Back to California

AB-240 • 2026

Community colleges: study: Counties of Amador, Alpine, Mariposa, Modoc, and Sierra.

Community colleges: study: Counties of Amador, Alpine, Mariposa, Modoc, and Sierra.

Education
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Alanis (A) , Hadwick (A) , Tangipa
Last action
2026-02-02
Official status
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify details about the composition or role of the working group, only that it is required.

Community Colleges Study in Five California Counties

This legislation requires the Little Hoover Commission to conduct a study on postsecondary education services for residents of Amador, Alpine, Mariposa, Modoc, and Sierra counties who do not have full access to community college districts.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Little Hoover Commission to conduct a study on postsecondary education opportunities in five underserved California counties.
  • The study must include recommendations for ensuring residents of these counties have equal opportunities for both in-person and online courses as those in fully covered areas.
  • Establishes a working group with representatives from various entities to assist in the development of the report.
  • Requires submission of the final report and policy recommendations to legislative committees and the Governor by December 31, 2027.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Residents of Amador, Alpine, Mariposa, Modoc, and Sierra counties who do not have full access to community college districts.
  • The Little Hoover Commission which will conduct the study.
  • Legislative committees and the Governor who will receive the final report.

Terms To Know

Little Hoover Commission
A commission that studies state government operations to promote efficiency and better service.
Community College Districts
Areas designated by the state where community colleges are located or services are provided.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the recommendations will be implemented after the report is submitted.
  • It is unclear what happens if the counties do not have enough residents to qualify for a full community college district under current law.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-02 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. 2026-01-31 California Legislative Information

    Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.

  3. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Held under submission.

  4. 2025-04-09 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

  5. 2025-03-19 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (March 18). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  6. 2025-03-11 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.

  7. 2025-03-10 California Legislative Information

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HIGHER ED. Read second time and amended.

  8. 2025-02-10 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.

  9. 2025-01-15 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee February 14.

  10. 2025-01-14 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 240, as amended, Alanis.
Community colleges: study: Counties of Amador, Alpine, Mariposa, Modoc, and Sierra.
Existing law establishes the Milton Marks “Little Hoover” Commission on California State Government Organization and Economy (Little Hoover Commission) for purposes of securing assistance for the Governor and the Legislature in promoting economy, efficiency, and improved service in the transaction of the public business in the various departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the executive branch of the state government, and in making the operation of all state departments, agencies, and instrumentalities, and all expenditures of public funds, more directly responsive to the wishes of the people as expressed by their elected representatives, as provided.
Existing law establishes the California State Library, which includes the California Research Bureau, under the control of an executive known as the “State Librarian.” Existing law authorizes the California State Library to serve as the central reference and research library for the departments of state government and to, among other things, maintain adequate legislative reference and research library services for the Legislature.
Existing law declares as legislative policy that all of the territory of the state shall be included within a community college district, except that territory located within a county where the county residents accounted for fewer than 350 units of average daily attendance in the state’s community colleges during the preceding fiscal year, and that territory located within such a county may be included within a community college district pursuant to prescribed procedures.
This bill instead would declare as legislative policy that all of the territory of the state shall be included within a community college district or otherwise provided with equivalent opportunities for residents to participate in both in-person and online
postsecondary education
community college
programs and courses.
This bill would require the
Little Hoover Commission
California Research Bureau
to conduct a study and prepare a report evaluating the provision of
postsecondary education
community college
services and opportunities to residents of the underserved Counties of Amador, Alpine, Mariposa, Modoc, and Sierra that are not fully included within the territory of a community college district, and would require the report to include policy recommendations regarding how the state can ensure that residents of those 5 counties have opportunities to participate in both in-person and online
postsecondary education
community college
programs and courses equivalent to those of similarly sized communities that are fully included within the territory of a community college district, as provided. To assist with and inform the development of the report and recommendations, the bill would require the
Little Hoover Commission
California Research bureau
to convene and consult a working group that includes specified voluntary representatives, and would authorize the
Little Hoover Commission
bureau
to request and receive information from specified entities. The bill would require the
Little Hoover Commission
California Research bureau
to submit the report and recommendations to the
appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature and to
Assembly
Committee on Higher Education, the Senate Committee on Education, and
the Governor on or before December 31,
2026.
2027.
The bill would repeal these provisions as of January 1,
2031.
2032.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Counties of Amador, Alpine, Mariposa, Modoc, and Sierra.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
Download Bill PDF