California State University, San Jose: legal partnership pilot program.

Plain English Breakdown

The specific details about which law schools might join California State University, San Jose are not provided in the official source material.

California State University, San Jose: Legal Partnership Pilot Program

This bill allows California State University, San Jose to partner with an accredited law school for a six-year pilot program that includes joint degree and certificate programs.

What This Bill Does

• Authorizes a state-accredited law school to be incorporated into California State University, San Jose as a constituent academic unit if both institutions agree and meet certain conditions.
• Requires the law school to follow the university's rules after incorporation.
• Establishes a legal education pilot program between California State University, San Jose and an accredited independent nonprofit law school for six years.
• Permits joint awarding of juris doctor degrees and certificate programs by the university and the law school as part of the pilot program.
• Requires both institutions to submit plans and enrollment numbers before starting the pilot program.

Who It Names or Affects

• California State University, San Jose
• Accredited independent nonprofit law schools in California
• Students interested in joint degree programs

Terms To Know

Constituent academic unit

A part of a larger educational institution that operates under its rules and policies.

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

The degree awarded to law school graduates in the United States.

Limits and Unknowns

• The pilot program will end on July 1, 2041.
• It is unclear which specific law schools might join California State University, San Jose under this bill.

Official Summary Text

SB 550, as amended, Cortese.
California State University, San Jose:
law school.
legal partnership pilot program.
The Donahoe Higher Education Act establishes the segments of postsecondary education in the state, including the University of California and the California State University, and sets forth the missions and functions of those segments. Existing law states that the University of California has exclusive jurisdiction in public higher education over, among others, instruction in the profession of law.
This bill would authorize a state-accredited law school that has operated continuously as an independent nonprofit institution to be incorporated into California State University, San Jose as a constituent academic unit if the law school has been continuously accredited for a minimum of 5 years at the time of incorporation, the governing boards of both institutions approve a merger agreement, and the Trustees of the California State University
approve a merger agreement. The bill would require the law school, upon incorporation into California State University, San Jose, to operate under the university’s policies, governance structure, and budget. The bill would require the California State University, San Jose to work with the Chancellor of the California State University to coordinate with the appropriate regulatory bodies to ensure compliance with all legal and accreditation requirements applicable to the law school, as provided.
This bill would authorize the Trustees of the California State University to establish a legal education pilot program, consisting of the California State University, San Jose, and a law school accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California as an independent nonprofit institution, to operate for a period of 6 academic years. The bill would require
the legal education pilot program to commence only if the trustees approve the program, the governing board of the law school approves the program, and the law school has been continuously accredited for a minimum of 5 years before the first cohort graduates from a joint degree program. The bill would authorize the California State University, San Jose, as part of the legal education pilot program, to partner with the nonprofit law school to jointly award a juris doctor degree and to jointly provide certificate and legal education programs at the undergraduate level. The bill would require the California State University, San Jose, and the nonprofit law school to submit certain information, including an administrative plan and enrollment projections, to the trustees and the governing board of the law school before the trustees and governing board vote to approve the pilot program. The bill would require the Legislative Analyst’s Office to conduct an interim evaluation and a final evaluation of the program,
as provided.
This bill would make these provisions inoperative on July 1, 2041, and would repeal it as of January 1, 2042.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the California State University, San Jose.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF