SB 960: Public postsecondary education: community colleges: statewide baccalaureate degree program.

Official summary

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

Existing law authorizes the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, in consultation with the California State University and the University of California, to authorize the establishment of community college district baccalaureate degree programs, as provided. Existing law requires a community college district to identify and document unmet workforce needs in the subject area of the baccalaureate degree to be offered and offer a baccalaureate degree at a campus in a subject area with unmet workforce needs in the local community or region of the district. Existing law prohibits a community college district baccalaureate degree program from offering a baccalaureate degree program or program curricula already offered by the California State University or the University of California.

Beginning January 1, 2028, this bill would specify that a community college district identify and document unmet current or projected future workforce needs and offer a baccalaureate degree at a campus in a subject area with unmet current or projected workforce needs. The bill would instead prohibit a community college district from offering a baccalaureate degree program or program curricula already offered by the University of California, or a campus of the California State University whose local service area includes, or overlaps with, the territory of the community college district, except as provided. The bill would require a community college district’s eligibility to offer a baccalaureate degree program to be determined based on a tiered framework using the community college district’s rate of students who earned an award or transferred, as specified. Before submitting an application for a baccalaureate degree program, the bill would encourage a community college district to obtain a determination of unmet current or projected future workforce need for a specific baccalaureate degree program from the Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, as provided.

This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 78042 of the Education Code proposed by AB 2694 to be operative only if this bill and AB 2694 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.

This bill would make the operation of its provisions contingent upon the enactment of AB 2694 of the 2025–26 Regular Session.

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. September 18, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 320, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 18, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. September 10, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
4. August 31, 2026Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 31. Noes 5.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
5. August 31, 2026In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
6. August 31, 2026Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 52. Noes 1. Page 6990.) Ordered to the Senate.
7. August 27, 2026Ordered to third reading.
8. August 27, 2026Read third time and amended.
9. August 24, 2026Joint Rule 61(b)(16) suspended. (Ayes 59. Noes 0. Page 6413.)
10. August 13, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
11. August 13, 2026From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 13. Noes 1.) (August 13).
12. August 13, 2026Assembly Rule 63 suspended.