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SB-372 • 2026

California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009: exemptions.

California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009: exemptions.

Education
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Arreguín
Last action
2026-02-02
Official status
Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education addresses complaints against the exempted institution, only that it reviews them.

California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009: Exemptions

This law adds a new exemption to the California Private Postsecondary Education Act for an institution incorporated in 1877 that merged with another accredited nonprofit private postsecondary educational institution.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds a new type of exemption for private postsecondary institutions in California.
  • Allows an institution incorporated in 1877, which operated continuously as a nonprofit and was exempt until 2022, to be exempt if it merges with another accredited nonprofit institution.
  • Requires the merged institution to sign a contract with the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education to handle complaints about the school.
  • Considers the merged institution an independent higher education institution under the act.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Private postsecondary educational institutions in California that meet specific criteria, such as being incorporated since 1877 and continuously operating as a nonprofit until merging with another accredited institution.

Terms To Know

Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education
A department within the California Department of Consumer Affairs that oversees private postsecondary institutions.
Accredited Institution
An educational institution that has been officially recognized by an accrediting body as meeting certain standards of quality and performance.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how many institutions will qualify for this new exemption.
  • It is unclear what happens if the exempted institution fails to comply with its contract requirements.
  • The effective date has not been set, so it's unknown when these changes will take effect.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-02 California Legislative Information

    Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.

  3. 2025-05-20 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing May 23.

  4. 2025-05-19 California Legislative Information

    May 19 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.

  5. 2025-05-09 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing May 19.

  6. 2025-05-06 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  7. 2025-05-05 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 960.) (April 30).

  8. 2025-04-23 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing April 30.

  9. 2025-04-21 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on ED. (Ayes 11. Noes 0. Page 808.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on ED.

  10. 2025-03-18 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing April 21.

  11. 2025-02-26 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Coms. on B. P. & E.D. and ED.

  12. 2025-02-14 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 16.

  13. 2025-02-13 California Legislative Information

    Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 372, as amended, Arreguín.
California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009: exemptions.
The California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 provides, among other things, for student protections and regulatory oversight of private postsecondary institutions in the state. The act is enforced by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education within the Department of Consumer Affairs. The act exempts an institution from its provisions if any of a list of specific criteria are met. The act authorizes an independent institution of higher education that is exempt from the act to execute a contract with the bureau to review and, as appropriate, act on complaints concerning the institution. Existing law provides that the execution of a contract by the bureau with an institution constitutes establishment by the state of that institution to offer programs beyond secondary education, including programs leading to a degree or certificate, as provided.
This bill would additionally exempt an institution incorporated in this state in 1877, that operated continuously as an independent nonprofit institution and was exempt from this chapter until 2022, and that was merged into another nonprofit private postsecondary educational institution accredited by a regional body recognized by the United States Department of Education that accredits institutions, the majority of which are nonprofit institutions. The bill would provide
that
that, for purposes of the act,
an institution exempted pursuant to that provision is considered an independent institution of higher education, and would authorize the institution to execute a contract with the bureau for the bureau to review and, as appropriate, act on complaints concerning the institution,
as provided.

Current Bill Text

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