AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 24, 2025

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

98

Introduced by Assembly Member Solache

February 19, 2025

An act to add Article 10 8 (commencing with Section 76150) 72702) to Chapter 1 6 of Part 47 45 of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code, relating to community colleges, and making an appropriation therefor. colleges.

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

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

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 creates the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“LA Metro”) with specified powers and duties relative to transportation planning, programming, and operations in the County of Los Angeles.

This bill would establish the LA Metro Los Angeles Community College GoPass and Student Ambassador Program to promote the use of public transportation by students enrolled at a campus of the Los Angeles Community College District by (1) providing all students with a free transit pass to access the public transportation services provided by LA Metro, and (2) establishing (1) require the Los Angeles Community College District to annually enter into a memorandum of understanding with LA Metro for purposes of providing GoPass TAP cards to participating students enrolled at a campus of the community college district, as specified, and (2) establish a student ambassador program within LA Metro where students assist with security, rider assistance, and facility upkeep on LA Metro rail and bus lines serving campuses of the Los Angeles Community College District. The bill would require the Los Angeles Community College District to submit an annual report to the Department of Finance and the budget committees of the Assembly and Senate that includes specified information about the transit pass program and the student ambassador program. By imposing additional duties on the Los Angeles Community College District and LA Metro, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Los Angeles Community College District and Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

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.

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) Public transportation is essential for many community college students to access education and other opportunities.

(b) Eliminating transportation costs can improve equity and educational outcomes for students.

(c) Enhancing security on public transit benefits riders and the broader community.

(d) A student ambassador program can provide valuable workforce training and promote safer transit experiences.

SEC. 2.

It is the intent of the Legislature to do both of the following:

(a) Grant access to the public transportation services provided by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (”LA (“LA Metro”) at no cost to community college students.

(b) Establish a student ambassador program within the County of Los Angeles to support security and community engagement on LA Metro rail and bus lines that serve community colleges.

SEC. 3.

Article 8 (commencing with Section 72702) is added to Chapter 6 of Part 45 of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code, to read:

Article 8. LA Metro Los Angeles Community College GoPass and Student Ambassador Program

72702.

For purposes of this article, the following definitions apply:

(b) “LA Metro” means the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

76153.72703.

(a) (1) To promote the use of public transportation by community college students, the community college district shall issue a student a GoPass if the student is Los Angeles Community College District shall annually enter into a memorandum of understanding with LA Metro for purposes of providing GoPass TAP cards to participating students enrolled at a campus of the community college district and the student opts in to receive a GoPass when enrolling. district.

76154.72704.

(a) (1) LA Metro, in partnership with the community college district, Los Angeles Community College District, shall establish a student ambassador program.

(2) All students of the community college district Los Angeles Community College District who are in good academic standing may apply to be a student ambassador.

(3) LA Metro shall select the students who become student ambassadors.

(b) Students selected as student ambassadors by LA Metro shall assist LA Metro in providing all of the following services:

(1) Maintaining safety and security within the LA Metro system.

(2) Assisting passengers by providing information, including directions and connections.

(3) Reporting maintenance, cleanliness, and safety issues to LA Metro.

(4) Supporting public outreach initiatives to promote student use of LA Metro.

(c) (1) Each campus of the community college district Los Angeles Community College District shall designate a coordinator to encourage students to apply to the student ambassador program.

(2) LA Metro shall develop student ambassador program guidelines to ensure consistency and effectiveness.

(d) LA Metro shall train all student ambassadors in transit operations, conflict resolution, and public engagement.

(e) Students selected as student ambassadors shall be compensated by the community college district Los Angeles Community College District at a minimum rate of pay of twenty-five dollars ($25) per hour.

76155.72705.

(a) On or before ____, and annually thereafter, the community college district Los Angeles Community College District shall submit a report to the Department of Finance and the budget committees of the Assembly and Senate that includes all of the following information:

(1) The number of students receiving a GoPass TAP card during the previous year.

(2) The average annual ridership per campus of the community college district.

(3) The number of students participating in the student ambassador program.

(4) The outcomes of the student ambassador program, including participant feedback and safety metrics.

(5) Recommendations for improving the GoPass and student ambassador programs.

(b) (1) The requirement for submitting a report imposed under subdivision (a) is inoperative on ____, pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.

(2) A report to be submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

SEC. 4.

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 existing programs within the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority to facilitate Los Angeles Community College District’s involvement.

SEC. 5.

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.