AB 2178 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Community colleges: county probation departments: instructional service agreements.

Summary
Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law establishes community college districts throughout the state and authorizes them to operate campuses and provide instruction. Existing law authorizes the governing board of a community college district to enter into a College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) partnership with the governing board of a school district, a county office of education, or the governing body of a charter school for the purpose of offering or expanding dual enrollment opportunities for pupils who may not already be college bound or who are underrepresented in higher education, as provided. Existing law authorizes the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to establish the Rising Scholars Network to enter into agreements with community colleges to provide additional funds for services in support of postsecondary education for justice-involved students, as defined. This bill, the Juvenile Justice Education Access and Equity Act, would authorize a home community college district, as defined, or a college that is part of the home community college district, to enter into an instructional services agreement with a county probation department to provide academic or career technical education courses at a juvenile justice facility operated by the county probation department. The bill would authorize a community college district outside of the home community college district, or a college that is part of that district outside of the home district, to enter into an instructional services agreement with a county probation department if the home community college district has declined or failed to take action on a request by the county probation department to either (1) enter into an instructional services agreement or (2) approve the community college district outside of the home community college district, or a college that is part of that district outside of the home district, to enter into an instructional services agreement. The bill would prohibit the home community college district and colleges that are part of that district from prohibiting, blocking, or otherwise interfering with the ability of the community college outside of the home community college district, or a college that is part of that district outside of the home district, to provide instruction at the juvenile justice facility, as provided.
Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Aug 2026
Assembly Passage
May 2026
Senate Passage
Aug 2026
Governor
Introduced Feb 19, 2026 Last action Aug 28, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

02/19/26 - Introduced 06/08/26 - Amended Senate · 6 edits · Jun 8, 2026
MODERATE
The Senate amendment to AB 2178 (Juvenile Justice Education Access and Equity Act) tightens and clarifies the mechanism by which a non-home community college district can step in to provide education at a juvenile justice facility when the home district does not act. The deadline for the home district to respond was shortened from 90 days to 60 calendar days, the requesting entity changed from the facility administrator to the county probation department, and a new compliance path was added allowing the home district to approve the non-home district's agreement rather than providing services itself.
TIMELINE

The deadline for the home community college district to respond to a request was shortened from 90 days to 60 calendar days before a non-home district may enter an instructional services agreement.

ELIGIBILITY

The entity that makes the triggering request changed from the administrator of the juvenile justice facility to the county probation department, shifting who has standing to initiate the process.

A new compliance option was added: the home community college district can satisfy the requirement by approving the non-home district's instructional services agreement, rather than having to provide the services itself.

REQUIREMENT

The standard for when a non-home district may act was narrowed from 'unable, unwilling, or fail to provide' (a broad subjective standard) to two specific conditions: the home district either declined the request or failed to take action within 60 calendar days.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'home community college district' was changed from serving a 'geographic area' to serving a 'geographic service area,' aligning with standard community college terminology for assigned service boundaries.

TECHNICAL

Throughout the bill, references to 'eligible institution associated with the home community college district' were updated to 'eligible institution associated with a college that is part of the home community college district,' clarifying that eligible institutions must be tied to a specific college within the district rather than the district as an abstract entity.

Floor votes · Senate Aug 20, 2026 · Assembly May 4, 2026

How they voted

390
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 40
Aug 20, 2026
D Democratic30
29 Yea 1
96% Yea
R Republican10
10 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
19
Key actions
8
Committee
7
Amendments
4
Aug 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0.).
lower
Aug 20, 2026
Introduced
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
lower
Aug 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.).
upper
Aug 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).
upper
Jun 22, 2026
Committee
In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
upper
Jun 8, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
upper
Jun 4, 2026
Introduced
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 3).
upper
May 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Coms. on ED. and APPR.
upper
May 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 73. Noes 0. Page 4916.)
lower
Apr 22, 2026
Lower · Passed
From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 21).
lower
Apr 7, 2026
Lower · Passed
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.
lower
Feb 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors