7) of subdivision (b).
(B)If appropriate, whether the use of food pantry services by classified employees pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (7) of subdivision (b) impacted resources available to students.
(d)(1)The office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall develop and submit to the Governor and the Legislature every year beginning on or before May 1, 2023, a report based on the data and information reported by campuses pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (c) and information on the use of funds made available from the Budget Act of 2022 to implement this section.
(2)A legislative report that includes the information required to be reported in this subdivision and submitted in any of the years required by paragraph (1) shall fulfill the reporting requirement pursuant to this subdivision to reduce duplicative efforts.
(3)The reports submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) for the 202627 and 202728 fiscal years shall also include the data and information reported by campuses pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (c) for the appropriate reporting period.
SEC. 3.Section 66027.83 is added to the Education Code, to read:66027.83.The financial aid office on each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and the financial aid office on each campus of the University of California is requested to, provide all of the following to students with dependent children:
(a)Information on the campus childcare development center and childcare offerings, if applicable.
(b)Referral to the campus Basic Needs Center established pursuant to Section 66023.4 or 66023.5 for support accessing information, including, but not limited to, information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying for state and federal childcare subsidies and programs and finding local childcare providers.
(c)Information on any supplemental awards such as the awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42.
SEC. 4.Section 66062 is added to the Education Code, to read:66062.A child development center or preschool established pursuant to Section 66060 by the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and a child development center or preschool established pursuant to Section 66060 by the University of California is requested to, provide students with dependent children seeking childcare with both of the following:
(a)Referral to the campus Basic Needs Center established pursuant to Section 66023.4 or 66023.5 for support accessing information, including, but not limited to, information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying for state and federal childcare subsidies and programs and finding local childcare providers.
(b)Referral to the campus financial aid office, including information on the awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42.
SEC. 5.Section 2.5 of this bill incorporates amendments to Section 66023.5 of the Education Code proposed by this bill, Senate Bill 148, and Assembly Bill 148. That section of this bill shall only become operative if (1) both bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2026, (2) this bill and either Senate Bill 148 or Assembly Bill 148, as enacted, amends Section 66023.5 of the Education Code, and (3) this bill is enacted last of these bills amending Section 66023.5 of the Education Code, in which case Section 66023.5 of the Education Code, as amended by Senate Bill 148 or Assembly Bill 148, shall remain operative only until the operative date of this bill, at which time Section 2.5 of this bill shall become operative, and Section 2 of this bill shall not become operative.
SEC. 5.SEC. 6If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(a)As used in this section:
(1)Basic needs services and resources includes, but is not limited to, housing, food, clothing, feminine hygiene, diapers, technology, childcare services and resources, and mental health services and resources.
(2)Childcare services and resources includes, but is not limited to, providing information on affordable childcare options on and near campus, campus and information and connections to local resource and referral agencies and the local planning council, and in order to obtain support in applying to state and federal childcare subsidies and programs, programs and finding local childcare providers, including, but not limited to, the California state preschool program, Head Start, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility for to Kids (CalWORKS) (CalWORKs) childcare program, and general child care and development programs. Childcare services and resources may also include direct financial or service support.
(3)Coordinator means a basic needs coordinator established pursuant to this section.
(b)Each campus of the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, do all of the following:
(1)On or before July 1, 2025, establish the position of the Basic Needs Coordinator, and designate a staff person as the Basic Needs Coordinator to serve as the single point of contact for students experiencing basic needs insecurity related to basic needs services and resources. The coordinator shall 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. To ensure the effectiveness and impact of this position, the coordinator shall be a dedicated position solely focused on addressing the basic needs of students and meet qualifications such as experience providing services to high-need and diverse populations. The coordinator shall oversee and coordinate with other staff tasked with addressing students basic needs, shall inform students of on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources and how to access them, and shall develop on- and off-campus partnerships to provide basic needs services and resources to their students.
(2)(A)On or before July 1, 2025, establish a Basic Needs Center, which means a central location on campus where basic needs services, resources, and staff are made available to students. The Basic Needs Center is intended to be a one-stop, single location and point of contact for students to more easily access and gain awareness of basic needs services and resources. The campus shall make a reasonable effort to locate all on-campus basic needs services and resources at the Basic Needs Center. If the campus cannot reasonably locate all basic needs services or resources at the Basic Needs Center, the campus shall provide students with the location and contact information, including name, telephone number, and email address, for all basic needs services and resources not located in the Basic Needs Center. The coordinator shall be housed in the Basic Needs Center.
(B)Each Basic Needs Center shall do all of the following:
(i)Help ensure that students have the information they need to enroll in CalFresh, the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC), the California Special Supplemental Food Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and other relevant government benefits programs. This clause does not require campus Basic Needs Centers to provide tax advising or preparation services.
(ii)If a campus has an existing center or office that supports parenting students and a student may be better served by that center or office, have the authority to direct that student to the student parent center or office.
(ii)(iii)Coordinate with their campus financial aid department or financial aid office. This clause does not require nor encourage the Basic Needs Center to be combined or colocated with the financial aid department or financial aid office.
(iii)(iv)Connect students to the financial aid department or financial aid office, as appropriate, to ensure that students are receiving all available financial aid, including supplemental awards such as the awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42.
(iv)(v)Coordinate with their local homelessness response system to refer students to community resources available to address homelessness in addition to services and resources provided by the campus.
(C)Basic Needs Centers may provide support to students who can be reasonably expected to enroll in the upcoming term and to provide support to students during summer and winter breaks who were previously enrolled or are enrolled for the upcoming fall or spring term.
(D)Campuses shall endeavor, to the extent feasible, to use a portion of any funds made available for basic needs support for providing funds directly to students to address urgent needs. To the extent that a Basic Needs Center is already in place, that center may be used to satisfy the requirements of this section. If the existing Basic Needs Center fulfills only part of the requirements of this section, basic needs services and resources shall be expanded as needed to satisfy all the requirements of this section.
(E)The childcare services and resources a Basic Needs Center may provide for parenting students includes, but is not limited to, direct financial or service support.
(3)(A)On or before February 1, 2025, develop a document that shall be provided to students at the Basic Needs Center, once established pursuant to paragraph (2), in either electronic format or paper form, and that shall be made available to students online, that clearly lists on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(i)The description of the service or resource.
(ii)The location of where the service or resource is provided.
(iii)The point of contact for the service or resource, including a name, telephone number, and email address.
(iv)Any eligibility restrictions on accessing the service or resource.
(v)The United States Department of Agricultures Food and Nutrition Services SNAP Retail Locator internet website link, which contains a map with locations that are authorized retail food stores under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and accept the use of electronic benefits transfer cards issued pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 10065) of Part 1 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(B)Provide the document to students as a part of campus orientations in either electronic format or paper form.
(C)Provide to faculty the online link to the electronic format of the document, the location of the Basic Needs Center, once established pursuant to paragraph (2), and the contact information for the coordinator, once designated pursuant to paragraph (1), and encourage faculty to include the online link to the electronic format of the document, the location of the Basic Needs Center, and the contact information for the coordinator in their syllabi.
(D)To ensure that the document remains useful to students, the document shall be reviewed, updated, and made available online on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution, as specified in paragraph (6), no later than the first day of every fall semester or fall quarter.
(4)On or before February 1, 2025, streamline the application and intake process for on-campus basic needs services and resources to minimize duplication and eliminate barriers to access. If an application is required, develop and use a single application for students to receive on-campus basic needs services and resources.
(5)On or before February 1, 2025, develop and implement a plan to identify and provide outreach to students, including nontraditional students, who have basic needs insecurity related to housing, food, and mental health. Once the coordinator is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Basic Needs Center is established pursuant to paragraph (2), the outreach shall include information about the coordinator and the Basic Needs Center.
(6)On or before February 1, 2025, provide a student basic needs tab that is clearly visible and easily accessible from a drop-down menu on the home page of the campus internet website and include the information described in paragraph (3) conspicuously on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution. Once the coordinator is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Basic Needs Center is established pursuant to paragraph (2), information about the coordinator and Basic Needs Center shall also be included on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution.
(c)(1)Each campus of the California State University shall report to the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, and each campus of the University of California is requested to report to the office of the President of the University of California, information that shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(A)The description and number of basic needs services and resources, broken down by category.
(B)The number of students served by the basic needs services and resources.
(C)Any existing and available data regarding the socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds of these students.
(D)Challenges and best practices in the implementation of the basic needs services and resources.
(E)Whether students who used the basic needs services and resources remained enrolled or graduated from that campus.
(F)The number of students who first started receiving CalFresh benefits in the previous year and the total number of students in the previous year who received CalFresh benefits, as provided by the State Department of Social Services.
(G)Whether the campus has a data sharing agreement with the relevant county operating the CalFresh program for the purpose of identifying new, continuing, and returning students who are potentially eligible for CalFresh benefits, or efforts underway to enact such an agreement.
(2)The data and information reported under this subdivision shall be disaggregated by each basic needs service and resource, where applicable.
(3)Campuses are encouraged to collaborate with the State Department of Social Services to obtain the data identified in paragraph (1), as applicable.
(d)(1)The office of the Chancellor of the California State University shall, and the office of the President of the University of California is requested to, develop and submit to the Governor and the Legislature, on or before March 1 of each year from 2026 to 2030, inclusive, a report based on the data and information reported by campuses pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (c) and information on the use of funds made available from the Budget Act of 2022 to implement this section.
(2)A legislative report that includes the information required to be reported in this subdivision and submitted in any of the years 2026 to 2030, inclusive, shall fulfill the reporting requirement pursuant to this subdivision to reduce duplicative efforts.
(e)This section does not preclude the California State University and the University of California from having additional basic needs staff who assist the Basic Needs Coordinator in completing the requirements of subdivision (b).
SEC. 2.Section 66023.5 of the Education Code is amended to read:66023.5.(a)As used in this section:
(1)Basic needs services and resources includes, but is not limited to, housing, food, clothing, feminine hygiene, diapers, technology, childcare services and resources, and mental health services and resources.
(2)Childcare services and resources includes, but is not limited to, providing information on affordable childcare options on and near campus, campus and information and connections to local resource and referral agencies and the local planning council, and in order to obtain support in applying to state and federal childcare subsidies and programs, programs and finding local childcare providers, including, but not limited to, the California state preschool program, Head Start, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility for to Kids (CalWORKS) (CalWORKs) childcare program, and general child care and development programs. Childcare services and resources may also include direct financial support or service support.
(3)Coordinator means a basic needs coordinator established pursuant to this section.
(b)Each campus of the California Community Colleges shall do all of the following:
(1)No later than July 1, 2022, establish the position of the Basic Needs Coordinator, and designate a staff person as the Basic Needs Coordinator to serve as the single point of contact for students experiencing basic needs insecurity related to basic needs services and resources. The coordinator shall 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. To ensure the effectiveness and impact of this position, the coordinator shall be a dedicated position solely focused on addressing the basic needs of students and meet qualifications such as experience providing services to high-need and diverse populations. The coordinator shall oversee and coordinate with other staff tasked with addressing students basic needs, shall inform students of on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources and how to access them, and shall develop on- and off-campus partnerships to provide basic needs services and resources to their students.
(2)(A)No later than July 1, 2022, establish a Basic Needs Center, which means a central location on campus where basic needs services, resources, and staff are made available to students. The Basic Needs Center is intended to be a one-stop, single location and point of contact for students to more easily access and gain awareness of basic needs services and resources. The campus shall make a reasonable effort to locate all on-campus basic needs services and resources at the Basic Needs Center. If the campus cannot reasonably locate all basic needs services or resources at the Basic Needs Center, the campus shall provide students with the location and contact information, including name, telephone number, and email address, for all basic needs services and resources not located in the Basic Needs Center. The coordinator shall be housed in the Basic Needs Center.
(B)Each Basic Needs Center shall help ensure that students have the information they need to enroll in CalFresh, the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC), the California Special Supplemental Food Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and other relevant government benefits programs. If a campus has an existing center or office that supports parenting students and a student may be better served by that center or office, the Basic Needs Center may direct that student to the student parent center or office. Each Basic Needs Center shall coordinate with their campus financial aid department or financial aid office. This section does not require nor encourage the Basic Needs Center to be combined or colocated with the financial aid department or financial aid office. The funding made available by the Budget Act of 2021 to implement this section, or any subsequent Budget Act or statute to implement this section, shall not be used to combine or colocate the Basic Needs Center with the financial aid department or financial aid office and shall not be used for the administration of student financial aid programs, including staffing. Each Basic Needs Center shall connect students to the financial aid department or financial aid office, as appropriate, to ensure that students are receiving all available financial aid, including supplemental awards such as the awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42. Each Basic Needs Center shall coordinate with their local homelessness response system to refer students to community resources available to address homelessness in addition to services and resources provided by the campus. Basic Needs Centers may provide support to students who can be reasonably expected to enroll in the upcoming term and to provide support to students during summer and winter breaks who were previously enrolled or are enrolled for the upcoming fall or spring term.
(C)Campuses shall endeavor, to the extent feasible, to use a portion of any funds made available for basic needs support for providing funds directly to students to address urgent needs. To the extent that a Basic Needs Center is already in place, that center may be used to satisfy the requirements of this section. If the existing Basic Needs Center fulfills only part of the requirements of this section, basic needs services and resources shall be expanded as needed to satisfy all the requirements of this section.
(D)The childcare services and resources a Basic Needs Center may provide for parenting students includes, but is not limited to, direct financial or service support.
(3)(A)No later than February 1, 2022, develop a document that shall be provided to students at the Basic Needs Center, once established pursuant to paragraph (2), in either electronic format or paper form, and that shall be made available to students online, that clearly lists on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(i)The description of the service or resource.
(ii)The location of where the service or resource is provided.
(iii)The point of contact for the service or resource, including a name, telephone number, and email address.
(iv)Any eligibility restrictions on accessing the service or resource.
(B)On or before September 1, 2025, update the document developed pursuant to subparagraph (A) to include in the list of on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources the United States Department of Agricultures Food and Nutrition Services SNAP Retail Locator internet website link, which contains a map with locations that are authorized retail food stores under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and accept the use of electronic benefits transfer cards issued pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 10065) of Part 1 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(C)Provide the document to students as a part of campus orientations in either electronic format or paper form.
(D)Provide to faculty the online link to the electronic format of the document, the location of the Basic Needs Center, once established pursuant to paragraph (2), and the contact information for the coordinator, once designated pursuant to paragraph (1), and encourage faculty to include the online link to the electronic format of the document, the location of the Basic Needs Center, and the contact information for the coordinator in their syllabi.
(E)To ensure that the document remains useful to students, the document shall be reviewed, updated, and made available online on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution, as specified in paragraph (6), no later than the first day of every fall and spring semester or no later than the first day of every fall and spring quarter.
(4)No later than February 1, 2022, streamline the application and intake process for on-campus basic needs services and resources to minimize duplication and eliminate barriers to access. If an application is required, develop and use a single application for students to receive on-campus basic needs services and resources.
(5)No later than February 1, 2022, develop and implement a plan to identify and provide outreach to students, including nontraditional students, who have basic needs insecurity related to housing, food, and mental health. Once the coordinator is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Basic Needs Center is established pursuant to paragraph (2), the outreach shall include information about the coordinator and the Basic Needs Center.
(6)No later than February 1, 2022, provide a student basic needs tab that is clearly visible and easily accessible from a drop-down menu on the home page of the campus internet website and include the information described in paragraph (3) conspicuously on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution. Once the coordinator is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Basic Needs Center is established pursuant to paragraph (2), information about the coordinator and Basic Needs Center shall also be included on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution.
(c)(1)Each campus of the California Community Colleges shall report to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges information that shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(A)The description and number of basic needs services and resources, broken down by category.
(B)The number of students served by the basic needs services and resources.
(C)Any existing and available data regarding the socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds of these students.
(D)Challenges and best practices in the implementation of the basic needs services and resources.
(E)Whether students who used the basic needs services and resources remained enrolled or graduated from that campus.
(F)The number of students who first started receiving CalFresh benefits in the previous year and the total number of students in the previous year who received CalFresh benefits, as provided by the State Department of Social Services.
(G)Whether the campus has a data sharing agreement with the relevant county operating the CalFresh program for the purpose of identifying new, continuing, and returning students who are potentially eligible for CalFresh benefits, or efforts underway to enact such an agreement.
(2)The data and information reported under this subdivision shall be disaggregated by each basic needs service and resource, where applicable.
(3)Campuses are encouraged to collaborate with the State Department of Social Services to obtain the data identified in paragraph (1), as applicable.
(d)(1)The office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall develop and submit to the Governor and the Legislature every year beginning on or before May 1, 2023, a report based on the data and information reported by campuses pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (c) and information on the use of funds made available from the Budget Act of 2022 to implement this section.
