AB-664 • 2026

Community colleges: baccalaureate degree program: Southwestern Community College District.

Education

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Alvarez
Last action: 2026-01-27
Official status: In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide specific details about the exact degrees that will be offered or how many students might benefit from these programs.

Community Colleges: Baccalaureate Degree Program for Southwestern Community College District

This legislation authorizes the Chancellor of California Community Colleges to allow Southwestern Community College District to offer up to four workforce-aligned baccalaureate degree programs, with evaluations by the Legislative Analyst’s Office.

What This Bill Does

Authorizes the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to permit Southwestern Community College District to start offering up to four specific types of bachelor's degrees.
Requires these degrees to be focused on helping people get jobs in their area.
Needs evaluations from the Legislative Analyst’s Office about how well these programs are working, first by July 1, 2030 and then again by July 1, 2034.
Repeals this authorization after January 1, 2035.

Who It Names or Affects

Southwestern Community College District
Students who want to get a bachelor's degree at Southwestern Community College District

Terms To Know

baccalaureate degree program: A college program that gives students a bachelor’s degree after completing four years of study.
workforce-aligned: Designed to help people get jobs in specific industries or fields.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify which exact degrees will be offered.
It is unclear how many students might benefit from these programs.

Bill History

2026-01-27 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-01-26 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 69. Noes 1. Page 3830.)
2026-01-22 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-01-22 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (January 22).
2026-01-22 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.
2026-01-22 California Legislative Information
Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Page 3806.)
2026-01-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 1.) (January 13). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-01-14 California Legislative Information
Coauthors revised.
2026-01-06 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.
2026-01-05 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HIGHER ED. Read second time and amended.
2026-01-05 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.
2025-02-15 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 17.
2025-02-14 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 664, as amended, Alvarez.
Community colleges: baccalaureate degree program: Southwestern Community College District.
Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law establishes community college districts throughout the state and authorizes them to provide instruction at the campuses they operate. 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.
This bill would
state the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation that would expand access to workforce-aligned baccalaureate degree programs in underserved, college desert areas like South San Diego County by
authorizing
authorize the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to authorize the
Southwestern Community College District to offer
a limited number of
no more than 4 workforce-aligned
baccalaureate
degrees,
degree programs,
as provided.
The bill would require the Legislative Analyst’s Office to, on or before July 1, 2030, conduct and present to the Legislature and the Governor an interim
evaluation of any of the baccalaureate degree programs that are offered pursuant to that authorization and, on or before July 1, 2034, a final evaluation of those degree programs, as provided. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2035.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Southwestern Community College District.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF