SB 550: California State University, San Jose: legal partnership pilot program.

Official summary

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

The Donahoe Higher Education Act establishes the segments of postsecondary education in the state, including the University of California and the California State University, and sets forth the missions and functions of those segments. Existing law states that the University of California has exclusive jurisdiction in public higher education over, among others, instruction in the profession of law.

This bill would authorize the Trustees of the California State University to establish a legal education pilot program, consisting of the California State University, San Jose, and a law school accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California as an independent nonprofit institution, to operate for a period of 6 academic years. The bill would require the legal education pilot program to commence only if the trustees approve the program, the governing board of the law school approves the program, and the law school has been continuously accredited for a minimum of 5 years before the first cohort graduates from a joint degree program. The bill would authorize the California State University, San Jose, as part of the legal education pilot program, to partner with the nonprofit law school to jointly award a juris doctor degree and to jointly provide certificate and legal education programs at the undergraduate level. The bill would require the California State University, San Jose, and the nonprofit law school to submit certain information, including an administrative plan and enrollment projections, to the trustees and the governing board of the law school before the trustees and governing board vote to approve the pilot program. The bill would require the Legislative Analyst’s Office to conduct an interim evaluation and a final evaluation of the program, as provided.

This bill would make these provisions inoperative on July 1, 2041, and would repeal it as of January 1, 2042.

This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the California State University, San Jose.

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 29, 2025August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
2. August 20, 2025August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
3. July 16, 2025From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 2.) (July 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
4. July 16, 2025Coauthors revised.
5. July 9, 2025From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
6. July 9, 2025From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 7. Noes 3.) (July 8). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
7. June 24, 2025June 24 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
8. June 9, 2025Referred to Coms. on HIGHER ED. and JUD.
9. June 3, 2025In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
10. June 2, 2025Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 29. Noes 6. Page 1375.) Ordered to the Assembly.
11. May 27, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
12. May 23, 2025Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.