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AB-79 • 2026

Public social services: higher education.

Public social services: higher education.

Education Housing Labor
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Arambula
Last action
Official status
Chaptered
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text does not specify an effective date for when these requirements begin.

Connecting Public Social Services and Higher Education

This law requires county social services agencies, colleges, and the state to work together more closely by sharing input on rules, creating training for staff, forming a working group, and reporting on student success.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires counties to get input from college basic needs coordinators when making plans to connect with schools.
  • Directs the State Department of Social Services to create training about public social services topics for school staff and county workers.
  • Orders the department to start a workgroup where colleges and counties can share ideas, address challenges, and identify statewide issues together.
  • Requires the state to send a report to lawmakers by May 1, 2027, and every three years after that on enrollment success trends.

Who It Names or Affects

  • County human services agencies
  • California Community Colleges, California State University campuses, and University of California campuses
  • The State Department of Social Services
  • Staff members who help students with basic needs like food and housing

Terms To Know

Basic Needs Coordinator
A staff person at a college or university who helps connect students to resources for housing, food, mental health, and other essential services.
Staff Liaison
An employee from a county human services agency who acts as the main contact point between the county and local colleges.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The specific topics covered in the required training are not listed in this summary.
  • The exact date when the law takes effect is not provided in the source text, only that it was enacted on October 11, 2025.

Bill History

  1. California Legislative Information

    Chaptered

Official Summary Text

Public social services: higher education.