Public postsecondary education: student behavior: drug and alcohol use: rehabilitation programs.

Plain English Breakdown

The exact details of rehabilitation programs are not specified by this law but must be defined by college leaders before July 1, 2026.

Rules for College Students Using Drugs or Alcohol

This law requires California's public colleges to prioritize health and safety when making rules about student behavior. It allows students who get medical treatment for drug or alcohol use that breaks school rules to avoid punishment if they complete a rehabilitation program, but this protection applies only once per academic term.

What This Bill Does

• Requires college leaders to prioritize the health, safety, and well-being of everyone on campus when making rules about student behavior.
• Allows students who get medical treatment for drug or alcohol use that breaks school rules to avoid being punished if they complete a rehabilitation program.
• Mandates colleges to offer rehabilitation programs to students who need them due to violating the rules regarding drugs or alcohol.

Who It Names or Affects

• Students at California's public universities and community colleges
• College leaders responsible for making rules about student behavior

Terms To Know

Rehabilitation program

A special plan to help people who have problems with drugs or alcohol get better.

Academic term

The period of time when students are in school, such as a semester or quarter.

Limits and Unknowns

• This law only applies to public universities and community colleges in California.
• It does not apply more than once per academic term for each student.
• Details about the rehabilitation programs must be defined by college leaders before July 1, 2026.

Official Summary Text

AB 602, Haney.
Public postsecondary education: student behavior: drug and alcohol use: rehabilitation programs.
Existing law, known as the Donahoe Higher Education Act, establishes the California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California as the public segments of postsecondary education in the state. Existing law requires the Regents of the University of California, the Trustees of the California State University, and the governing board of every community college district to adopt or provide for the adoption of specific rules and regulations governing student behavior and to adopt procedures by which all students are informed of the rules and regulations, with applicable penalties, as provided. Provisions of the act apply to the University of California only to the extent that the Regents of the University of California, by appropriate resolution, act to make a provision applicable.
Existing federal law
requires, as a condition of receiving federal funds or other forms of financial assistance, institutions of higher education to annually distribute to each student and employee standards of conduct that clearly prohibit unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs or alcohol, as provided, and a clear statement that the institution will impose sanctions for violations of the standards of conduct. Existing federal law characterizes the completion of an appropriate rehabilitation program as a permissible form of the required sanctions.
This bill would require the Regents of the University of California and the Trustees of the California State University, in adopting the above-described rules and regulations, to place in the highest priority the health, safety, and well-being of the campus community. The bill would also require those
entities, on or before July 1, 2026, to adopt, or provide for the adoption of, rules and regulations that (1) prohibit students receiving medical treatment for the personal use of drugs or alcohol in violation of the rules and regulations governing student behavior from being subject to disciplinary action for that use of drugs or alcohol if they complete an appropriate rehabilitation program,
as defined, and (2) require students who receive medical treatment for the personal use of drugs or alcohol in a manner that violates the rules or regulations of the university to be offered the chance to complete an appropriate rehabilitation program, as provided. The bill would establish that this prohibition on disciplinary action, and the requirement that the university offer an appropriate rehabilitation program, only apply to a student once in an academic semester, quarter, or term, as provided.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF