SB 271: Public postsecondary education: students with dependent children: childcare services, resources, and programs.

Official summary

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

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.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

“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. October 11, 2025Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 600, Statutes of 2025.
2. October 11, 2025Approved by the Governor.
3. September 23, 2025Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
4. September 13, 2025Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 3031.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
5. September 13, 2025In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
6. September 12, 2025Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 80. Noes 0. Page 3390.) Ordered to the Senate.
7. September 9, 2025Ordered to third reading.
8. September 9, 2025Read third time and amended.
9. September 9, 2025Joint Rule 61(a)(13) suspended. (Ayes 58. Noes 17. Page 3062.)
10. September 2, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
11. August 29, 2025From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 29).
12. August 20, 2025August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.