Community colleges: baccalaureate degree program: Southwestern Community College District.

New Section 4 makes the act inoperative if AB 2694 or SB 960 of the 2025-26 Regular Session (or both) are enacted and take effect on or before January 1, 2027. This means the bill only takes effect if those broader bills do not pass first.

Interim evaluation deadline changed from July 1, 2030 to July 1, 2031; final evaluation deadline changed from July 1, 2034 to July 1, 2035; and the repeal date changed from January 1, 2035 to January 1, 2037.

Page numbers changed from 97 to 96 throughout, and line numbering was adjusted due to text reflow. These are formatting changes with no policy impact.

The four authorized baccalaureate degree programs are now specifically named: forensic studies, allied health education and leadership, interaction design, and teaching English to speakers of other languages. The Assembly version only said 'no more than four workforce-aligned baccalaureate degree programs' without specifying fields.

The entire legislative intent section (former Section 2) was deleted. It had stated the Legislature's intent to enact subsequent legislation expanding access to workforce-aligned baccalaureate degrees in underserved college desert areas, and included requirements that programs address unmet workforce needs, not compete with existing public university programs where possible, and require collaboration with regional institutions.

Senator Padilla was added as a coauthor, reflecting Senate sponsorship of the amendment.

A new legislative finding (f) was added stating that the four named degree programs 'address documented regional labor market needs in South San Diego County.'

The interim evaluation deadline moved from July 1, 2030 to July 1, 2031; the final evaluation deadline moved from July 1, 2034 to July 1, 2035; and the sunset/repeal date moved from January 1, 2035 to January 1, 2037.

The fiscal committee designation changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the bill now has a state-mandated local program or fiscal impact requiring fiscal committee review.

The bill now actually authorizes the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to approve baccalaureate degree programs at Southwestern Community College District, rather than merely stating intent for future legislation. This is the core substantive change.

A special statute finding is added declaring that a general statute cannot apply due to the unique positioning of Southwestern Community College District in an underserved college desert area, satisfying constitutional requirements for local legislation.

A cap of no more than four workforce-aligned baccalaureate degree programs is established for the district.

The district must submit proposals to the Chancellor including labor market demand data, evidence of unavailability at regional universities, evidence of structured partnerships (guaranteed transfer agreements, 2+2 articulation, dual enrollment pathways, credit for prior learning, shared facilities), and accreditation approval.

New definitions are added for 'regional public university' (a public university within the district's service area) and 'underserved, college desert area' (a community college district service area with no public university where the nearest public university majors are declared impacted).

Full-time equivalent students enrolled in authorized baccalaureate programs are included in the funding model and fee provisions under Section 78042(g) of the Education Code. The fiscal committee designation changed from 'no' to 'yes' reflecting this.

The Legislative Analyst's Office must conduct an interim evaluation by July 1, 2030 and a final evaluation by July 1, 2034, covering program approvals/denials, workforce demand trends, completion rates, impact on underserved students, collaboration with public universities, job placement data, and recommendations on expansion.

A sunset clause repeals the entire article on January 1, 2035.