(2)A legislative report that includes the information required to be reported in this subdivision and submitted in any of the years required by paragraph (1) shall fulfill the reporting requirement pursuant to this subdivision to reduce duplicative efforts.
SEC. 3.Section 66027.83 is added to the Education Code, to read:66027.83.The financial aid office on each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and the financial aid office on each campus of the University of California is requested to, provide all of the following to students with dependent children:
(a)Information on the campus childcare development center and childcare offerings, if applicable.
(b)Referral to the campus Basic Needs Center established pursuant to Section 66023.4 or 66023.5 for support accessing information, including, but not limited to, information and connections to local resource and referral agencies and the local planning council, and in order to obtain support in applying for state and federal childcare subsidies and programs. programs and finding local childcare providers.
(c)Information on any supplemental awards such as the awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42.
SEC. 4.Section 66062 is added to the Education Code, to read:66062.A child development center or preschool established pursuant to Section 66060 by the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and a child development center or preschool established pursuant to Section 66060 by the University of California is requested to, provide students with dependent children seeking childcare with both of the following:
(a)Referral to the campus Basic Needs Center established pursuant to Section 66023.4 or 66023.5 for support accessing information, including, but not limited to, information and connections to local resource and referral agencies and the local planning council, and in order to obtain support in applying for state and federal childcare subsidies and programs. programs and finding local childcare providers.
(b)Referral to the campus financial aid office, including information on the awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42.
SEC. 5.If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(a)As used in this section:
(1)Basic needs services and resources includes, but is not limited to, housing, food, clothing, feminine hygiene, diapers, technology, childcare services and resources, and mental health services and resources.
(2)Childcare services and resources includes, but is not limited to, providing information on affordable childcare options on and near campus, information and connections to local resource and referral agencies and the local planning council, and support in applying to state and federal childcare subsidies and programs, including, but not limited to, the California state preschool program, Head Start, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility for Kids (CalWORKS) childcare program, and general child care and development programs.
(3)Coordinator means a basic needs coordinator established pursuant to this section.
(b)Each campus of the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, do all of the following:
(1)On or before July 1, 2025, establish the position of the Basic Needs Coordinator, and designate a staff person as the Basic Needs Coordinator to serve as the single point of contact for students experiencing basic needs insecurity related to basic needs services and resources. The coordinator shall 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. To ensure the effectiveness and impact of this position, the coordinator shall be a dedicated position solely focused on addressing the basic needs of students and meet qualifications such as experience providing services to high-need and diverse populations. The coordinator shall oversee and coordinate with other staff tasked with addressing students basic needs, shall inform students of on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources and how to access them, and shall develop on- and off-campus partnerships to provide basic needs services and resources to their students.
(2)(A)On or before July 1, 2025, establish a Basic Needs Center, which means a central location on campus where basic needs services, resources, and staff are made available to students. The Basic Needs Center is intended to be a one-stop, single location and point of contact for students to more easily access and gain awareness of basic needs services and resources. The campus shall make a reasonable effort to locate all on-campus basic needs services and resources at the Basic Needs Center. If the campus cannot reasonably locate all basic needs services or resources at the Basic Needs Center, the campus shall provide students with the location and contact information, including name, telephone number, and email address, for all basic needs services and resources not located in the Basic Needs Center. The coordinator shall be housed in the Basic Needs Center.
(B)Each Basic Needs Center shall do all of the following:
(i)Help ensure that students have the information they need to enroll in CalFresh, the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC), the California Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and other relevant government benefits programs. This clause does not require campus Basic Needs Centers to provide tax advising or preparation services.
(ii)Coordinate with their campus financial aid department or financial aid office. This clause does not require nor encourage the Basic Needs Center to be combined or colocated with the financial aid department or financial aid office.
(iii)Connect students to the financial aid department or financial aid office, as appropriate, to ensure that students are receiving all available financial aid, including supplemental awards such as the awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42.
(iv)Coordinate with their local homelessness response system to refer students to community resources available to address homelessness in addition to services and resources provided by the campus.
(C)Basic Needs Centers may provide support to students who can be reasonably expected to enroll in the upcoming term and to provide support to students during summer and winter breaks who were previously enrolled or are enrolled for the upcoming fall or spring term.
(D)Campuses shall endeavor, to the extent feasible, to use a portion of any funds made available for basic needs support for providing funds directly to students to address urgent needs. To the extent that a Basic Needs Center is already in place, that center may be used to satisfy the requirements of this section. If the existing Basic Needs Center fulfills only part of the requirements of this section, basic needs services and resources shall be expanded as needed to satisfy all the requirements of this section.
(3)(A)On or before February 1, 2025, develop a document that shall be provided to students at the Basic Needs Center, once established pursuant to paragraph (2), in either electronic format or paper form, and that shall be made available to students online, that clearly lists on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(i)The description of the service or resource.
(ii)The location of where the service or resource is provided.
(iii)The point of contact for the service or resource, including a name, telephone number, and email address.
(iv)Any eligibility restrictions on accessing the service or resource.
(v)The United States Department of Agricultures Food and Nutrition Services SNAP Retail Locator internet website link, which contains a map with locations that are authorized retail food stores under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and accept the use of electronic benefits transfer cards issued pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 10065) of Part 1 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(B)Provide the document to students as a part of campus orientations in either electronic format or paper form.
(C)Provide to faculty the online link to the electronic format of the document, the location of the Basic Needs Center, once established pursuant to paragraph (2), and the contact information for the coordinator, once designated pursuant to paragraph (1), and encourage faculty to include the online link to the electronic format of the document, the location of the Basic Needs Center, and the contact information for the coordinator in their syllabi.
(D)To ensure that the document remains useful to students, the document shall be reviewed, updated, and made available online on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution, as specified in paragraph (6), no later than the first day of every fall semester or fall quarter.
(4)On or before February 1, 2025, streamline the application and intake process for on-campus basic needs services and resources to minimize duplication and eliminate barriers to access. If an application is required, develop and use a single application for students to receive on-campus basic needs services and resources.
(5)On or before February 1, 2025, develop and implement a plan to identify and provide outreach to students, including nontraditional students, who have basic needs insecurity related to housing, food, and mental health. Once the coordinator is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Basic Needs Center is established pursuant to paragraph (2), the outreach shall include information about the coordinator and the Basic Needs Center.
(6)On or before February 1, 2025, provide a student basic needs tab that is clearly visible and easily accessible from a drop-down menu on the home page of the campus internet website and include the information described in paragraph (3) conspicuously on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution. Once the coordinator is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Basic Needs Center is established pursuant to paragraph (2), information about the coordinator and Basic Needs Center shall also be included on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution.
(c)(1)Each campus of the California State University shall report to the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, and each campus of the University of California is requested to report to the office of the President of the University of California, information that shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(A)The description and number of basic needs services and resources, broken down by category.
(B)The number of students served by the basic needs services and resources.
(C)Any existing and available data regarding the socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds of these students.
(D)Challenges and best practices in the implementation of the basic needs services and resources.
(E)Whether students who used the basic needs services and resources remained enrolled or graduated from that campus.
(F)The number of students who first started receiving CalFresh benefits in the previous year and the total number of students in the previous year who received CalFresh benefits, as provided by the State Department of Social Services.
(G)Whether the campus has a data sharing agreement with the relevant county operating the CalFresh program for the purpose of identifying new, continuing, and returning students who are potentially eligible for CalFresh benefits, or efforts underway to enact such an agreement.
(2)The data and information reported under this subdivision shall be disaggregated by each basic needs service and resource, where applicable.
(3)Campuses are encouraged to collaborate with the State Department of Social Services to obtain the data identified in paragraph (1), as applicable.
(d)(1)The office of the Chancellor of the California State University shall, and the office of the President of the University of California is requested to, develop and submit to the Governor and the Legislature, on or before March 1 of each year from 2026 to 2030, inclusive, a report based on the data and information reported by campuses pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (c) and information on the use of funds made available from the Budget Act of 2022 to implement this section.
(2)A legislative report that includes the information required to be reported in this subdivision and submitted in any of the years 2026 to 2030, inclusive, shall fulfill the reporting requirement pursuant to this subdivision to reduce duplicative efforts.
(e)This section does not preclude the California State University and the University of California from having additional basic needs staff who assist the Basic Needs Coordinator in completing the requirements of subdivision (b).
SEC. 2.Section 66023.5 of the Education Code, as amended by Section 2 of Chapter 913 of the Statutes of 2024, is amended to read:66023.5.(a)As used in this section:
(1)Basic needs services and resources includes, but is not limited to, housing, food, clothing, feminine hygiene, diapers, technology, childcare services and resources, and mental health services and resources.
(2)Childcare services and resources includes, but is not limited to, providing information on affordable childcare options on and near campus, information and connections to local resource and referral agencies and the local planning council, and support in applying to state and federal childcare subsidies and programs, including, but not limited to, the California state preschool program, Head Start, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility for Kids (CalWORKS) childcare program, and general child care and development programs.
(3)Coordinator means a basic needs coordinator established pursuant to this section.
(b)Each campus of the California Community Colleges shall do all of the following:
(1)No later than July 1, 2022, establish the position of the Basic Needs Coordinator, and designate a staff person as the Basic Needs Coordinator to serve as the single point of contact for students experiencing basic needs insecurity related to basic needs services and resources. The coordinator shall 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. To ensure the effectiveness and impact of this position, the coordinator shall be a dedicated position solely focused on addressing the basic needs of students and meet qualifications such as experience providing services to high-need and diverse populations. The coordinator shall oversee and coordinate with other staff tasked with addressing students basic needs, shall inform students of on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources and how to access them, and shall develop on- and off-campus partnerships to provide basic needs services and resources to their students.
(2)(A)No later than July 1, 2022, establish a Basic Needs Center, which means a central location on campus where basic needs services, resources, and staff are made available to students. The Basic Needs Center is intended to be a one-stop, single location and point of contact for students to more easily access and gain awareness of basic needs services and resources. The campus shall make a reasonable effort to locate all on-campus basic needs services and resources at the Basic Needs Center. If the campus cannot reasonably locate all basic needs services or resources at the Basic Needs Center, the campus shall provide students with the location and contact information, including name, telephone number, and email address, for all basic needs services and resources not located in the Basic Needs Center. The coordinator shall be housed in the Basic Needs Center.
(B)Each Basic Needs Center shall help ensure that students have the information they need to enroll in CalFresh, the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC), the California Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and other relevant government benefits programs. Each Basic Needs Center shall coordinate with their campus financial aid department or financial aid office. This section does not require nor encourage the Basic Needs Center to be combined or colocated with the financial aid department or financial aid office. The funding made available by the Budget Act of 2021 to implement this section, or any subsequent Budget Act or statute to implement this section, shall not be used to combine or colocate the Basic Needs Center with the financial aid department or financial aid office and shall not be used for the administration of student financial aid programs, including staffing. Each Basic Needs Center shall connect students to the financial aid department or financial aid office, as appropriate, to ensure that students are receiving all available financial aid, including supplemental awards such as the awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42. Each Basic Needs Center shall coordinate with their local homelessness response system to refer students to community resources available to address homelessness in addition to services and resources provided by the campus. Basic Needs Centers may provide support to students who can be reasonably expected to enroll in the upcoming term and to provide support to students during summer and winter breaks who were previously enrolled or are enrolled for the upcoming fall or spring term.
(C)Campuses shall endeavor, to the extent feasible, to use a portion of any funds made available for basic needs support for providing funds directly to students to address urgent needs. To the extent that a Basic Needs Center is already in place, that center may be used to satisfy the requirements of this section. If the existing Basic Needs Center fulfills only part of the requirements of this section, basic needs services and resources shall be expanded as needed to satisfy all the requirements of this section.
(3)(A)No later than February 1, 2022, develop a document that shall be provided to students at the Basic Needs Center, once established pursuant to paragraph (2), in either electronic format or paper form, and that shall be made available to students online, that clearly lists on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(i)The description of the service or resource.
(ii)The location of where the service or resource is provided.
(iii)The point of contact for the service or resource, including a name, telephone number, and email address.
(iv)Any eligibility restrictions on accessing the service or resource.
(B)On or before September 1, 2025, update the document developed pursuant to subparagraph (A) to include in the list of on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources the United States Department of Agricultures Food and Nutrition Services SNAP Retail Locator internet website link, which contains a map with locations that are authorized retail food stores under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and accept the use of electronic benefits transfer cards issued pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 10065) of Part 1 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(C)Provide the document to students as a part of campus orientations in either electronic format or paper form.
(D)Provide to faculty the online link to the electronic format of the document, the location of the Basic Needs Center, once established pursuant to paragraph (2), and the contact information for the coordinator, once designated pursuant to paragraph (1), and encourage faculty to include the online link to the electronic format of the document, the location of the Basic Needs Center, and the contact information for the coordinator in their syllabi.
(E)To ensure that the document remains useful to students, the document shall be reviewed, updated, and made available online on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution, as specified in paragraph (6), no later than the first day of every fall and spring semester or no later than the first day of every fall and spring quarter.
(4)No later than February 1, 2022, streamline the application and intake process for on-campus basic needs services and resources to minimize duplication and eliminate barriers to access. If an application is required, develop and use a single application for students to receive on-campus basic needs services and resources.
(5)No later than February 1, 2022, develop and implement a plan to identify and provide outreach to students, including nontraditional students, who have basic needs insecurity related to housing, food, and mental health. Once the coordinator is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Basic Needs Center is established pursuant to paragraph (2), the outreach shall include information about the coordinator and the Basic Needs Center.
(6)No later than February 1, 2022, provide a student basic needs tab that is clearly visible and easily accessible from a drop-down menu on the home page of the campus internet website and include the information described in paragraph (3) conspicuously on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution. Once the coordinator is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Basic Needs Center is established pursuant to paragraph (2), information about the coordinator and Basic Needs Center shall also be included on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution.
(c)(1)Each campus of the California Community Colleges shall report to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges information that shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(A)The description and number of basic needs services and resources, broken down by category.
(B)The number of students served by the basic needs services and resources.
(C)Any existing and available data regarding the socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds of these students.
(D)Challenges and best practices in the implementation of the basic needs services and resources.
(E)Whether students who used the basic needs services and resources remained enrolled or graduated from that campus.
(F)The number of students who first started receiving CalFresh benefits in the previous year and the total number of students in the previous year who received CalFresh benefits, as provided by the State Department of Social Services.
(G)Whether the campus has a data sharing agreement with the relevant county operating the CalFresh program for the purpose of identifying new, continuing, and returning students who are potentially eligible for CalFresh benefits, or efforts underway to enact such an agreement.
(2)The data and information reported under this subdivision shall be disaggregated by each basic needs service and resource, where applicable.
(3)Campuses are encouraged to collaborate with the State Department of Social Services to obtain the data identified in paragraph (1), as applicable.
(d)(1)The office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall develop and submit to the Governor and the Legislature every year beginning on or before May 1, 2023, a report based on the data and information reported by campuses pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (c) and information on the use of funds made available from the Budget Act of 2022 to implement this section.
(2)A legislative report that includes the information required to be reported in this subdivision and submitted in any of the years required by paragraph (1) shall fulfill the reporting requirement pursuant to this subdivision to reduce duplicative efforts.
SEC. 3.Section 66027.83 is added to the Education Code, to read:66027.83.The financial aid office on each campus of the California Community Colleges, Colleges and the California State University, University shall, and the financial aid office on each campus of the University of California shall is requested to, provide all of the following to students with dependent children:
(a)Information on the campus childcare development center and childcare offerings, if applicable.
(b)Referral to the campus Basic Needs Center established pursuant to Section 66023.4 or 66023.5 for support accessing information, including, but not limited to, information and connections to local resource and referral agencies and the local planning council, and support in applying for state and federal childcare subsidies and programs.
(c)Information on any supplemental awards such as the awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42.
SEC. 4.Section 66062 is added to the Education Code, to read:66062.Students with dependent children seeking childcare at a A child development center or preschool established pursuant to Section 66060 by the California Community Colleges, Colleges and the California State University, or University shall, and a child development center or preschool established pursuant to Section 66060 by the University of California pursuant to Section 66060 shall be provided is requested to, provide students with dependent children seeking childcare with both of the following:
(a)Referral to the campus Basic Needs Center established pursuant to Section 66023.4 or 66023.5 for support accessing information, including, but not limited to, information and connections to local resource and referral agencies and the local planning council, and support in applying for state and federal childcare subsidies and programs.
(b)Information on Referral to the campus financial aid office, including information on the awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42.
SEC. 5.If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(a)As used in this section:
(1)Basic needs services and resources includes, but is not limited to, housing, food, clothing, feminine hygiene, diapers, technology, childcare, childcare services and resources, and mental health services and resources.
(2)Childcare services and resources includes, but is not limited to, providing information on affordable childcare options on and near campus, information and connections to local resource and referral agencies and the local planning council, and support in applying to state and federal childcare subsidies and programs, including, but not limited to, the California state preschool program, Head Start, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility for Kids (CalWORKS) childcare program, and general child care and development programs.
(2)(3)Coordinator means a basic needs coordinator established pursuant to this section.
(b)Each campus of the California State University shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, do all of the following:
(1)On or before July 1, 2025, establish the position of the Basic Needs Coordinator, and designate a staff person as the Basic Needs Coordinator to serve as the single point of contact for students experiencing basic needs insecurity related to basic needs services and resources. The coordinator shall 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. To ensure the effectiveness and impact of this position, the coordinator shall be a dedicated position solely focused on addressing the basic needs of students and meet qualifications such as experience providing services to high-need and diverse populations. The coordinator shall oversee and coordinate with other staff tasked with addressing students basic needs, shall inform students of on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources and how to access them, and shall develop on- and off-campus partnerships to provide basic needs services and resources to their students.
(2)(A)On or before July 1, 2025, establish a Basic Needs Center, which means a central location on campus where basic needs services, resources, and staff are made available to students. The Basic Needs Center is intended to be a one-stop, single location and point of contact for students to more easily access and gain awareness of basic needs services and resources. The campus shall make a reasonable effort to locate all on-campus basic needs services and resources at the Basic Needs Center. If the campus cannot reasonably locate all basic needs services or resources at the Basic Needs Center, the campus shall provide students with the location and contact information, including name, telephone number, and email address, for all basic needs services and resources not located in the Basic Needs Center. The coordinator shall be housed in the Basic Needs Center.
(B)Each Basic Needs Center shall do all of the following:
(i)Help ensure that students have the information they need to enroll in CalFresh, the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC), the California Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and other relevant government benefits programs. This clause does not require campus Basic Needs Centers to provide tax advising or preparation services.
(ii)Coordinate with their campus financial aid department or financial aid office. This clause does not require nor encourage the Basic Needs Center to be combined or colocated with the financial aid department or financial aid office.
(iii)Connect students to the financial aid department or financial aid office office, as appropriate appropriate, to ensure that students are receiving all available financial aid. aid, including supplemental awards such as the awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42.
(iv)Coordinate with their local homelessness response system to refer students to community resources available to address homelessness in addition to services and resources provided by the campus.
(C)Basic Needs Centers may provide support to students who can be reasonably expected to enroll in the upcoming term and to provide support to students during summer and winter breaks who were previously enrolled or are enrolled for the upcoming fall or spring term.
(D)Campuses shall endeavor, to the extent feasible, to use a portion of any funds made available for basic needs support for providing funds directly to students to address urgent needs. To the extent that a Basic Needs Center is already in place, that center may be used to satisfy the requirements of this section. If the existing Basic Needs Center fulfills only part of the requirements of this section, basic needs services and resources shall be expanded as needed to satisfy all the requirements of this section.
(3)(A)On or before February 1, 2025, develop a document that shall be provided to students at the Basic Needs Center, once established pursuant to paragraph (2), in either electronic format or paper form, and that shall be made available to students online, that clearly lists on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(i)The description of the service or resource.
(ii)The location of where the service or resource is provided.
(iii)The point of contact for the service or resource, including a name, telephone number, and email address.
(iv)Any eligibility restrictions on accessing the service or resource.
(v)The United States Department of Agricultures Food and Nutrition Services SNAP Retail Locator internet website link, which contains a map with locations that are authorized retail food stores under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and accept the use of electronic benefits transfer cards issued pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 10065) of Part 1 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(B)Provide the document to students as a part of campus orientations in either electronic format or paper form.
(C)Provide to faculty the online link to the electronic format of the document, the location of the Basic Needs Center, once established pursuant to paragraph (2), and the contact information for the coordinator, once designated pursuant to paragraph (1), and encourage faculty to include the online link to the electronic format of the document, the location of the Basic Needs Center, and the contact information for the coordinator in their syllabi.
(D)To ensure that the document remains useful to students, the document shall be reviewed, updated, and made available online on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution, as specified in paragraph (6), no later than the first day of every fall semester or fall quarter.
(4)On or before February 1, 2025, streamline the application and intake process for on-campus basic needs services and resources to minimize duplication and eliminate barriers to access. If an application is required, develop and use a single application for students to receive on-campus basic needs services and resources.
(5)On or before February 1, 2025, develop and implement a plan to identify and provide outreach to students, including nontraditional students, who have basic needs insecurity related to housing, food, and mental health. Once the coordinator is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Basic Needs Center is established pursuant to paragraph (2), the outreach shall include information about the coordinator and the Basic Needs Center.
(6)On or before February 1, 2025, provide a student basic needs tab that is clearly visible and easily accessible from a drop-down menu on the home page of the campus internet website and include the information described in paragraph (3) conspicuously on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution. Once the coordinator is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Basic Needs Center is established pursuant to paragraph (2), information about the coordinator and Basic Needs Center shall also be included on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution.
(c)(1)Each campus of the California State University shall report to the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, and each campus of the University of California is requested to report to the office of the President of the University of California, information that shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(A)The description and number of basic needs services and resources, broken down by category.
(B)The number of students served by the basic needs services and resources.
(C)Any existing and available data regarding the socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds of these students.
(D)Challenges and best practices in the implementation of the basic needs services and resources.
(E)Whether students who used the basic needs services and resources remained enrolled or graduated from that campus.
(F)The number of students who first started receiving CalFresh benefits in the previous year and the total number of students in the previous year who received CalFresh benefits, as provided by the State Department of Social Services.
(G)Whether the campus has a data sharing agreement with the relevant county operating the CalFresh program for the purpose of identifying new, continuing, and returning students who are potentially eligible for CalFresh benefits, or efforts underway to enact such an agreement.
(2)The data and information reported under this subdivision shall be disaggregated by each basic needs service and resource, where applicable.
(3)Campuses are encouraged to collaborate with the State Department of Social Services to obtain the data identified in paragraph (1), as applicable.
(d)(1)The office of the Chancellor of the California State University shall, and the office of the President of the University of California is requested to, develop and submit to the Governor and the Legislature, on or before March 1 of each year from 2026 to 2030, inclusive, a report based on the data and information reported by campuses pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (c) and information on the use of funds made available from the Budget Act of 2022 to implement this section.
(2)A legislative report that includes the information required to be reported in this subdivision and submitted in any of the years 2026 to 2030, inclusive, shall fulfill the reporting requirement pursuant to this subdivision to reduce duplicative efforts.
(e)This section does not preclude the California State University and the University of California from having additional basic needs staff who assist the Basic Needs Coordinator in completing the requirements of subdivision (b).
SEC. 2.Section 66023.5 of the Education Code, as amended by Section 2 of Chapter 913 of the Statutes of 2024, is amended to read:66023.5.(a)As used in this section:
(1)Basic needs services and resources includes, but is not limited to, housing, food, clothing, feminine hygiene, diapers, technology, childcare, childcare services and resources, and mental health services and resources.
(2)Childcare services and resources includes, but is not limited to, providing information on affordable childcare options on and near campus, information and connections to local resource and referral agencies and the local planning council, and support in applying to state and federal childcare subsidies and programs, including, but not limited to, the California state preschool program, Head Start, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility for Kids (CalWORKS) childcare program, and general child care and development programs.
(2)(3)Coordinator means a basic needs coordinator established pursuant to this section.
(b)Each campus of the California Community Colleges shall do all of the following:
(1)No later than July 1, 2022, establish the position of the Basic Needs Coordinator, and designate a staff person as the Basic Needs Coordinator to serve as the single point of contact for students experiencing basic needs insecurity related to basic needs services and resources. The coordinator shall 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. To ensure the effectiveness and impact of this position, the coordinator shall be a dedicated position solely focused on addressing the basic needs of students and meet qualifications such as experience providing services to high-need and diverse populations. The coordinator shall oversee and coordinate with other staff tasked with addressing students basic needs, shall inform students of on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources and how to access them, and shall develop on- and off-campus partnerships to provide basic needs services and resources to their students.
(2)(A)No later than July 1, 2022, establish a Basic Needs Center, which means a central location on campus where basic needs services, resources, and staff are made available to students. The Basic Needs Center is intended to be a one-stop, single location and point of contact for students to more easily access and gain awareness of basic needs services and resources. The campus shall make a reasonable effort to locate all on-campus basic needs services and resources at the Basic Needs Center. If the campus cannot reasonably locate all basic needs services or resources at the Basic Needs Center, the campus shall provide students with the location and contact information, including name, telephone number, and email address, for all basic needs services and resources not located in the Basic Needs Center. The coordinator shall be housed in the Basic Needs Center.
(B)Each Basic Needs Center shall help ensure that students have the information they need to enroll in CalFresh, the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC), the California Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and other relevant government benefits programs. Each Basic Needs Center shall coordinate with their campus financial aid department or financial aid office. This section does not require nor encourage the Basic Needs Center to be combined or colocated with the financial aid department or financial aid office. The funding made available by the Budget Act of 2021 to implement this section, or any subsequent Budget Act or statute to implement this section, shall not be used to combine or colocate the Basic Needs Center with the financial aid department or financial aid office and shall not be used for the administration of student financial aid programs, including staffing. Each Basic Needs Center shall connect students to the financial aid department or financial aid office office, as appropriate appropriate, to ensure that students are receiving all available financial aid. aid, including supplemental awards such as the awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42. Each Basic Needs Center shall coordinate with their local homelessness response system to refer students to community resources available to address homelessness in addition to services and resources provided by the campus. Basic Needs Centers may provide support to students who can be reasonably expected to enroll in the upcoming term and to provide support to students during summer and winter breaks who were previously enrolled or are enrolled for the upcoming fall or spring term.
(C)Campuses shall endeavor, to the extent feasible, to use a portion of any funds made available for basic needs support for providing funds directly to students to address urgent needs. To the extent that a Basic Needs Center is already in place, that center may be used to satisfy the requirements of this section. If the existing Basic Needs Center fulfills only part of the requirements of this section, basic needs services and resources shall be expanded as needed to satisfy all the requirements of this section.
(3)(A)No later than February 1, 2022, develop a document that shall be provided to students at the Basic Needs Center, once established pursuant to paragraph (2), in either electronic format or paper form, and that shall be made available to students online, that clearly lists on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(i)The description of the service or resource.
(ii)The location of where the service or resource is provided.
(iii)The point of contact for the service or resource, including a name, telephone number, and email address.
(iv)Any eligibility restrictions on accessing the service or resource.
(B)On or before September 1, 2025, update the document developed pursuant to subparagraph (A) to include in the list of on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources the United States Department of Agricultures Food and Nutrition Services SNAP Retail Locator internet website link, which contains a map with locations that are authorized retail food stores under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and accept the use of electronic benefits transfer cards issued pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 10065) of Part 1 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(C)Provide the document to students as a part of campus orientations in either electronic format or paper form.
(D)Provide to faculty the online link to the electronic format of the document, the location of the Basic Needs Center, once established pursuant to paragraph (2), and the contact information for the coordinator, once designated pursuant to paragraph (1), and encourage faculty to include the online link to the electronic format of the document, the location of the Basic Needs Center, and the contact information for the coordinator in their syllabi.
(E)To ensure that the document remains useful to students, the document shall be reviewed, updated, and made available online on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution, as specified in paragraph (6), no later than the first day of every fall and spring semester or no later than the first day of every fall and spring quarter.
(4)No later than February 1, 2022, streamline the application and intake process for on-campus basic needs services and resources to minimize duplication and eliminate barriers to access. If an application is required, develop and use a single application for students to receive on-campus basic needs services and resources.
(5)No later than February 1, 2022, develop and implement a plan to identify and provide outreach to students, including nontraditional students, who have basic needs insecurity related to housing, food, and mental health. Once the coordinator is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Basic Needs Center is established pursuant to paragraph (2), the outreach shall include information about the coordinator and the Basic Needs Center.
(6)No later than February 1, 2022, provide a student basic needs tab that is clearly visible and easily accessible from a drop-down menu on the home page of the campus internet website and include the information described in paragraph (3) conspicuously on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution. Once the coordinator is designated pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Basic Needs Center is established pursuant to paragraph (2), information about the coordinator and Basic Needs Center shall also be included on both the internet website of the campus via the student basic needs tab and the internet website-based student account associated with a students attendance at the institution.
(c)(1)Each campus of the California Community Colleges shall report to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges information that shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(A)The description and number of basic needs services and resources, broken down by category.
(B)The number of students served by the basic needs services and resources.
(C)Any existing and available data regarding the socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds of these students.
(D)Challenges and best practices in the implementation of the basic needs services and resources.
(E)Whether students who used the basic needs services and resources remained enrolled or graduated from that campus.
(F)The number of students who first started receiving CalFresh benefits in the previous year and the total number of students in the previous year who received CalFresh benefits, as provided by the State Department of Social Services.
(G)Whether the campus has a data sharing agreement with the relevant county operating the CalFresh program for the purpose of identifying new, continuing, and returning students who are potentially eligible for CalFresh benefits, or efforts underway to enact such an agreement.
(2)The data and information reported under this subdivision shall be disaggregated by each basic needs service and resource, where applicable.
(3)Campuses are encouraged to collaborate with the State Department of Social Services to obtain the data identified in paragraph (1), as applicable.
(d)(1)The office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall develop and submit to the Governor and the Legislature every year beginning on or before May 1, 2023, a report based on the data and information reported by campuses pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (c) and information on the use of funds made available from the Budget Act of 2022 to implement this section.
(2)A legislative report that includes the information required to be reported in this subdivision and submitted in any of the years required by paragraph (1) shall fulfill the reporting requirement pursuant to this subdivision to reduce duplicative efforts.
SEC. 3.Section 66027.83 is added to the Education Code, to read:66027.83.The financial aid office on each campus of the California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California shall provide all of the following to students with dependent children:
(a)Information on the campus childcare development center and childcare offerings, if applicable.
(b)Referral to the campus Basic Needs Center established pursuant to Section 66023.4 or 66023.5 for support accessing information, including, but not limited to, information and connections to local resource and referral agencies and the local planning council, and support in applying for state and federal childcare subsidies and programs.
(c)Information on any supplemental awards such as the awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42.
SEC. 4.Section 66062 is added to the Education Code, to read:66062.Students with dependent children seeking childcare at a child development center or preschool established by the California Community Colleges, the California State University, or the University of California pursuant to Section 66060 shall be provided with both of the following:
(a)Referral to the campus Basic Needs Center established pursuant to Section 66023.4 or 66023.5 for support accessing information, including, but not limited to, information and connections to local resource and referral agencies and the local planning council, and support in applying for state and federal childcare subsidies and programs.
(b)Information on the campus financial aid office, including the awards for students with dependent children established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42.
SEC. 5.If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
|
Date
|
Status
|
|---|---|
| Oct 11, 2025 | Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 600, Statutes of 2025. |
| Oct 11, 2025 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Sep 23, 2025 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m. |
| Sep 13, 2025 | In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending. |
| Sep 13, 2025 | Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 3031.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling. |
| Sep 12, 2025 | Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 80. Noes 0. Page 3390.) Ordered to the Senate. |
| Sep 9, 2025 | Read third time and amended. |
| Sep 9, 2025 | Ordered to third reading. |
| Sep 9, 2025 | Joint Rule 61(a)(13) suspended. (Ayes 58. Noes 17. Page 3062.) |
| Sep 2, 2025 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| Aug 29, 2025 | From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 29). |
| Aug 20, 2025 | August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file. |
| Jul 16, 2025 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Jul 9, 2025 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on HUM. S. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (July 8). Re-referred to Com. on HUM. S. |
| Jun 16, 2025 | Referred to Coms. on HIGHER ED. and HUM. S. |
| Jun 5, 2025 | In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk. |
| Jun 4, 2025 | Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 1522.) Ordered to the Assembly. |
| Jun 2, 2025 | Ordered to special consent calendar. |
| May 27, 2025 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| May 23, 2025 | Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading. |
| May 23, 2025 | From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1193.) (May 23). |
| May 16, 2025 | Set for hearing May 23. |
| Apr 21, 2025 | April 21 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file. |
| Apr 4, 2025 | Set for hearing April 21. |
| Apr 2, 2025 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 633.) (April 2). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Mar 20, 2025 | From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on ED. |
| Mar 19, 2025 | Set for hearing April 2. |
| Feb 14, 2025 | Referred to Com. on ED. |
| Feb 5, 2025 | From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 7. |
| Feb 4, 2025 | Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print. |
|
Date
|
Description
|
Location
|
Votes
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 13, 2025 | Unfinished Business SB271 Reyes Concurrence | Senate Floor |
Passed |
|
| Sep 12, 2025 | SB 271 Reyes Senate Third Reading By Fong | Assembly Floor |
Passed |
|
| Sep 12, 2025 | Unfinished Business SB271 Reyes Concurrence | Senate Floor |
Passed |
|
| Aug 29, 2025 | Do pass. | Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
|
| Jul 15, 2025 | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar | Assembly Standing Committee on Human Services |
Passed |
|
| Jul 8, 2025 | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Human Services] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar | Assembly Standing Committee on Higher Education |
Passed |
|
| Jun 4, 2025 | Special Consent SB271 Reyes | Senate Floor |
Passed |
|
| May 23, 2025 | Do pass as amended | Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
|
| Apr 21, 2025 | Placed on suspense file | Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
|
| Apr 2, 2025 | Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar | Senate Standing Committee on Education |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
|
Organization
|
Position
|
Date
|
|---|---|---|
| California Catholic Conference | ** Support | |
| California Child Care Resource and Referral Network | ** Support | |
| California Community Colleges, Chancellor's Office | ** Support | |
| California Family Resource Association | ** Support | |
| California Legislative Women's Caucus | ** Support | |
| California State Student Association | ** Support | |
| California State University, Office Of The Chancellor | ** Support | |
| California Student Aid Commission | ** Support | |
| California Wic Association | ** Support | |
| California Women's Law Center | ** Support | |
| Campaign For College Opportunity | ** Support | |
| Child Abuse Prevention Center | ** Support | |
| Child Action, Inc. | ** Support | |
| Child Care Resource Center | ** Support | |
| Children Now | ** Support | |
| Coast Community College District | ** Support | |
| Early Edge California | ** Support | |
| EdTrust-West | ** Support | |
| Faculty Association Of California Community Colleges | ** Support | |
| Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis | ** Support | |
| Michelson Center For Public Policy | ** Support | |
| San Jose-Evergreen Community College District | ** Support | |
| Student Senate for California Community Colleges | ** Support | |
| The Child Abuse Prevention Center And Its Affiliates Safe Kids California, Prevent Child Abuse California And The California Family Resource Association | ** Support | |
| UCLA Undergraduate Student Association Council | ** Support | |
| UCLA, Undergraduate Student Association Council | ** Support | |
| Unite-LA | ** Support | |
| University of California | ** Support | |
| University Of California Student Association | ** Support | |
| western center on law & poverty | ** Support |
SENATE RULES COMMITTEE Office of Senate Floor Analyses (916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) 327-4478 | SB 271 |
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Bill No: SB 271
Author: Reyes (D)
Amended: 9/9/25
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: 7-0, 4/2/25
AYES: Pérez, Ochoa Bogh, Cabaldon, Choi, Cortese, Gonzalez, Laird
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 6-0, 5/23/25
AYES: Caballero, Seyarto, Cabaldon, Grayson, Richardson, Wahab
NO VOTE RECORDED: Dahle
SENATE FLOOR: 39-0, 6/4/25
AYES: Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Archuleta, Arreguín, Ashby, Becker, Blakespear, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Choi, Cortese, Dahle, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grayson, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, Limón, McGuire, McNerney, Menjivar, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Padilla, Pérez, Richardson, Rubio, Seyarto, Smallwood-Cuevas, Stern, Strickland, Umberg, Valladares, Wahab, Weber Pierson, Wiener
NO VOTE RECORDED: Reyes
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 80-0, 9/12/25 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT: Public postsecondary education: students with dependent children: childcare services, resources, and programs
SOURCE: California State Student Association
Early Edge California
Student Senate for California Community Colleges
University of California Student Association
DIGEST:
This bill requires each California State University (CSU) and California Community College (CCC) and requests each University of California (UC) financial aid office, childcare development center, and basic needs center to refer their respective students with dependent children to local resource and referral agencies, and each other for purposes of connecting and informing students of existing childcare services and resources.
Assembly Amendments
of 9/9/25 add language to avoid chaptering conflicts with SB 148 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, 2025) and AB 148 (Committee on Budget, 2025).
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
- Establishes the CSU, under the administration of the Trustees of the CSU, the UC, under the administration of the Regents of the UC, the CCC, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, and independent institutions of higher education as four segments of postsecondary education in the state. (Education Code (EC) § 66010, § 70900, § 66600, and California Constitution, Article IX, Section 9)
- Authorizes public postsecondary institutions to establish and maintain child development programs on or near their campuses. (EC § 66060)
- Specifics roles and responsibilities for child care resource and referral programs established to serve a defined geographic area. (Welfare and Institutions Code § 10219)
- Establishes the supplemental Cal Grant award, administered by the California Student Aid Commission, for students with dependent children who attend a CSU, UC, CCC, or independent nonprofit college or university receiving a Cal Grant A, B, or C award. Eligible Cal Grant A or B students may receive an additional $6,000, and $4,000 for Cal Grant C recipients. (EC § 69465 (a)-(h), inclusive)
- Requires each CCC campus and each CSU campus, and requests each UC campus, to establish the position of the Basic Needs Coordinator to assist students, among other responsibilities, with basic needs services and resources, including childcare, and to establish a Basic Needs Center where basic needs services, resources, and staff are made available to students, as provided. Existing law requires each Basic Needs Center to, among other things, connect students to the financial aid department or financial aid office, as appropriate, to ensure that students are receiving all available financial aid. (EC § 66023.4 and 66023.5)
This bill:
- Requires each CCC and CSU and requests each UC financial aid office to provide all of the following to students with dependent children:
- Information on the campus’ childcare development center and childcare offerings, if applicable.
- Referral to the campus Basic Needs Centers for support accessing information, including but not limited to information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying for state and federal childcare subsidies and programs and finding local childcare providers.
- Information on any supplemental awards, such as the awards for those students with dependent children, established in state law.
- Requires each CCC and CSU and requests each UC child development center or preschool established pursuant to state law for higher education institutions to provide students with dependent children seeking childcare with both of the following:
- Referral to the campus Basic Needs Center for support access information, including but not limited to information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying for state and federal childcare subsidies and programs and finding local childcare providers.
- Referral to the campus’ financial aid office, including information on the awards for students with dependent children.
- Expands the definition of basic needs services and resources that a basic needs coordinator and Basic Needs Center on a CCC, CSU, or UC campus is to be responsible for to include childcare services and resources. These resources may include direct financial or service support. The bill further specifies that if a campus has an existing center or office that supports parenting students and a student may be better served there the basic needs center is authorized to direct that student to that center or office.
- Adds supplemental awards for students with dependent children as a reason a Basic Needs Center on a CCC, CSU, or UC campus refers a student to the financial aid department or office.
- Defines childcare services and resources, as it relates to basic needs services, resources, and centers to include, but be not limited to, providing information on affordable childcare options on or near the campus, and information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying to state and federal childcare subsidies and programs, and finding local childcare providers, including but not limited to, the California State preschool program, Head Start, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) childcare program, and general child care and development programs. Childcare services and resources may also include direct financial or service support.
- Includes language to avoid chaptering conflicts with SB 148 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, 2025) and AB 148 (Committee on Budget, 2025).
Comments
- Need for this bill. According to the author, “SB 271 requires that when a student parent on a higher education campus is identified at one of the following campus locations: a financial aid office, a child development center, or a basic need center, the student parent shall be notified about the childcare and financial aid resources available to them. This type of direct notification process is needed because student parents are hindered by the communications silos within higher education campuses. While juggling the demands of parents and earning their degrees, student parents should not be further delayed by communication gaps on their campuses. SB 271 bridges gaps, ensuring student parents are connected to the resources they need rather than being left in the dark about relevant services. This bill is a step towards making all student parents feel welcomed, supported, and cared for by fostering an environment where their needs are intentionally met.”
- Off-campus resources. Resource and referral programs, funded by the California Department of Social Services, Child Care and Development Division, help families find child care that best meets their needs, recruit and train child care providers, and collect data from parents and child care providers. Specifically, resource and referral programs provide information to all parents and the community about the availability of child care in their area. The programs assist potential providers in the licensing process, provide direct services, including training, and coordinate community resources for the benefit of parents and local child care providers. Every county in California is served by at least one resource and referral agency.
- On-campus resources for student parents. Student parents attending a California public higher education institution have access to a range of resources and services designed to support their needs, including child care programs. Within the CCC system of the 73 community college districts, 20 operate 42 child care centers; all but three CSU campuses have childcare centers, and all UCs have child care centers. However, enrollment capacity varies, and it’s common for centers to have a waitlist for parents seeking to enroll their children. As it relates to financial aid, eligible student parents at any of the three public systems of higher education can receive a supplemental award, up to $6,000, on top of their Cal Grant payment. Additionally, on-campus basic needs centers established to address basic needs insecurity among college students assist any student with basic needs services and resources, including childcare, food, and housing assistance.
- Streamlining information and connections. Given the various services and resources available to student parents, this bill attempts to improve communication among campus locations that offer benefits or support their needs. It additionally seeks to ensure student parents are aware of a state-funded services designed to help any parent find child care in their area.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: Yes
According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee analysis, this bill would have the following fiscal impact:
- One-time Proposition 98 General Fund costs of unknown, but potentially significant amount, possibly in the low hundreds of thousands of dollars for the CCCs, collectively statewide, to update policies and procedures for Basic Needs Centers and Financial Aid Offices. If each college spends between $1,000 and $2,000 to comply with the requirements of this bill, then total costs statewide would be between $116,000 and $232,000. However, since this bill codifies what is already common practice at many campuses, costs may be lower.
- Minor and absorbable costs to each campus of the CSU and UC to provide training, if needed, to basic needs, financial aid office, and childcare center staff and provide the appropriation information to student parents.
SUPPORT: (Verified 9/12/25)
California State Student Association (co-source)
Early Edge California (co-source)
Student Senate for California Community Colleges (co-source)
University of California Student Association (co-source)
Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis
California Catholic Conference
California Child Care Resource and Referral Network
California Community Colleges, Chancellor's Office
California Family Resource Association
California WIC Association
Campaign for College Opportunity
Child Abuse Prevention Center
Children Now
Coast Community College District
EdTrust-West
Faculty Association of California Community Colleges
Michelson Center for Public Policy
San Jose-Evergreen Community College District
UCLA Undergraduate Student Association Council
Unite-LA
University of California
Western Center on Law & Poverty
OPPOSITION: (Verified 9/9/25)
None received
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 80-0, 9/12/25
AYES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Ávila Farías, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Carrillo, Castillo, Chen, Connolly, Davies, DeMaio, Dixon, Elhawary, Ellis, Flora, Fong, Gabriel, Gallagher, Garcia, Gipson, Jeff Gonzalez, Mark González, Hadwick, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Johnson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lee, Lowenthal, Macedo, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Patel, Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Ransom, Celeste Rodriguez, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Schiavo, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, Zbur, Rivas
Prepared by: Olgalilia Ramirez / ED. / (916) 651-4105
9/14/26 12:07:43
**** END ****
SENATE RULES COMMITTEE Office of Senate Floor Analyses (916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) 327-4478 | SB 271 |
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Bill No: SB 271
Author: Reyes (D)
Amended: 9/9/25 in Assembly
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: 7-0, 4/2/25
AYES: Pérez, Ochoa Bogh, Cabaldon, Choi, Cortese, Gonzalez, Laird
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 6-0, 5/23/25
AYES: Caballero, Seyarto, Cabaldon, Grayson, Richardson, Wahab
NO VOTE RECORDED: Dahle
SENATE FLOOR: 39-0, 6/4/25
AYES: Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Archuleta, Arreguín, Ashby, Becker, Blakespear, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Choi, Cortese, Dahle, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grayson, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, Limón, McGuire, McNerney, Menjivar, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Padilla, Pérez, Richardson, Rubio, Seyarto, Smallwood-Cuevas, Stern, Strickland, Umberg, Valladares, Wahab, Weber Pierson, Wiener
NO VOTE RECORDED: Reyes
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 61-0, 9/12/25 – Roll call vote not available.
SUBJECT: Public postsecondary education: students with dependent children: childcare services, resources, and programs
SOURCE: California State Student Association
Early Edge California
Student Senate for California Community Colleges
University of California Student Association
DIGEST:
This bill requires each California State University (CSU) and California Community College (CCC) and requests each University of California (UC) financial aid office, childcare development center, and basic needs center to refer their respective students with dependent children to local resource and referral agencies, and each other for purposes of connecting and informing students of existing childcare services and resources.
Assembly Amendments
of 9/9/25 add language to avoid chaptering conflicts with SB 148 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, 2025) and AB 148 (Committee on Budget, 2025).
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
- Establishes the CSU, under the administration of the Trustees of the CSU, the UC, under the administration of the Regents of the UC, the CCC, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, and independent institutions of higher education as four segments of postsecondary education in the state. (Education Code (EC) § 66010, § 70900, § 66600, and California Constitution, Article IX, Section 9)
- Authorizes public postsecondary institutions to establish and maintain child development programs on or near their campuses. (EC § 66060)
- Specifics roles and responsibilities for child care resource and referral programs established to serve a defined geographic area. (Welfare and Institutions Code § 10219)
- Establishes the supplemental Cal Grant award, administered by the California Student Aid Commission, for students with dependent children who attend a CSU, UC, CCC, or independent nonprofit college or university receiving a Cal Grant A, B, or C award. Eligible Cal Grant A or B students may receive an additional $6,000, and $4,000 for Cal Grant C recipients. (EC § 69465 (a)-(h), inclusive)
- Requires each CCC campus and each CSU campus, and requests each UC campus, to establish the position of the Basic Needs Coordinator to assist students, among other responsibilities, with basic needs services and resources, including childcare, and to establish a Basic Needs Center where basic needs services, resources, and staff are made available to students, as provided. Existing law requires each Basic Needs Center to, among other things, connect students to the financial aid department or financial aid office, as appropriate, to ensure that students are receiving all available financial aid. (EC § 66023.4 and 66023.5)
This bill:
- Requires each CCC and CSU and requests each UC financial aid office to provide all of the following to students with dependent children:
- Information on the campus’ childcare development center and childcare offerings, if applicable.
- Referral to the campus Basic Needs Centers for support accessing information, including but not limited to information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying for state and federal childcare subsidies and programs and finding local childcare providers.
- Information on any supplemental awards, such as the awards for those students with dependent children, established in state law.
- Requires each CCC and CSU and requests each UC child development center or preschool established pursuant to state law for higher education institutions to provide students with dependent children seeking childcare with both of the following:
- Referral to the campus Basic Needs Center for support access information, including but not limited to information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying for state and federal childcare subsidies and programs and finding local childcare providers.
- Referral to the campus’ financial aid office, including information on the awards for students with dependent children.
- Expands the definition of basic needs services and resources that a basic needs coordinator and Basic Needs Center on a CCC, CSU, or UC campus is to be responsible for to include childcare services and resources. These resources may include direct financial or service support. The bill further specifies that if a campus has an existing center or office that supports parenting students and a student may be better served there the basic needs center is authorized to direct that student to that center or office.
- Adds supplemental awards for students with dependent children as a reason a Basic Needs Center on a CCC, CSU, or UC campus refers a student to the financial aid department or office.
- Defines childcare services and resources, as it relates to basic needs services, resources, and centers to include, but be not limited to, providing information on affordable childcare options on or near the campus, and information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying to state and federal childcare subsidies and programs, and finding local childcare providers, including but not limited to, the California State preschool program, Head Start, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) childcare program, and general child care and development programs. Childcare services and resources may also include direct financial or service support.
- Includes language to avoid chaptering conflicts with SB 148 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, 2025) and AB 148 (Committee on Budget, 2025).
Comments
- Need for this bill. According to the author, “SB 271 requires that when a student parent on a higher education campus is identified at one of the following campus locations: a financial aid office, a child development center, or a basic need center, the student parent shall be notified about the childcare and financial aid resources available to them. This type of direct notification process is needed because student parents are hindered by the communications silos within higher education campuses. While juggling the demands of parents and earning their degrees, student parents should not be further delayed by communication gaps on their campuses. SB 271 bridges gaps, ensuring student parents are connected to the resources they need rather than being left in the dark about relevant services. This bill is a step towards making all student parents feel welcomed, supported, and cared for by fostering an environment where their needs are intentionally met.”
- Off-campus resources. Resource and referral programs, funded by the California Department of Social Services, Child Care and Development Division, help families find child care that best meets their needs, recruit and train child care providers, and collect data from parents and child care providers. Specifically, resource and referral programs provide information to all parents and the community about the availability of child care in their area. The programs assist potential providers in the licensing process, provide direct services, including training, and coordinate community resources for the benefit of parents and local child care providers. Every county in California is served by at least one resource and referral agency.
- On-campus resources for student parents. Student parents attending a California public higher education institution have access to a range of resources and services designed to support their needs, including child care programs. Within the CCC system of the 73 community college districts, 20 operate 42 child care centers; all but three CSU campuses have childcare centers, and all UCs have child care centers. However, enrollment capacity varies, and it’s common for centers to have a waitlist for parents seeking to enroll their children. As it relates to financial aid, eligible student parents at any of the three public systems of higher education can receive a supplemental award, up to $6,000, on top of their Cal Grant payment. Additionally, on-campus basic needs centers established to address basic needs insecurity among college students assist any student with basic needs services and resources, including childcare, food, and housing assistance.
- Streamlining information and connections. Given the various services and resources available to student parents, this bill attempts to improve communication among campus locations that offer benefits or support their needs. It additionally seeks to ensure student parents are aware of a state-funded services designed to help any parent find child care in their area.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: Yes
According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee analysis, this bill would have the following fiscal impact:
- One-time Proposition 98 General Fund costs of unknown, but potentially significant amount, possibly in the low hundreds of thousands of dollars for the CCCs, collectively statewide, to update policies and procedures for Basic Needs Centers and Financial Aid Offices. If each college spends between $1,000 and $2,000 to comply with the requirements of this bill, then total costs statewide would be between $116,000 and $232,000. However, since this bill codifies what is already common practice at many campuses, costs may be lower.
- Minor and absorbable costs to each campus of the CSU and UC to provide training, if needed, to basic needs, financial aid office, and childcare center staff and provide the appropriation information to student parents.
SUPPORT: (Verified 9/12/25)
California State Student Association (co-source)
Early Edge California (co-source)
Student Senate for California Community Colleges (co-source)
University of California Student Association (co-source)
Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis
California Catholic Conference
California Child Care Resource and Referral Network
California Community Colleges, Chancellor's Office
California Family Resource Association
California WIC Association
Campaign for College Opportunity
Child Abuse Prevention Center
Children Now
Coast Community College District
EdTrust-West
Faculty Association of California Community Colleges
Michelson Center for Public Policy
San Jose-Evergreen Community College District
UCLA Undergraduate Student Association Council
Unite-LA
University of California
Western Center on Law & Poverty
OPPOSITION: (Verified 9/9/25)
None received
Prepared by: Olgalilia Ramirez / ED. / (916) 651-4105
9/12/25 17:22:14
**** END ****
SENATE THIRD READING
STR Bill Id:SB 271
Author:(Reyes)
As Amended Ver:September 9, 2025
Majority vote
SUMMARY
Requires each California State University (CSU) and California Community College (CCC) and requests each University of California (UC) financial aid office, childcare development center, and Basic Needs Center to refer their respective students with dependent children to local resource and referral agencies for purposes of connecting and informing students of existing childcare services and resources.
Major Provisions
- Requires each CCC and CSU and requests each UC financial aid office to provide all of the following to students with dependent children:
- Information on the campus' childcare development center and childcare offerings, if applicable;
- Referral to the campus Basic Needs Centers for support accessing information, including but not limited to, information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying for state and federal childcare subsidies and programs and finding local childcare providers; and,
- Information on any supplemental awards, such as the awards for those students with dependent children, as specified.
- Requires each CCC and CSU, and requests each UC child development center or preschool established pursuant to state law for higher education institutions, to provide students with dependent children seeking childcare with both of the following:
- Referral to the campus Basic Needs Center for support accessing information, including but not limited to, information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying for state and federal childcare subsidies and programs and finding local childcare providers; and,
- Referral to the campus' financial aid office, including information on the awards for students with dependent children.
- Expands the definition of basic needs services and resources that a basic needs coordinator and Basic Needs Center on a CCC, CSU, or UC campus is to be responsible for, to include childcare services and resources. These resources may include direct financial or service support. Specifies that if a campus has an existing center or office that supports parenting students and a student may be better served there, the basic needs center is authorized to direct that student to that center or office.
- Adds supplemental awards for students with dependent children as a reason a Basic Needs Center on a CCC, CSU, or UC campus refers a student to the financial aid department or office.
- Expands the definition of childcare services and resources, as it relates to basic needs services, resources, and centers to include, but is not limited to, providing information on affordable childcare options on or near the campus, and information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying to state and federal childcare subsidies and programs, and finding local childcare providers, including but not limited to, the California State preschool program, Head Start, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) childcare program, and general child care and development programs. Childcare services and resources may also include direct financial or service support.
- Incorporates chaptering out amendments to align with additional changes proposed by AB 148 and SB 148 [which is the Higher Education Budget Trailer Bill] to be operative only if this measure and either AB 148 or SB 148 are enacted and this measure is enacted last.
COMMENTS
How many? According to California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy, California is home to approximately 400,000 student parents, a majority of whom are first-generation and students of color. Unlike their non-parenting peers, student parents have additional childcare expenses, which are not accounted for in the college's estimate of a student parent's COA. Federal regulations allow financial aid administrators to adjust a student's COA to include the expenses incurred for dependent care, however, institutions often do not take full advantage of this federal flexibility.
On-going efforts to assist students with dependents. Student parents attending a campus of the State's public higher education institutions have access to various resources and services designed to support their needs, including child care programs. Systemwide at the CCC, of the 72 brick and mortar community college districts, 20 operate 42 child care centers. Systemwide, of the 23 campuses of the CSU, 20 have childcare centers, and all of the nine undergraduate campuses of the UCs have child care centers.
However, enrollment capacity varies. Consistently, centers have waitlists for parents seeking to enroll their children. As it relates to financial aid, eligible student parents at any of the three public systems of higher education can receive a supplemental award, up to $6,000, on top of their Cal Grant award. Additionally, on-campus basic needs centers established to address basic needs insecurity among college students, assist any student with basic needs services and resources, including childcare, food, and housing assistance.
In addition to the campus based resources for students with dependents, resource and referral programs, funded by the California Department of Social Services, Child Care and Development Division, help families find child care that best meets their needs, recruit and train child care providers, and collect data from parents and child care providers. Resource and referral programs provide information to all parents and the community about the availability of child care in their area. Said programs assist potential providers in the licensing process, provide direct services, including training, and coordinate community resources for the benefit of parents and local child care providers. Every county in California is served by at least one resource and referral agency.
As noted above, a variety of services and resources are available to students with dependents, but often times, student parents are not aware of the various resources and services they could benefit from. In fact, according to a 2024 policy brief by Early Edge California, entitled, Supporting Student Parents and their Young Children in California's Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), the academic success of student parents enrolled in higher education and the well-being of their young children are heavily influenced by the level of institutional support available to them. The policy brief found that the availability or lack of child care options and resources on campus impacts families raising infants and toddlers - who are going through their most critical period of development.
Additionally, the policy brief indicated that by identifying the diverse needs and addressing unique challenges faced by students with dependents, IHEs can foster the educational success, economic mobility, and well-being of both parents and young children in a two-generational approach.
This measure appears to improve communication among campus locations that offer benefits or support the needs of student parents. Further, this measure seeks to ensure student parents are aware of State-funded services designed to help any parent find child care in their area.
According to the Author
According to the author, "there are more than 400,000 student parents in California, an estimated 32% of which have a child under the age of three. Currently, the California Community Colleges (CCC), the California State University (CSU), and the University of California (UC) systems, are required to have Basic Need Centers and coordinators to provide 'basic needs services and resources' to students on campus. This includes, but is not limited to, housing, food, clothing, feminine hygiene, diapers, technology, childcare, and mental health services and resources."
The author states that, "in recent years, California has made strides to support the growing number of student parents, recognizing the additional barriers they face to accessing and completing postsecondary education. However, significant challenges remain. Access to and knowledge of resources is persistently a challenge. Many student parents seeking support at various offices on campus are not informed of the full scope of services they are eligible for."
Further, the author contends that, "SB 271 requires that when a student parent on a higher education campus is identified at one of the following campus locations: a financial aid office, a child development center, or a basic need center, the student parent shall be notified about the childcare and financial aid resources available to them. The bill also ensures student parents are connected to childcare support services provided in their county. This type of direct notification process is needed because student parents are hindered by the communications silos within higher education campuses."
Lastly, according to the author, "while juggling the demands of parents and earning their degrees, student parents should not be further delayed by communication gaps on their campuses. SB 271 bridges gaps, ensuring student parents are connected to the resources they need rather than being left in the dark about relevant services. This bill is a step towards making all student parents feel welcomed, supported, and cared for by fostering an environment where their needs are intentionally met."
Arguments in Support
According to the Western Center on Law & Poverty, "unfortunately, students are not always aware of the resources available to them as illustrated in a report by Early Edge which found that a lack of information on childcare resources and financial aid was a major contributor to student parents not continuing their education. By supporting student parents, we are supporting two generations at a time which will lead to healthy outcomes for the parents, children and our communities."
Arguments in Opposition
None on file.
FISCAL COMMENTS
According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee:
- One-time Proposition 98 General Fund costs of unknown, but potentially significant amount, possibly in the low hundreds of thousands of dollars for the CCCs, collectively statewide, to update policies and procedures for Basic Needs Centers and Financial Aid Offices. If each college spends between $1,000 and $2,000 to comply with the requirements of this bill, then total costs statewide would be between $116,000 and $232,000. However, since this bill codifies what is already common practice at many campuses, costs may be lower.
- Minor and absorbable costs to each campus of the CSU and UC to provide training, if needed, to basic needs, financial aid office, and childcare center staff and provide the appropriation information to student parents.
VOTES
SENATE FLOOR: 39-0-1
YES: Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Archuleta, Arreguín, Ashby, Becker, Blakespear, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Choi, Cortese, Dahle, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grayson, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, Limón, McGuire, McNerney, Menjivar, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Padilla, Pérez, Richardson, Rubio, Seyarto, Smallwood-Cuevas, Stern, Strickland, Umberg, Valladares, Wahab, Weber Pierson, Wiener
ABS, ABST OR NV: Reyes
ASM HIGHER EDUCATION: 10-0-0
YES: Fong, DeMaio, Boerner, Jeff Gonzalez, Jackson, Muratsuchi, Patel, Celeste Rodriguez, Sharp-Collins, Tangipa
ASM HUMAN SERVICES: 7-0-0
YES: Lee, Castillo, Calderon, Elhawary, Jackson, Celeste Rodriguez, Tangipa
ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 15-0-0
YES: Wicks, Sanchez, Arambula, Calderon, Caloza, Dixon, Elhawary, Fong, Mark González, Ahrens, Pacheco, Pellerin, Solache, Ta, Tangipa
UPDATED
VERSION: September 9, 2025
CONSULTANT: Jeanice Warden / HIGHER ED. / (916) 319-3960 FN: 0001949
SENATE THIRD READING
STR Bill Id:SB 271
Author:(Reyes)
As Amended Ver:May 23, 2025
Majority vote
SUMMARY
Requires each California State University (CSU) and California Community College (CCC) and requests each University of California (UC) financial aid office, childcare development center, and Basic Needs Center to refer their respective students with dependent children to local resource and referral agencies for purposes of connecting and informing students of existing childcare services and resources.
Major Provisions
- Requires each CCC and CSU and requests each UC financial aid office to provide all of the following to students with dependent children:
- Information on the campus' childcare development center and childcare offerings, if applicable;
- Referral to the campus Basic Needs Centers for support accessing information, including but not limited to, information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying for state and federal childcare subsidies and programs and finding local childcare providers; and,
- Information on any supplemental awards, such as the awards for those students with dependent children, as specified.
- Requires each CCC and CSU, and requests each UC child development center or preschool established pursuant to state law for higher education institutions, to provide students with dependent children seeking childcare with both of the following:
- Referral to the campus Basic Needs Center for support accessing information, including but not limited to, information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying for state and federal childcare subsidies and programs and finding local childcare providers; and,
- Referral to the campus' financial aid office, including information on the awards for students with dependent children.
- Expands the definition of basic needs services and resources that a basic needs coordinator and Basic Needs Center on a CCC, CSU, or UC campus is to be responsible for, to include childcare services and resources. These resources may include direct financial or service support. Specifies that if a campus has an existing center or office that supports parenting students and a student may be better served there, the basic needs center is authorized to direct that student to that center or office.
- Adds supplemental awards for students with dependent children as a reason a Basic Needs Center on a CCC, CSU, or UC campus refers a student to the financial aid department or office.
- Expands the definition of childcare services and resources, as it relates to basic needs services, resources, and centers to include, but is not limited to, providing information on affordable childcare options on or near the campus, and information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying to state and federal childcare subsidies and programs, and finding local childcare providers, including but not limited to, the California State preschool program, Head Start, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) childcare program, and general child care and development programs. Childcare services and resources may also include direct financial or service support.
COMMENTS
How many? According to California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy, California is home to approximately 400,000 student parents, a majority of whom are first-generation and students of color. Unlike their non-parenting peers, student parents have additional childcare expenses, which are not accounted for in the college's estimate of a student parent's COA. Federal regulations allow financial aid administrators to adjust a student's COA to include the expenses incurred for dependent care, however, institutions often do not take full advantage of this federal flexibility.
On-going efforts to assist students with dependents. Student parents attending a campus of the State's public higher education institutions have access to various resources and services designed to support their needs, including child care programs. Systemwide at the CCC, of the 72 brick and mortar community college districts, 20 operate 42 child care centers. Systemwide, of the 23 campuses of the CSU, 20 have childcare centers, and all of the nine undergraduate campuses of the UCs have child care centers.
However, enrollment capacity varies. Consistently, centers have waitlists for parents seeking to enroll their children. As it relates to financial aid, eligible student parents at any of the three public systems of higher education can receive a supplemental award, up to $6,000, on top of their Cal Grant award. Additionally, on-campus basic needs centers established to address basic needs insecurity among college students, assist any student with basic needs services and resources, including childcare, food, and housing assistance.
In addition to the campus based resources for students with dependents, resource and referral programs, funded by the California Department of Social Services, Child Care and Development Division, help families find child care that best meets their needs, recruit and train child care providers, and collect data from parents and child care providers. Resource and referral programs provide information to all parents and the community about the availability of child care in their area. Said programs assist potential providers in the licensing process, provide direct services, including training, and coordinate community resources for the benefit of parents and local child care providers. Every county in California is served by at least one resource and referral agency.
As noted above, a variety of services and resources are available to students with dependents, but often times, student parents are not aware of the various resources and services they could benefit from. In fact, according to a 2024 policy brief by Early Edge California, entitled, Supporting Student Parents and their Young Children in California's Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), the academic success of student parents enrolled in higher education and the well-being of their young children are heavily influenced by the level of institutional support available to them. The policy brief found that the availability or lack of child care options and resources on campus impacts families raising infants and toddlers - who are going through their most critical period of development.
Additionally, the policy brief indicated that by identifying the diverse needs and addressing unique challenges faced by students with dependents, IHEs can foster the educational success, economic mobility, and well-being of both parents and young children in a two-generational approach.
This measure appears to improve communication among campus locations that offer benefits or support the needs of student parents. Further, this measure seeks to ensure student parents are aware of State-funded services designed to help any parent find child care in their area.
According to the Author
According to the author, "there are more than 400,000 student parents in California, an estimated 32% of which have a child under the age of three. Currently, the California Community Colleges (CCC), the California State University (CSU), and the University of California (UC) systems, are required to have Basic Need Centers and coordinators to provide 'basic needs services and resources' to students on campus. This includes, but is not limited to, housing, food, clothing, feminine hygiene, diapers, technology, childcare, and mental health services and resources."
The author states that, "in recent years, California has made strides to support the growing number of student parents, recognizing the additional barriers they face to accessing and completing postsecondary education. However, significant challenges remain. Access to and knowledge of resources is persistently a challenge. Many student parents seeking support at various offices on campus are not informed of the full scope of services they are eligible for."
Further, the author contends that, "SB 271 requires that when a student parent on a higher education campus is identified at one of the following campus locations: a financial aid office, a child development center, or a basic need center, the student parent shall be notified about the childcare and financial aid resources available to them. The bill also ensures student parents are connected to childcare support services provided in their county. This type of direct notification process is needed because student parents are hindered by the communications silos within higher education campuses."
Lastly, according to the author, "while juggling the demands of parents and earning their degrees, student parents should not be further delayed by communication gaps on their campuses. SB 271 bridges gaps, ensuring student parents are connected to the resources they need rather than being left in the dark about relevant services. This bill is a step towards making all student parents feel welcomed, supported, and cared for by fostering an environment where their needs are intentionally met."
Arguments in Support
According to the Western Center on Law & Poverty, "unfortunately, students are not always aware of the resources available to them as illustrated in a report by Early Edge which found that a lack of information on childcare resources and financial aid was a major contributor to student parents not continuing their education. By supporting student parents, we are supporting two generations at a time which will lead to healthy outcomes for the parents, children and our communities."
Arguments in Opposition
None on file.
FISCAL COMMENTS
According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee:
- One-time Proposition 98 General Fund costs of unknown, but potentially significant amount, possibly in the low hundreds of thousands of dollars for the CCCs, collectively statewide, to update policies and procedures for Basic Needs Centers and Financial Aid Offices. If each college spends between $1,000 and $2,000 to comply with the requirements of this bill, then total costs statewide would be between $116,000 and $232,000. However, since this bill codifies what is already common practice at many campuses, costs may be lower.
- Minor and absorbable costs to each campus of the CSU and UC to provide training, if needed, to basic needs, financial aid office, and childcare center staff and provide the appropriation information to student parents.
VOTES
SENATE FLOOR: 39-0-1
YES: Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Archuleta, Arreguín, Ashby, Becker, Blakespear, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Choi, Cortese, Dahle, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grayson, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, Limón, McGuire, McNerney, Menjivar, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Padilla, Pérez, Richardson, Rubio, Seyarto, Smallwood-Cuevas, Stern, Strickland, Umberg, Valladares, Wahab, Weber Pierson, Wiener
ABS, ABST OR NV: Reyes
ASM HIGHER EDUCATION: 10-0-0
YES: Fong, DeMaio, Boerner, Jeff Gonzalez, Jackson, Muratsuchi, Patel, Celeste Rodriguez, Sharp-Collins, Tangipa
ASM HUMAN SERVICES: 7-0-0
YES: Lee, Castillo, Calderon, Elhawary, Jackson, Celeste Rodriguez, Tangipa
ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 15-0-0
YES: Wicks, Sanchez, Arambula, Calderon, Caloza, Dixon, Elhawary, Fong, Mark González, Ahrens, Pacheco, Pellerin, Solache, Ta, Tangipa
UPDATED
VERSION: May 23, 2025
CONSULTANT: Jeanice Warden / HIGHER ED. / (916) 319-3960 FN: 0001389
Date of Hearing: August 20, 2025
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Buffy Wicks, Chair
SBPCA Bill Id:SB 271
Author:(Reyes) – As Amended Ver:May 23, 2025
Policy Committee: | Higher Education | Vote: | 10 - 0 |
Human Services | 7 - 0 | ||
|
|
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: Yes Reimbursable: Yes
SUMMARY:
This bill requires each California State University (CSU) and California Community College (CCC), and requests each University of California (UC) basic needs center, financial aid office, and childcare development center to refer students with dependent children to local resource and referral agencies, and each other, so the students are connected with and informed of existing childcare services, resources, and financial aid available to students with dependent children.
FISCAL EFFECT:
One-time Proposition 98 General Fund costs of unknown, but potentially significant amount, possibly in the low hundreds of thousands of dollars for the CCCs, collectively statewide, to update policies and procedures for Basic Needs Centers and Financial Aid Offices. If each college spends between $1,000 and $2,000 to comply with the requirements of this bill, then total costs statewide would be between $116,000 and $232,000. However, since this bill codifies what is already common practice at many campuses, costs may be lower.
Minor and absorbable costs to each campus of the CSU and UC to provide training, if needed, to basic needs, financial aid office, and childcare center staff and provide the appropriation information to student parents.
COMMENTS:
- Purpose. According to the author:
While juggling the demands of parents and earning their degrees, student parents should not be further delayed by communication gaps on their campuses. SB 271 bridges gaps, ensuring student parents are connected to the resources they need rather than being left in the dark about relevant services. This bill is a step towards making all student parents feel welcomed, supported, and cared for by fostering an environment where their needs are intentionally met.
- Background. Students with Dependent Children. While federal regulations allow financial aid administrators to adjust a student’s cost of attendance (COA) calculation to account for expenses incurred for dependent care, many institutions do not fully utilize this flexibility. As a result, many student parents do not receive a similar proportion of financial aid relative to their overall expenses as their non-parenting peers. According to California Competes, California educates approximately 400,000 student parents at institutions of higher education, with the majority attending as first-generation college goers and students of color.
Resources for Student Parents. Existing law establishes the position of a basic needs coordinator at each CSU, UC, and CCC campus along with basic needs centers where basic needs services and resources, such as food, housing, clothing, feminine hygiene, diapers, technology, childcare, and mental health services, and staff are made available to students. Additionally, part of the responsibilities of basic needs centers is to connect students to their respective financial aid office to ensure that students are receiving all available financial aid. However, according to Early Edge California, cosponsors of the bill:
Many student parents seeking support in various offices on campus are not informed of the full scope of services available. It is critical that these offices work in tandem to ensure student parents are made aware of the full spectrum of services and support available to them.
For example, Cal Grant recipients may receive an additional grant award specifically for students with dependent children ($6,000 for Cal Grant A and B recipients and $4,000 for Cal Grant C recipients), however, if a basic needs center is not informing student parents of this additional aid available they may not pursue it. Similarly, student parents may not be aware of the full scope of subsidized childcare available to them, whether from on-campus childcare development centers or from other subsidized childcare providers within their region. This bill expands the definition of childcare services and resources, as it relates to basic needs services, and centers to include providing information on affordable childcare options on or near campus, and information regarding local resources and referral agencies for support in applying to state and federal childcare subsidies and programs. Likewise, the bill requires each campus’s financial aid office to provide information to student parents regarding childcare development centers and childcare offices.
Analysis Prepared by: Aaron Heredia / APPR. / (916) 319-2081
Date of Hearing: July 15, 2025
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES
Alex Lee, Chair
SBPCA Bill Id:SB 271
Author:(Reyes) – As Amended Ver:May 23, 2025
SENATE VOTE: 39-0
SUBJECT: Public postsecondary education: students with dependent children: childcare services, resources, and programs
SUMMARY: Requires each California State University (CSU) and California Community College (CCC) and requests each University of California (UC) financial aid office, childcare development center, and Basic Needs Center to refer their respective students with dependent children to local resource and referral (R&R) agencies for purposes of connecting and informing students of existing childcare services and resources. Specifically, this bill:
- Requires the financial aid office on each campus of the CCC and the CSU, and requests the financial aid office on each campus of the UC to provide all of the following information to students with dependent children:
- Information on the campus’ childcare development center and childcare offerings, if applicable;
- Referral to the campus Basic Needs Center for support accessing information, including, but not limited to, information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying for state and federal childcare subsidies and programs and finding local childcare providers; and,
- Information on any supplemental awards such as the awards for students with dependent children, established in state law.
- Requires a child development center or preschool established by the CCCs and the CSU, and requests a child development center or preschool established by the UC to provide students with dependent children seeking childcare with both of the following:
- Referral to the campus Basic Needs Center for support accessing information, including, but not limited to, information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying for state and federal childcare subsidies and programs and finding local childcare providers; and,
- Referral to the campus’ financial aid office, including information on the awards for students with dependent children.
- Expands the definition of “basic needs services and resources” to include childcare services and resources.
- Authorizes a Basic Needs Center to provide childcare services and resources for parenting students including, but is not limited to, direct financial or service support.
- Authorizes an existing Basic Needs Center or office that supports parenting students that if a student may be better served by that center or office to direct that student to the student parent center or office.
- Requires Basic Needs Centers to also connect students to supplemental awards such as awards for students with dependent children.
- Defines “childcare services and resources,” as it relates to basic needs services, resources, and centers on a CCC, CSU, or UC campus to include, but not be limited to, providing information on affordable childcare options on and near campus and information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying to state and federal childcare subsidies and programs and finding local childcare providers, including, but not limited to, the California State Preschool Program (CSPP), Head Start, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) childcare program, and general childcare and development programs. Childcare services and resources may also include direct financial or service support.
EXISTING LAW:
- Establishes the Child Care and Development Services Act to provide childcare and development services as part of a coordinated, comprehensive, and cost-effective system serving children from birth to 13 years of age and their parents, including a full range of supervision, health, and support services through full- and part-time programs. (Welfare & Institutions Code [WIC] § 10207 et seq.)
- Defines the following terms:
- “Childcare and development services” as services designed to meet a wide variety of needs of children and their families, while their parents or guardians are working, in training, seeking employment, incapacitated, or in need of respite. These services may include direct care and supervision, instructional activities, resource and referral programs, and alternative payment arrangements. (WIC § 10213.5(j))
- “Resource and referral programs” as programs that provide information to parents, including referrals and coordination of community resources for parents and public or private providers of care. Services frequently include, but are not limited to: technical assistance for providers, toy-lending libraries, equipment-lending libraries, toy- and equipment-lending libraries, staff development programs, health and nutrition education, and referrals to social services. (WIC § 10213.5(x))
- “Alternative payment program (APP)” as a local government agency or nonprofit organization that has contracted with the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), or a migrant alternative payment program to provide alternative payments and to provide support services to parents and providers. (WIC § 10213.5(b))
- Specifies the roles and responsibilities of childcare resource and referral programs established to serve a defined geographic area. (WIC § 10219-10224.5)
- Specifies the roles and responsibilities of childcare alternative payment programs established to serve an identifiable geographic area approved by CDSS. (WIC § 10225-10234)
- Establishes the Donahoe Higher Education Act, which defines the roles of the UC, CSU, and CCCs to ensure coordinated, accessible, and affordable public higher education across the state. (Education Code [EDC] § 66000 et seq.)
- Authorizes public postsecondary institutions to establish and maintain child development programs on or near their campuses. (EDC § 66060)
- Requires each CCC campus and each CSU campus, and requests each UC campus, to establish the position of the basic needs coordinator to assist students, among other responsibilities, with basic needs services and resources, including childcare, and to establish a Basic Needs Center where basic needs services, resources, and staff are made available to students, as provided. Further requires each Basic Needs Center to, among other things, connect students to the financial aid department or financial aid office, as appropriate, to ensure that students are receiving all available financial aid. (EDC § 66023.4-66023.5)
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Senate Appropriations Committee on May 23, 2025:
- The Chancellor’s Office estimates one-time Proposition 98 General Fund costs of $1,000 to $2,000 per community college, or $116,000 to $232,000 statewide, to update policies and procedures for Basic Needs Centers and Financial Aid Offices. However, this estimate could be lower since the bill’s provisions would merely codify current practices already in place at some of the colleges.
- While the CSU and UC indicate that the bill’s provisions would result in additional training duties for their Basic Needs Coordinators and Financial Aid staff, the associated costs are expected to be minor and absorbable within existing resources.
COMMENTS:
Background: Subsidized Childcare. California’s subsidized childcare system is designed to support families who are working, in training, seeking employment, incapacitated, or in need of respite. Funded through federal and state dollars, the system serves children from birth to 13 years of age through a mixed delivery model that includes local educational agencies, community-based organizations, childcare centers, and family childcare homes.
Key programs include General Child Care, which includes contracted centers and family childcare homes, CSPP for three- and four-year-olds, and APPs, which provide vouchers for use with licensed or license-exempt providers. Participants and families in the CalWORKs program or who are transitioning off aid may access subsidized childcare through a three-stage structure.
Student Parents in Postsecondary Education. California is home to approximately 400,000 undergraduate and graduate student parents, a majority of whom are first-generation and students of color, according to a December 2024 policy brief by Early Edge California titled, Supporting Student Parents and their Young Children in California’s Institutions of Higher Education. A statewide level research by the California Alliance for Student Parent Success estimates that 32% of student parents in California have a child under three years of age. Compared to their non-parenting peers, student parents face additional barriers to educational success, including limited access to affordable, flexible childcare, financial insecurity, and difficulties balancing school, work, and caregiving responsibilities. These challenges are particularly acute for student parents with infants and toddlers and when institutions lack childcare options or coordinated support services, which contribute to higher rates of basic needs insecurity, delayed enrollment, and lower graduation rates.
Without stable and affordable childcare, student parents often face difficult choices. Many are forced to reduce their course load, take a break from college, or drop out altogether. This disrupts their education, limits future earning potential, and negatively impacts the well-being and long-term outcomes of their children. National data from 2012 to 2017 analyzed by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research show that more than half of undergraduate student parents leave college without earning a degree within six years, which is nearly twice the rate of students without children. The risk is especially high among certain groups: 62% of community college student parents, 54% of single parents, 58% of Black student parents, and 56% of those with infants do not complete their degree. Stop-out rates are even higher among single fathers (71%), Black and Latino fathers (72% and 66%, respectively), and fathers attending public four-year universities (70%).
On-Campus Childcare & Basic Needs Centers. Student parents in California’s public higher education systems have access to varying levels of on-campus childcare and basic needs supports. According to the Senate Education Committee analysis, 20 of 73 CCC districts operate 42 childcare centers; nearly all CSU campuses have childcare centers; and, all 10 UC campuses have childcare centers. However, many centers operate at limited capacity with long waitlists. Eligible student parents may also receive up to $6,000 in CalGrant supplemental aid.
To address basic needs more broadly, the state has invested in Basic Needs Centers. AB 775 (Berman), Chapter 942, Statutes of 2022, required CCC campuses to establish Basic Needs Center and coordinators by July 1, 2022, to assist students in accessing food, housing, clothing, hygiene products, technology, childcare, mental health services, and other essential resources. According to the CCC Chancellor’s May 2025 annual basic needs report, 105,081 CCC students accessed services across all 115 campuses as of Spring 2024, reflecting a 54% increase from Spring 2023. This includes 2,429 who received childcare-related support, such as priority access to on-campus childcare, grants, lactation spaces, and child-friendly study areas. The 2025-26 state budget included a one-time $60 million Proposition 98 General Fund allocation for a student support block grant, allowing community college districts to use the funds to assist students with food, housing, transportation, and other basic needs.
Alongside the CCC system, the CSU and UC systems have also expanded their basic needs infrastructure. As of August 2022, all CSU and UC campuses had established Basic Needs Centers, according to EdSource. That same year, the Legislature enacted provisions in the Budget Act of 2022 requiring both systems to submit annual reports on basic needs, mental health, and rapid rehousing services. Most recently, AB 2033 (Reyes), Chapter 913, Statutes of 2024, reinforced this commitment by requiring each CSU campus, and requesting each UC campus, to have a Basic Needs Center and coordinator in place by July 1, 2025.
The March 2024 CSU Basic Needs Annual Report confirmed that all 23 CSU campuses have on- and off-campus resources to address food insecurity, housing instability, and mental health needs. However, the 2025 CSU report does not provide systemwide data on student usage, services offered, or student demographics and outcomes. It does highlight several campuses using basic needs funds to support parenting students. For example, Chico State provided diapers, wipes, emergency grants, and subsidized childcare through its Child Development Lab. Fresno State, Long Beach, and Cal State Los Angeles allocated funds for dependent care, with Long Beach and San Francisco State distributing infant supplies through campus pantries. CSU Monterey Bay supported over 100 student parents annually through its Parenting Otter Program, while Cal Poly Pomona helped parenting students access CalWORKs childcare funds. San Diego State offered $200 grants for student parents, and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo directed funding toward child and dependent care.
Similarly, the March 2025 UC Basic Needs Annual Report showed that 73,623 students received support services between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024, at all 10 UC campuses, including support for food, housing, mental health, and rapid rehousing. The report includes staffing and operational data but does not mention childcare support services. While the 2023 Budget Act allocated $26.3 million in ongoing funding to sustain CSU Basic Needs Centers, the 2025-26 state budget provided no additional funds for CSU or UC basic needs services.
This bill requires financial aid offices at CCC and CSU campuses, and requests financial aid offices at UC campuses, to provide student parents with information about campus childcare options, referrals to Basic Needs Centers for help accessing childcare subsidies and local providers, and details on financial aid available to students with dependent children. This bill further requires child development centers or preschools at CCC and CSU campuses, and requests UC campuses, to refer student parents to both the Basic Needs Centers and the campus financial office for support with childcare resources and financial aid eligibility.
Off-Campus Resources: Resource & Referral Programs. Funded by the CDSS, R&R agencies serve as a bridge between families seeking childcare and the network of licensed providers across the state. R&R agencies help parents understand their childcare options, provide referrals tailored to family needs, and offer other consumer education topics such as program quality, licensing standards, and financial assistance. Located in every county, and often operating through contracts with nonprofit organizations or county offices of education, these agencies are well-positioned to understand the localized needs of childcare providers and families. R&Rs also assist potential providers in the licensing process, provide direct services, including training, and coordinate community resources for the benefit of parents and local child care providers.
This bill expands the definition of “basic needs services and resources” to include childcare services and resources, requiring Basic Needs Centers to provide information on on-campus and off-campus childcare programs, connect students with local R&R agencies for support in applying to programs like CSPP, Head Start, CalWORKs, and general childcare programs, and optionally offer direct financial or service support. This bill also clarifies that campuses may refer student parents to a dedicated parenting student center if it better meets their needs.
Author’s Statement: According to the Author, “[This bill] requires that when a student parent on a higher education campus is identified at one of the following campus locations: a financial aid office, a child development center, or a basic need center, the student parent shall be notified about the childcare and financial aid resources available to them. The bill also ensures student parents are connected to childcare support services provided in their county. This type of direct notification process is needed because student parents are hindered by the communications silos within higher education campuses. While juggling the demands of parents and earning their degrees, student parents should not be further delayed by communication gaps on their campuses. [This bill] bridges gaps, ensuring student parents are connected to the resources they need rather than being left in the dark about relevant services. This bill is a step towards making all student parents feel welcomed, supported, and cared for by fostering an environment where their needs are intentionally met.”
Equity Implications: Student parents, particularly those who are low-income, first-generation, students of color, and women, are disproportionately impacted by financial hardship, time poverty, and limited access to affordable, flexible childcare. By explicitly integrating childcare into the definition of basic needs, this bill affirms that parenting responsibilities should not be a barrier to educational opportunity.
This bill requires institutions to identify and support student parents through coordinated outreach, resource referrals, and access to supplemental financial aid, which may reduce the burden on individual students to navigate the higher education system and ensure more consistent access to services across campuses. This bill also recognizes the unique needs of parenting students, particularly those with infants and toddlers, who often face significant childcare challenges, and provides pathways to state and federal subsidy programs, which may be underutilized due to a lack of awareness or support.
RELATED AND PRIOR LEGISLATION:
AB 2033 (Reyes), Chapter 913, Statutes of 2024, see comments above.
AB 2458 (Berman), Chapter 962, Statutes of 2024, established the Greater Accessibility, Information, Notice, and Support for Student Parents Act. Required the CCC Chancellor's Office and CSU Chancellor's Office and requested the UC President's Office, by July 31, 2025, to develop and disseminate a model policy to estimate and adjust college cost of attendance information for student parents. Required each campus of the CCC and the CSU and requested each campus of the UC to take various steps to adjust the cost of attendance for student parents. Required certain information related to benefits for student parents to be included on college and university webpages.
AB 775 (Berman), Chapter 942, Statutes of 2022, see comments above.
AB 2388 (Berman) of 2020, would have required each CCC campus by February 1, 2021, to develop various methods to increase students' awareness of on- and off- campus basic needs resources. Would have encouraged each CCC campus by July 1, 2021, to establish a Basic Needs Center and the role of a basic needs coordinator, in order to consolidate and centralize the basic needs resources available on campus. AB 2388 was held in the Senate Education Committee without further action.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
California State Student Association (Co-Sponsor)
Early Edge California (Co-Sponsor)
Student Senate for California Community Colleges (Co-Sponsor)
University of California Student Association (Co-Sponsor)
California Child Care Resource and Referral Network
California Community Colleges, Chancellor's Office
California Family Resource Association
California Legislative Women's Caucus
California State University, Office of the Chancellor
California Student Aid Commission
California WIC Association
California Women's Law Center
Campaign for College Opportunity
Child Abuse Prevention Center and its Affiliates Safe Kids California, Prevent Child Abuse California and the California Family Resource Association
Child Action, INC.
Child Care Resource Center
Children Now
Coast Community College District
EdTrust - West
Faculty Association of California's Community Colleges
Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis
Michelson Center for Public Policy
San Jose-Evergreen Community College District
Unite-LA
University of California
Western Center on Law & Poverty
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by: Bri-Ann Hernández-Mengual / HUM. S. / (916) 319-2089
Date of Hearing: July 8, 2025
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Mike Fong, Chair
SBPCA Bill Id:SB 271
Author:(Reyes) – As Amended Ver:May 23, 2025
[Note: This bill is double referred to the Assembly Committee on Human Services and will be heard by that Committee as it relates to issues under its jurisdiction.]
SENATE VOTE: 39-0
SUBJECT: Public postsecondary education: students with dependent children: childcare services, resources, and programs.
SUMMARY: Requires each California State University (CSU) and California Community College (CCC), and requests each University of California (UC) financial aid office, childcare development center, and basic needs center to refer their respective students with dependent children to local resource and referral agencies, and each other for purposes of connecting and informing students of existing childcare services and resources. Specifically, this bill:
- Requires each CCC and CSU and requests each UC financial aid office to provide all of the following to students with dependent children:
- Information on the campus’ childcare development center and childcare offerings, if applicable;
- Referral to the campus Basic Needs Centers for support accessing information, including but not limited to, information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying for state and federal childcare subsidies and programs and finding local childcare providers; and,
- Information on any supplemental awards, such as the awards for those students with dependent children, as specified.
- Requires each CCC and CSU, and requests each UC child development center or preschool established pursuant to state law for higher education institutions, to provide students with dependent children seeking childcare with both of the following:
- Referral to the campus Basic Needs Center for support accessing information, including but not limited to, information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying for state and federal childcare subsidies and programs and finding local childcare providers; and,
- Referral to the campus’ financial aid office, including information on the awards for students with dependent children.
- Expands the definition of basic needs services and resources that a basic needs coordinator and Basic Needs Center on a CCC, CSU, or UC campus is to be responsible for, to include childcare services and resources. These resources may include direct financial or service support. Specifies that if a campus has an existing center or office that supports parenting students and a student may be better served there, the basic needs center is authorized to direct that student to that center or office.
- Adds supplemental awards for students with dependent children as a reason a Basic Needs Center on a CCC, CSU, or UC campus refers a student to the financial aid department or office.
- Expands the definition of childcare services and resources, as it relates to basic needs services, resources, and centers to include, but is not limited to, providing information on affordable childcare options on or near the campus, and information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying to state and federal childcare subsidies and programs, and finding local childcare providers, including but not limited to, the California State preschool program, Head Start, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) childcare program, and general child care and development programs. Childcare services and resources may also include direct financial or service support.
EXISTING LAW:
- Establishes the Donahoe Higher Education Act, setting forth the mission of the CCC, the CSU, and the UC (Education Code (EC) Section 66010, et seq.).
- Requires each CCC campus and each CSU campus, and requests each UC campus, to establish the position of the Basic Needs Coordinator to assist students, in part, with basic needs services and resources, including childcare, and to establish a Basic Needs Center where basic needs services, resources, and staff are made available to students, as provided. Existing law requires each Basic Needs Center to, in part, connect students to the financial aid department or financial aid office, as appropriate, to ensure that students are receiving all available financial aid (EC Sections 66023.4 and 66023.5).
- Requires the CCC and the CSU, and requests the UC, to provide students with information on the California Special Supplemental Food Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC), as defined; to grant priority registration to student parents, as defined; and to create a website with resources for student parents (EC Section 66025.81).
- Requires each campus of the CSU and the CCC, and requests each campus of the UC, to host on its website a student parent internet webpage that contains information that clearly lists all on- and off-campus student parent services and resources, as specified, including, among other student parent services and resources, information on the California Earned Income Tax Credit and the Young Child Tax Credit (EC Section 66027.81).
- Establishes the Greater Accessibility, Information, Notice, and Support (GAINS) for Student Parents Act; requires the CCC Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) and the CSU Chancellor's Office and requests the UC President's Office, by July 31, 2025, to develop and disseminate a model policy to estimate and adjust college cost of attendance (COA) information for student parents. It further requires each campus of the CCC and the CSU and requests each campus of the UC to take various steps to adjust the cost of attendance for student parents. Lastly, existing law requires certain information related to benefits for student parents to be included on college and university webpages (EC Section 66027.82).
- Establishes the supplemental Cal Grant award, administered by the California Student Aid Commission, for students with dependent children who attend a CSU, UC, CCC, or independent nonprofit college or university receiving a Cal Grant A, B, or C award. Eligible Cal Grant A or B students may receive an additional $6,000, and $4,000 for Cal Grant C recipients (EC Section 69465 (a)-(h), inclusive).
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Senate Committee on Appropriations:
- The Chancellor’s Office estimates one-time Proposition 98 General Fund costs of $1,000 to $2,000 per community college, or $116,000 to $232,000 statewide, to update policies and procedures for Basic Needs Centers and Financial Aid Offices. However, this estimate could be lower since the bill’s provisions would merely codify current practices already in place at some of the colleges.
- While the CSU and UC indicate that the bill’s provisions would result in additional training duties for their Basic Needs Coordinators and Financial Aid staff, the associated costs are expected to be minor and absorbable within existing resources.
COMMENTS: Need for the measure. According to the author, “there are more than 400,000 student parents in California, an estimated 32% of which have a child under the age of three. Currently, the California Community Colleges (CCC), the California State University (CSU), and the University of California (UC) systems, are required to have Basic Need Centers and coordinators to provide ‘basic needs services and resources’ to students on campus. This includes, but is not limited to, housing, food, clothing, feminine hygiene, diapers, technology, childcare, and mental health services and resources.”
The author states that, “in recent years, California has made strides to support the growing number of student parents, recognizing the additional barriers they face to accessing and completing postsecondary education. However, significant challenges remain. Access to and knowledge of resources is persistently a challenge. Many student parents seeking support at various offices on campus are not informed of the full scope of services they are eligible for.”
Further, the author contends that, “SB 271 requires that when a student parent on a higher education campus is identified at one of the following campus locations: a financial aid office, a child development center, or a basic need center, the student parent shall be notified about the childcare and financial aid resources available to them. The bill also ensures student parents are connected to childcare support services provided in their county. This type of direct notification process is needed because student parents are hindered by the communications silos within higher education campuses.”
Lastly, according to the author, “while juggling the demands of parents and earning their degrees, student parents should not be further delayed by communication gaps on their campuses. SB 271 bridges gaps, ensuring student parents are connected to the resources they need rather than being left in the dark about relevant services. This bill is a step towards making all student parents feel welcomed, supported, and cared for by fostering an environment where their needs are intentionally met.”
How many? According to California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy, California is home to approximately 400,000 student parents, a majority of whom are first-generation and students of color. Unlike their non-parenting peers, student parents have additional childcare expenses, which are not accounted for in the college's estimate of a student parent's COA. Federal regulations allow financial aid administrators to adjust a student's COA to include the expenses incurred for dependent care, however, institutions often do not take full advantage of this federal flexibility.
On-going efforts to assist students with dependents. Student parents attending a campus of the State’s public higher education institutions have access to various resources and services designed to support their needs, including child care programs. Systemwide at the CCC, of the 72 brick and mortar community college districts, 20 operate 42 child care centers. Systemwide, of the 23 campuses of the CSU, 20 have childcare centers, and all of the nine undergraduate campuses of the UCs have child care centers.
However, enrollment capacity varies. Consistently, centers have waitlists for parents seeking to enroll their children. As it relates to financial aid, eligible student parents at any of the three public systems of higher education can receive a supplemental award, up to $6,000, on top of their Cal Grant award. Additionally, on-campus basic needs centers established to address basic needs insecurity among college students, assist any student with basic needs services and resources, including childcare, food, and housing assistance.
In addition to the campus based resources for students with dependents, resource and referral programs, funded by the California Department of Social Services, Child Care and Development Division, help families find child care that best meets their needs, recruit and train child care providers, and collect data from parents and child care providers. Resource and referral programs provide information to all parents and the community about the availability of child care in their area. Said programs assist potential providers in the licensing process, provide direct services, including training, and coordinate community resources for the benefit of parents and local child care providers. Every county in California is served by at least one resource and referral agency.
As noted above, a variety of services and resources are available to students with dependents, but often times, student parents are not aware of the various resources and services they could benefit from. In fact, according to a 2024 policy brief by Early Edge California, entitled, Supporting Student Parents and their Young Children in California’s Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), the academic success of student parents enrolled in higher education and the well-being of their young children are heavily influenced by the level of institutional support available to them. The policy brief found that the availability or lack of child care options and resources on campus impacts families raising infants and toddlers - who are going through their most critical period of development.
Additionally, the policy brief indicated that by identifying the diverse needs and addressing unique challenges faced by students with dependents, IHEs can foster the educational success, economic mobility, and well-being of both parents and young children in a two-generational approach.
This measure appears to improve communication among campus locations that offer benefits or support the needs of student parents. Further, this measure seeks to ensure student parents are aware of State-funded services designed to help any parent find child care in their area.
Arguments in support. According to the Western Center on Law & Poverty, “unfortunately, students are not always aware of the resources available to them as illustrated in a report by Early Edge which found that a lack of information on childcare resources and financial aid was a major contributor to student parents not continuing their education. By supporting student parents, we are supporting two generations at a time which will lead to healthy outcomes for the parents, children and our communities.”
Prior legislation. AB 2033 (Reyes), Chapter 913, Statutes of 2024, which, in part, requires the CCC and the CSU, and requests the UC to implement various programs and tools, as defined, to help students access basic needs resources on- and off-campus.
AB 2458 (Berman), Chapter 962, Statutes of 2024, which, in part, establishes the GAINS for Student Parents Act.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
Cal State Student Association
California Catholic Conference
California Child Care Resource and Referral Network
California Community Colleges, Chancellor's Office
California Family Resource Association
California Legislative Women's Caucus
California State Student Association
California State University, Office of the Chancellor
California Student Aid Commission
California WIC Association
California Women's Law Center
Campaign for College Opportunity
Child Abuse Prevention Center and its Affiliates Safe Kids California, Prevent Child Abuse California and the California Family Resource Association; the
Child Action, INC.
Child Care Resource Center
Children Now
Coast Community College District
Early Edge California
EdTrust - West
Faculty Association of California's Community Colleges
Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis
Michelson Center for Public Policy
San Jose-Evergreen Community College District
Student Senate for California Community Colleges
UNITE-LA
University of California
University of California Student Association
Western Center on Law & Poverty
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by: Jeanice Warden / HIGHER ED. / (916) 319-3960
SENATE RULES COMMITTEE Office of Senate Floor Analyses (916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) 327-4478 | SB 271 |
THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 271
Author: Reyes (D)
Amended: 5/23/25
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: 7-0, 4/2/25
AYES: Pérez, Ochoa Bogh, Cabaldon, Choi, Cortese, Gonzalez, Laird
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 6-0, 5/23/25
AYES: Caballero, Seyarto, Cabaldon, Grayson, Richardson, Wahab
NO VOTE RECORDED: Dahle
SUBJECT: Public postsecondary education: students with dependent children: childcare services, resources, and programs
SOURCE: Cal State Student Association
Early Edge California
Student Senate for California Community Colleges
University of California Student Association
DIGEST:
This bill requires each California State University (CSU) and California Community College (CCC) and requests each University of California (UC) financial aid office, childcare development center, and basic needs center to refer their respective students with dependent children to local resource and referral agencies, and each other for purposes of connecting and informing students of existing childcare services and resources.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
- Establishes the CSU, under the administration of the Trustees of the CSU, the UC, under the administration of the Regents of the UC, the CCC, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, and independent institutions of higher education as four segments of postsecondary education in the state. (Education Code (EC) § 66010, § 70900, § 66600, and California Constitution, Article IX, Section 9)
- Authorizes public postsecondary institutions to establish and maintain child development programs on or near their campuses. (EC § 66060)
- Specifics roles and responsibilities for child care resource and referral programs established to serve a defined geographic area. (Welfare and Institutions Code § 10219)
- Establishes the supplemental Cal Grant award, administered by the California Student Aid Commission, for students with dependent children who attend a CSU, UC, CCC, or independent nonprofit college or university receiving a Cal Grant A, B, or C award. Eligible Cal Grant A or B students may receive an additional $6,000, and $4,000 for Cal Grant C recipients. (EC § 69465 (a)-(h), inclusive)
- Requires each CCC campus and each CSU campus, and requests each UC campus, to establish the position of the Basic Needs Coordinator to assist students, among other responsibilities, with basic needs services and resources, including childcare, and to establish a Basic Needs Center where basic needs services, resources, and staff are made available to students, as provided. Existing law requires each Basic Needs Center to, among other things, connect students to the financial aid department or financial aid office, as appropriate, to ensure that students are receiving all available financial aid. (EC § 66023.4 and 66023.5)
This bill:
- Requires each CCC and CSU and requests each UC financial aid office to provide all of the following to students with dependent children:
- Information on the campus’ childcare development center and childcare offerings, if applicable.
- Referral to the campus Basic Needs Centers for support accessing information, including but not limited to information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying for state and federal childcare subsidies and programs and finding local childcare providers.
- Information on any supplemental awards, such as the awards for those students with dependent children, established in state law.
- Requires each CCC and CSU and requests each UC child development center or preschool established pursuant to state law for higher education institutions to provide students with dependent children seeking childcare with both of the following:
- Referral to the campus Basic Needs Center for support access information, including but not limited to information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying for state and federal childcare subsidies and programs and finding local childcare providers.
- Referral to the campus’ financial aid office, including information on the awards for students with dependent children.
- Expands the definition of basic needs services and resources that a basic needs coordinator and Basic Needs Center on a CCC, CSU, or UC campus is to be responsible for to include childcare services and resources. These resources may include direct financial or service support. The bill further specifies that if a campus has an existing center or office that supports parenting students and a student may be better served there the basic needs center is authorized to direct that student to that center or office.
- Adds supplemental awards for students with dependent children as a reason a Basic Needs Center on a CCC, CSU, or UC campus refers a student to the financial aid department or office.
- Defines childcare services and resources, as it relates to basic needs services, resources, and centers to include, but be not limited to, providing information on affordable childcare options on or near the campus, and information and connections to local resource and referral agencies in order to obtain support in applying to state and federal childcare subsidies and programs, and finding local childcare providers, including but not limited to, the California State preschool program, Head Start, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) childcare program, and general child care and development programs. Childcare services and resources may also include direct financial or service support.
Comments
- Need for the bill. According to the author, “SB 271 requires that when a student parent on a higher education campus is identified at one of the following campus locations: a financial aid office, a child development center, or a basic need center, the student parent shall be notified about the childcare and financial aid resources available to them. This type of direct notification process is needed because student parents are hindered by the communications silos within higher education campuses. While juggling the demands of parents and earning their degrees, student parents should not be further delayed by communication gaps on their campuses. SB 271 bridges gaps, ensuring student parents are connected to the resources they need rather than being left in the dark about relevant services. This bill is a step towards making all student parents feel welcomed, supported, and cared for by fostering an environment where their needs are intentionally met.”
- Off-campus resources. Resource and referral programs, funded by the California Department of Social Services, Child Care and Development Division, help families find child care that best meets their needs, recruit and train child care providers, and collect data from parents and child care providers. Specifically, resource and referral programs provide information to all parents and the community about the availability of child care in their area. The programs assist potential providers in the licensing process, provide direct services, including training, and coordinate community resources for the benefit of parents and local child care providers. Every county in California is served by at least one resource and referral agency.
- On-campus resources for student parents. Student parents attending a California public higher education institution have access to a range of resources and services designed to support their needs, including child care programs. Within the CCC system of the 73 community college districts, 20 operate 42 child care centers; all but three CSU campuses have childcare centers, and all UCs have child care centers. However, enrollment capacity varies, and it’s common for centers to have a waitlist for parents seeking to enroll their children. As it relates to financial aid, eligible student parents at any of the three public systems of higher education can receive a supplemental award, up to $6,000, on top of their Cal Grant payment. Additionally, on-campus basic needs centers established to address basic needs insecurity among college students assist any student with basic needs services and resources, including childcare, food, and housing assistance.
- Streamlining information and connections. Given the various services and resources available to student parents, this bill attempts to improve communication among campus locations that offer benefits or support their needs. It additionally seeks to ensure student parents are aware of a state-funded services designed to help any parent find child care in their area.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: Yes
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee analysis, the bill would have following fiscal impact:
- The Chancellor’s Office estimates one-time Proposition 98 General Fund costs of $1,000 to $2,000 per community college, or $116,000 to $232,000 statewide, to update policies and procedures for Basic Needs Centers and Financial Aid Offices. However, this estimate could be lower since the bill’s provisions would merely codify current practices already in place at some of the colleges.
- While the CSU and UC indicate that the bill’s provisions would result in additional training duties for their Basic Needs Coordinators and Financial Aid staff, the associated costs are expected to be minor and absorbable within existing resources.
SUPPORT: (Verified 5/23/25)
Cal State Student Association (co-source)
Early Edge California (co-source)
Student Senate for California Community Colleges (co-source)
University of California Student Association (co-source)
Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis
California Catholic Conference
California Child Care Resource and Referral Network
California Community Colleges, Chancellor’s Office
California Family Resource Association
California WIC Association
Campaign for College Opportunity
Child Abuse Prevention Center
Children Now
Coast Community College District
EdTrust-West
Faculty Association of California Community Colleges
Michelson Center for Public Policy
San Jose-Evergreen Community College District
Unite-LA
Western Center on Law & Poverty
OPPOSITION: (Verified 5/22/25)
Prepared by: Olgalilia Ramirez / ED. / (916) 651-4105
5/27/25 13:20:42
**** END ****
SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Senator Anna Caballero, Chair
2025 - 2026 Regular Session
SB 271 (Reyes) - Public postsecondary education: students with dependent children: childcare services, resources, and programs
Version: March 20, 2025 | Policy Vote: ED. 7 - 0 |
Urgency: No | Mandate: Yes |
Hearing Date: May 23, 2025 | Consultant: Lenin Del Castillo |
Bill Summary:
This bill requires each California State University (CSU) and California Community College (CCC) and requests each University of California (UC) financial aid office, childcare development center, and basic needs center to refer their respective students with dependent children to local resource and referral agencies, local planning councils, and each other for purposes of connecting and informing students of existing childcare services and resources.
*********** ANALYSIS ADDENDUM – SUSPENSE FILE ***********
The following information is revised to reflect amendments
adopted by the committee on May 23, 2025
Fiscal Impact:
- The Chancellor’s Office estimates one-time Proposition 98 General Fund costs of $1,000 to $2,000 per community college, or $116,000 to $232,000 statewide, to update policies and procedures for Basic Needs Centers and Financial Aid Offices. However, this estimate could be lower since the bill’s provisions would merely codify current practices already in place at some of the colleges.
- While the CSU and UC indicate that the bill’s provisions would result in additional training duties for their Basic Needs Coordinators and Financial Aid staff, the associated costs are expected to be minor and absorbable within existing resources.
Author Amendments:
Clarify that childcare services and support, under the definition of basic needs services and resources, is authorized to include direct financial and service support. The amendments also provide that if a campus has an existing center or office that supports parenting students, a Basic Needs Center is authorized to direct a student to the student parent center or office if the student would be better served by that center or office.
-- END --
SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Senator Anna Caballero, Chair
2025 - 2026 Regular Session
SB 271 (Reyes) - Public postsecondary education: students with dependent children: childcare services, resources, and programs
Version: March 20, 2025 | Policy Vote: ED. 7 - 0 |
Urgency: No | Mandate: Yes |
Hearing Date: April 21, 2025 | Consultant: Lenin Del Castillo |
Bill Summary:
This bill requires each California State University (CSU) and California Community College (CCC) and requests each University of California (UC) financial aid office, childcare development center, and basic needs center to refer their respective students with dependent children to local resource and referral agencies, local planning councils, and each other for purposes of connecting and informing students of existing childcare services and resources.
Fiscal Impact:
- The Chancellor’s Office estimates one-time Proposition 98 General Fund costs of $1,000 to $2,000 per community college, or $116,000 to $232,000 statewide, to update policies and procedures for Basic Needs Centers and Financial Aid Offices. However, this estimate could be lower since the bill’s provisions would merely codify current practices already in place at some of the colleges.
- While the CSU and UC indicate that the bill’s provisions would result in additional training duties for their Basic Needs Coordinators and Financial Aid staff, the associated costs are expected to be minor and absorbable within existing resources.
Background:
Existing law establishes the CSU, the UC, the California Community Colleges, and independent institutions of higher education as the four segments of postsecondary education in the state. It authorizes these institutions to establish and maintain child development programs on or near their campuses.
Existing law specifies the roles and responsibilities for child care resource and referral programs established to serve a defined geographic area. Resource and referral programs help families find child care that best meets their needs, recruit and train child care providers, and collect data from parents and child care providers. Specifically, resource and referral programs provide information to all parents and the community about the availability of child care in their area. The programs assist potential providers in the licensing process, provide direct services, including training, and coordinate community resources for the benefit of parents and local child care providers. Every county in California is served by at least one resource and referral agency. Local child care development planning councils also exist in every county in the state. The councils assess childcare needs in every county at least once every five years, foster local partnerships between subsidized and non-subsidized child care programs, local government partners, and others, and coordinate part-day programs, including state preschool and Head Start, with other child care programs to offer full-day child care services.
Existing law requires each CSU and CCC campus, and requests UC, to establish the position of the Basic Needs Coordinator to assist students, among other responsibilities, with basic needs services and resources, including childcare, and to establish a Basic Needs Center where basic needs services, resources, and staff are made available to students, as provided. Existing law requires each Basic Needs Center to, among other things, connect students to the financial aid department or financial aid office, as appropriate, to ensure that students are receiving all available financial aid.
Proposed Law:
This bill requires each CCC and CSU financial aid office, and requests UC, to provide all of the following to students with dependent children:
- Information on the campus’ childcare development center and childcare offerings, if applicable.
- Referral to the campus Basic Needs Centers for support accessing information, including but not limited to information and connections to local resource and referral agencies and the local planning council, and support in applying for state and federal childcare subsidies and programs.
- Information on any supplemental awards, such as the awards for those students with dependent children, established in state law.
This bill also requires each CCC and CSU child development center or preschool, and requests UC, to provide students with dependent children seeking childcare with both of the following: referral to the campus Basic Needs Center for support access information, including but not limited to information and connections to local resource and referral agencies and the local planning council, and support in applying for state and federal childcare subsidies and programs; and referral to the campus’ financial aid office, including information on the awards for students with dependent children.
This bill expands the definition of basic needs services and resources and specifies that a basic needs coordinator and Basic Needs Center on a CCC, CSU, or UC campus is responsible for brokering for students to include childcare services and resources.
This bill adds supplemental awards for students with dependent children as a reason a Basic Needs Center on a CCC, CSU, or UC campus refers a student to the financial aid department or office, and defines childcare services and resources, as it relates to basic needs services, resources, and centers to include, but be not limited to, providing information on affordable childcare options on or near the campus, information and connections to local resource and referral agencies and the local planning council, and support in applying to state and federal childcare subsidies and programs, including but not limited to, the California State preschool program, Head Start, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility for Kids (CalWORKS) childcare program, and general child care and development programs.
Staff Comments:
This bill attempts to improve communication among public postsecondary institutions that offer benefits or support the needs of student parents. It also seeks to ensure student parents are aware of a state-funded services designed to help any parent find child care in their area. Specifically, this bill requires each CSU and community college financial aid office, childcare development center, and basic needs center to refer their students with dependent children to local resource and referral agencies, local planning councils, and each other for purposes of connecting and informing students of existing childcare services and resources. While the bill would merely codify current practices at some of these campuses, there could be one-time costs associated with updating policies and procedures for those campuses that are not in compliance. Within the community college system, 20 of the 73 districts operate 42 child care centers; all but three of the CSU campuses have childcare centers; and all of the UC campuses have child care centers.
-- END --
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Senator Sasha Renée Pérez, Chair
2025 - 2026 Regular
Bill No: Hearing Date: April 2, 2025
Author: | Reyes | ||
Version: |
| ||
Urgency: | Fiscal: | ||
Consultant: | |||
Subject: .
SUMMARY
This bill requires each California State University (CSU) and California Community College (CCC) and requests each University of California (UC) financial aid office, childcare development center, and basic needs center to refer their respective students with dependent children to local resource and referral agencies, local planning councils, and each other for purposes of connecting and informing students of existing childcare services and resources.
BACKGROUND
Existing law:
- Establishes the CSU, under the administration of the Trustees of the CSU, the UC, under the administration of the Regents of the UC, the CCC, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, and independent institutions of higher education as four segments of postsecondary education in the state. (Education Code (EC) § 66010, § 70900, § 66600, and California Constitution, Article IX, Section 9)
- Authorizes public postsecondary institutions to establish and maintain child development programs on or near their campuses. (EC § 66060)
- Specifics roles and responsibilities for child care resource and referral programs established to serve a defined geographic area. (Welfare and Institutions Code § 10219)
- Establishes the supplemental Cal Grant award, administered by the California Student Aid Commission, for students with dependent children who attend a CSU, UC, CCC, or independent nonprofit college or university receiving a Cal Grant A, B, or C award. Eligible Cal Grant A or B students may receive an additional $6,000, and $4,000 for Cal Grant C recipients. (EC § 69465 (a)-(h), inclusive)
- Requires each CCC campus and each CSU campus, and requests each UC campus, to establish the position of the Basic Needs Coordinator to assist students, among other responsibilities, with basic needs services and resources, including childcare, and to establish a Basic Needs Center where basic needs services, resources, and staff are made available to students, as provided. Existing law requires each Basic Needs Center to, among other things, connect students to the financial aid department or financial aid office, as appropriate, to ensure that students are receiving all available financial aid. (EC § 66023.4 and 66023.5)
ANALYSIS
This bill:
- Requires each CCC and CSU and requests each UC financial aid office to provide all of the following to students with dependent children:
- Information on the campus’ childcare development center and childcare
offerings, if applicable.
- Referral to the campus Basic Needs Centers for support accessing
information, including but not limited to information and connections to local resource and referral agencies and the local planning council, and support in applying for state and federal childcare subsidies and programs.
- Information on any supplemental awards, such as the awards for those
students with dependent children, established in state law.
- Requires each CCC and CSU and requests each UC child development center or preschool established pursuant to state law for higher education institutions to provide students with dependent children seeking childcare with both of the following:
- Referral to the campus Basic Needs Center for support access
information, including but not limited to information and connections to local resource and referral agencies and the local planning council, and support in applying for state and federal childcare subsidies and programs.
- Referral to the campus’ financial aid office, including information on the
awards for students with dependent children.
- Expands the definition of basic needs services and resources that a basic needs coordinator and Basic Needs Center on a CCC, CSU, or UC campus is responsible for brokering for students to include childcare services and resources.
- Adds supplemental awards for students with dependent children as a reason a Basic Needs Center on a CCC, CSU, or UC campus refers a student to the financial aid department or office.
- Defines childcare services and resources, as it relates to basic needs services, resources, and centers to include, but be not limited to, providing information on affordable childcare options on or near the campus, information and connections to local resource and referral agencies and the local planning council, and support in applying to state and federal childcare subsidies and programs, including but not limited to, the California State preschool program, Head Start, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility for Kids (CalWORKS) childcare program, and general child care and development programs.
STAFF COMMENTS
- Need for the bill. According to the author, “SB 271 requires that when a student parent on a higher education campus is identified at one of the following campus locations: a financial aid office, a child development center, or a basic need center, the student parent shall be notified about the childcare and financial aid resources available to them. This type of direct notification process is needed because student parents are hindered by the communications silos within higher education campuses. While juggling the demands of parents and earning their degrees, student parents should not be further delayed by communication gaps on their campuses. SB 271 bridges gaps, ensuring student parents are connected to the resources they need rather than being left in the dark about relevant services. This bill is a step towards making all student parents feel welcomed, supported, and cared for by fostering an environment where their needs are intentionally met.”
- Off-campus resources- Resource and referral programs and Local Child Care Development Planning councils. Resource and referral programs, funded by the California Department of Social Services, Child Care and Development Division, help families find child care that best meets their needs, recruit and train child care providers, and collect data from parents and child care providers. Specifically, resource and referral programs provide information to all parents and the community about the availability of child care in their area. The programs assist potential providers in the licensing process, provide direct services, including training, and coordinate community resources for the benefit of parents and local child care providers. Every county in California is served by at least one resource and referral agency.
Local child care development planning councils also exist in every county in California. They assess childcare needs in every county at least every five years, foster local partnerships between subsidized and non-subsidized child care programs, local government partners, and others, and coordinate part-day programs, including state preschool and Head Start with other child care programs to offer full-day.
- On-campus resources for student parents. Student parents attending a California public higher education institution have access to a range of resources and services designed to support their needs, including child care programs. Within the CCC system of the 73 community college districts, 20 operate 42 child care centers; all but three CSU campuses have childcare centers, and all UCs have child care centers. However, enrollment capacity varies, and it’s common for centers to have a waitlist for parents seeking to enroll their children. As it relates to financial aid, eligible student parents at any of the three public systems of higher education can receive a supplemental award, up to $6,000, on top of their Cal Grant payment. Additionally, on-campus basic needs centers established to address basic needs insecurity among college students assist any student with basic needs services and resources, including childcare, food, and housing assistance.
- Streamlining information and connections. Given the various services and resources available to student parents, this bill attempts to improve communication among campus locations that offer benefits or support their needs. It additionally seeks to ensure student parents are aware of a state-funded services designed to help any parent find child care in their area.
SUPPORT
Cal State Student Association (co-sponsor)
Early Edge California (co-sponsor)
Student Senate for California Community Colleges (co-sponsor)
University of California Student Association (co-sponsor)
California Catholic Conference
California Family Resource Association
California WIC Association
Campaign for College Opportunity
Child Abuse Prevention Center
Children Now
Faculty Association of California Community Colleges
Michelson Center for Public Policy
Unite-LA
Western Center on Law & Poverty
OPPOSITION
None received
-- END --
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Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):