AB 713
Public postsecondary education: student employment.
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Majority
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
Appropriations
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- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
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Bill overview
This bill changes how California’s public colleges and universities handle student employment. It prohibits these institutions from disqualifying students for not providing proof of federal work authorization unless required by federal law or a grant condition. The bill also directs the colleges to treat a federal law prohibiting hiring undocumented noncitizens as inapplicable to state government, and authorizes them to provide student employment as a benefit under certain federal laws. The bill requires implementation by January 6, 2026, and includes a provision for state reimbursement for any associated costs.
Key provisions
- Prohibits disqualification of students for lack of federal work authorization unless required by law or grant conditions.
- Treats a federal law prohibiting undocumented noncitizen employment as inapplicable to state government.
- Authorizes student employment as a ‘benefit’ under specified federal laws.
- Requires implementation by January 6, 2026.
- Includes a provision for state reimbursement for mandated costs.
Who is affected
- University of California
- California State University
- California Community Colleges
- Students employed by these institutions
Notable changes
- Reinterprets federal law regarding undocumented noncitizen employment.
- Expands the scope of permissible student employment benefits.
- Requires specific implementation timelines for the universities.
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AB713:v97#DOCUMENT
Bill Start
| Amended IN Assembly January 05, 2026 |
| Amended IN Assembly March 26, 2025 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 713
| Introduced by Assembly Member Solache (Coauthor: Senator Cervantes) |
| February 14, 2025 |
An act to add Article 3.8 (commencing with Section 66029) to Chapter 2 of Part 40 of Division 5 of Title 3 of the Education Code, relating to public postsecondary education.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
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.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES
Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Article 3.8 (commencing with Section 66029) is added to Chapter 2 of Part 40 of Division 5 of Title 3 of the Education Code, to read:
Article 3.8. Employment
66029.
(a) The University of California, California State University, or California Community Colleges shall not disqualify a student from being hired for an employment position due to their failure to provide proof of federal work authorization, except in either of the following cases:
(1) Where that proof is required by federal law.
(2) Where that proof is required as a condition of a grant that funds the particular employment position for which the student has applied.
(b) The University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges shall treat the prohibition on hiring undocumented noncitizens in Section 1324a(a) of Title 8 of the United States Code as inapplicable because that provision does not apply to any branch of state government.
(c) To the extent student employment is considered a “benefit” for purposes of federal law, this statute shall constitute authorization to provide that benefit for purposes of Section 1621(d) of Title 8 of the United States Code.
(d) The University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges shall implement this article by January 6, 2026. 2027.
(e) This article shall apply to the University of California, unless it is found to be inapplicable to the university, then, consistent with Section 67400, this article shall apply to the university only to the extent that the Regents of the University of California, by appropriate resolution, make it applicable.
SEC. 2.
If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.