AB 1858: California State University: Joint Associate’s Degree Pilot Program.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law sets forth the missions and functions of California’s public and independent segments of higher education, and details the ways in which their respective institutions are to be differentiated. Existing law specifies that the California State University shall offer undergraduate and graduate instruction through the master’s degree in the liberal arts and sciences and professional education.

This bill, upon appropriation by the Legislature, would require the Chancellor of the California State University to establish a pilot program to offer an associate degree in general studies or, if applicable, an associate degree with an area of emphasis that is consistent with the former student’s completed coursework, that is jointly conferred by a California State University campus and a community college or independent institution of higher education that awards associate degrees to former California State University students who are no longer enrolled at a California State University campus but have successfully completed coursework equivalent to the requirements for an associate degree and not previously earned an associate degree. The bill would require the associate degree to be awarded at no cost to the former student. The bill would require California State University, Long Beach, to participate in the pilot program and would authorize the chancellor to include up to 4 additional California State University campuses in the pilot program. The bill would require the chancellor, on or before January 1, 2032, to submit a report to the Legislature evaluating the effectiveness of the pilot program, as provided. The bill would make these provisions inoperative on June 30, 2032, and would repeal them as of January 1, 2033.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 2

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. August 13, 2026In committee: Held under submission.
2. August 3, 2026In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
3. July 6, 2026Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
4. July 6, 2026From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (July 1).
5. June 9, 2026In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
6. June 8, 2026From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on ED.
7. June 3, 2026Referred to Com. on ED.
8. May 21, 2026In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
9. May 21, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 73. Noes 0. Page 5208.)
10. May 18, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
11. May 14, 2026From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).
12. May 6, 2026In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.