Postsecondary education: mixed-use intersegmental educational facility in the City of Chula Vista: South County Higher Education Planning Task Force.

The bill text was reformatted from the official authenticated chaptered layout (with page numbers, running headers like 'Ch. 700', and traditional legislative formatting) to a web-based presentation that includes site navigation elements (home, accessibility, FAQ, feedback, sitemap, login), a quick search bar, bill tracking links, version history dropdown, and share options. The underlying legislative language is identical in both versions.

The requirement for CSU and the Board of Governors to form a joint powers authority (with UC and City of Chula Vista requested to join) was entirely removed. The bill now only establishes a planning task force without any mandate to create a governing body.

The evaluation target changed from an 'intersegmental institution of public higher education' to a 'mixed-use intersegmental educational facility,' broadening the scope beyond a traditional university or college to potentially include mixed-use facilities combining education with other functions.

The first meeting deadline was pushed from February 6, 2026 to July 1, 2026, and the report deadline was pushed from January 1, 2027 to July 1, 2027, giving the task force approximately six more months.

A new sunset provision was added: Section 66014.7 is repealed on January 1, 2031, meaning all task force authorities expire after that date.

A new provision allows the task force to request and receive (but not compel) information from the Board of Governors, State Department of Education, community college districts, local educational agencies, CSU office, UC office, and organizations representing independent institutions of higher education.

The task force is now subject to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, requiring its meetings to be open to the public and follow state transparency rules for local agency commissions.

A new requirement was added that all task force members must be South County residents or individuals who work in or have a vested interest in the area. A chair is to be elected by majority vote of members.

The Sweetwater Union High School District representative is now appointed by the district itself rather than by the San Diego County Office of Education, giving the district direct control over its own representation.

The state-mandated local program designation changed from 'no' to 'yes,' meaning the state must reimburse local agencies (San Diego County Office of Education and City of Chula Vista) for costs imposed by the bill's appointment requirements.

Establishes the South County Higher Education Planning Task Force (new Section 66014.7) to evaluate the feasibility of an intersegmental institution of public higher education in Chula Vista, with duties including identifying governance structures, site locations, funding mechanisms, statutory barriers, and conducting public engagement.

Removes language expressing 'the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation to establish a shared governance structure,' replacing it with more direct requirements for forming the joint powers authority.

Specifies task force membership: at least one representative each from San Diego State University, Southwestern College, UC San Diego, the City of Chula Vista, Sweetwater Union High School District (appointed by the San Diego County Office of Education), a public member appointed by the City of Chula Vista, the Speaker of the Assembly, and the President pro Tempore of the Senate. All members must be residents of the South County area of San Diego County.

Requires the task force to convene its first meeting on or before February 6, 2026, and submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2027.

Adds a state mandate reimbursement provision (new SEC. 4) requiring the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for costs mandated by the bill, if determined by the Commission on State Mandates.

Changes the fiscal committee designation from 'no' to 'yes' and the state-mandated local program designation from 'no' to 'yes,' reflecting that the bill now imposes new duties on local entities (the San Diego County Office of Education and City of Chula Vista) in making task force appointments.

Adds legislative findings that residents of southern San Diego County face barriers to accessing postsecondary education due to the absence of a public university, and that a collaborative intersegmental approach is essential for expanding access and ensuring regional equity.

The bill's core objective was redefined from establishing an 'intersegmental institution of public higher education' to a 'mixed-use intersegmental educational facility.' This narrows the scope from creating a new type of public university to planning a shared facility that could house programs from multiple segments.

The Sweetwater Union High School District representative on the task force is now appointed by the district itself rather than by the San Diego County Office of Education, removing the county office's role in the process.

Task force membership residency requirement was broadened from requiring all members to be 'residents of the South County area of the County of San Diego' to allowing 'South County residents or individuals who work or have a vested interest in the area.'

The first meeting deadline was pushed back from February 6, 2026 to July 1, 2026 (approximately 5 months later).

The report submission deadline was changed from January 2027 to July 1, 2027 (approximately 6 months later).

The state-mandated local program cost responsibility shifted from the San Diego County Office of Education and the City of Chula Vista to the Sweetwater Union High School District and the City of Chula Vista, reflecting the change in who makes the appointment.

Requires CSU and the Board of Governors to form a joint powers authority (and requests UC and the City of Chula Vista to join) to evaluate establishing an intersegmental institution of higher education in Chula Vista. This is a binding obligation rather than the original bill's non-binding expression of intent.

Specifies four mandatory tasks for the joint powers authority: (1) recommend governance structures including JPA or special purpose district options, (2) recommend degree programs aligned with regional workforce demands emphasizing intersegmental partnerships, (3) identify funding mechanisms and resources, and (4) identify statutory barriers and recommend necessary statutory changes.

Requires the joint powers authority to submit a report of findings and recommendations to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature on or before January 1, 2027, in compliance with Government Code Section 9795.

Fiscal committee review changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the bill now has identifiable fiscal implications requiring fiscal committee analysis.

Adds a legislative finding and declaration that a special statute is necessary because of the unique postsecondary education needs of the City of Chula Vista, as required under Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution for local/special legislation.

The bill now adds Section 66014.7 to the Education Code rather than standing alone as a single intent statement. The original intent language is preserved but renumbered as Section 2, making it secondary to the operative JPA requirement in Section 1.