Public postsecondary education: student employment.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify that the bill requires institutions to ignore certain federal laws or allows colleges to provide employment as a benefit under specific federal rules.

Student Employment in California Public Colleges

This law stops public colleges and universities from not hiring students who can't show federal work permission, unless it's needed by federal rules or for a job funded by grants.

What This Bill Does

• Stops the University of California, California State University, and California Community Colleges from rejecting student applicants for jobs if they don’t have proof of federal work authorization, except when required by federal law or grant conditions.

Who It Names or Affects

• Students applying for jobs at public universities and community colleges in California.
• University of California, California State University, and California Community Colleges.

Terms To Know

Donahoe Higher Education Act

A law that sets the goals and duties of public higher education institutions in California.

Federal work authorization

Proof from the government that a person is allowed to work legally in the United States.

Limits and Unknowns

• The University of California can choose not to follow parts of this law if its Regents decide it’s not applicable.
• This bill might require community college districts to do new things, which could mean extra costs for them that the state would need to pay back.

Official Summary Text

AB 713, as amended, Solache.
Public postsecondary education: student employment.
The Donahoe Higher Education Act sets forth the missions and functions of the public institutions of higher education, including the University of California, administered by the Regents of the University of California, the California State University, administered by the Trustees of the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, administered by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges. The provisions of the Donahoe Higher Education Act apply to the University of California only to the extent that the Regents of the University of California, by appropriate resolution, make them applicable.
This bill would prohibit the University of California, California State University, or California Community Colleges from disqualifying a student from being hired for an employment position due to the student’s
failure to provide proof of federal work authorization, except where that proof is required by federal law or where that proof is required as a condition of a grant that funds the particular employment position for which the student has applied.
This bill would require the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges to treat a specified prohibition in federal law on hiring undocumented noncitizens as inapplicable because that provision does not apply to any branch of state government. The bill would further provide that, to the extent student employment is considered a “benefit” for purposes of federal law, the bill constitutes authorization to provide that benefit for purposes of specified federal law.
This bill would require the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges to implement the bill by January 6,
2026.
2027.
The bill’s provisions would apply to the University of California, unless it is found inapplicable to the University of California and then only to the extent that the Regents of the University of California, by appropriate resolution, make them applicable. By imposing new duties on community college districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF