AB 662 (2025) — Postsecondary education: mixed-use intersegmental educational facility in the City of Chula Vista: South County Higher Education Planning Task Force.

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 1, 2025

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 21, 2025

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 28, 2025

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

ASSEMBLY BILLNo. 662

CHAPTER 700

Statutes of 2025

[ Approved by Governor October 13, 2025. Filed with Secretary of State October 13, 2025. ]

Introduced by Assembly Member Alvarez

February 14, 2025

An act to add and repeal Section 66014.7 of the Education Code, relating to postsecondary education.

Vote: majority Appropriation: no Fiscal committee: yes Local program: yes

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law establishes the University of California, under the administration of the Regents of the University of California, the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as the public segments of postsecondary education in the state.

This bill would establish the South County Higher Education Planning Task Force for purposes of evaluating the feasibility of establishing a mixed-used intersegmental educational facility in the City of Chula Vista, with its membership appointed by specified entities, including, among other representatives, at least one representative from the Sweetwater Union High School District, at least one representative from the City of Chula Vista, and at least one public member appointed by the City of Chula Vista. To the extent the bill would impose additional duties on the Sweetwater Union High School District and the City of Chula Vista, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the task force to conduct specified activities, convene its first meeting on or before July 1, 2026, and submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature on or before July 1, 2027, as specified. The bill would repeal these provisions as of January 1, 2031.

This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the City of Chula Vista.

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.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

(a) The Legislature finds and declares both of the following:

(1) The residents of the southern region of the County of San Diego face barriers to accessing postsecondary education due to the absence of a public university in the region.

(2) A collaborative, intersegmental approach is essential to identify appropriate models for expanding access in a way that meets local workforce needs and ensures regional equity.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to establish a planning task force to evaluate the feasibility of creating a mixed-use intersegmental educational facility in order to provide postsecondary educational courses, academic program, and student support services in the City of Chula Vista.

SEC. 2.

Section 66014.7 is added to the Education Code, to read:

66014.7.

(a) The South County Higher Education Planning Task Force is hereby established for purposes of evaluating the feasibility of establishing a mixed-use intersegmental educational facility in the City of Chula Vista.

(b) (1) The task force shall be composed of the following members:

(A) At least one representative from San Diego State University appointed by the Chancellor of the California State University.

(B) At least one representative from Southwestern College appointed by the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.

(C) At least one representative from the University of California, San Diego, appointed by the President of the University of California.

(D) At least one representative from the City of Chula Vista.

(E) At least one representative from the Sweetwater Union High School District.

(F) At least one public member appointed by the City of Chula Vista.

(G) At least one representative appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.

(H) At least one representative appointed by the President pro Tempore of the Senate.

(2) All task force members shall be South County residents or individuals who work or have a vested interest in the area.

(3) The chair of the task force shall be voted on by a majority of the members.

(1) Identify and recommend potential governance structures for the mixed-use intersegmental educational facility, including, but not limited to, consortia and other collaborative models.

(2) Identify and analyze potential site locations and infrastructure requirements.

(3) Identify and recommend potential funding mechanisms, resources, and partnerships for the mixed-use intersegmental educational facility.

(4) Identify any statutory barriers to the recommendations developed pursuant to paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, and recommend any statutory changes necessary for establishing the mixed-use intersegmental educational facility.

(5) Conduct public engagement activities for purposes of gathering regional input.

(6) Convene its first meeting on or before July 1, 2026.

(d) (1) Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the task force established pursuant to subdivision (a) shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature on or before July 1, 2027.

(2) The report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(e) (1) For purposes of this section, the task force may request and receive, but not require, information from the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges and the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the State Department of Education, any community college district, any local educational agency, the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, the office of the President of the University of California, or any organization representing independent institutions of higher education.

(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), “local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school.

(f) The task force established pursuant to this section shall be subject to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

(g) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this section is repealed on January 1, 2031.

SEC. 3.

The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the unique postsecondary education needs of the people of the City of Chula Vista.

SEC. 4.

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.