An act to add Section 66015.9 to the Education Code, relating to public postsecondary education.
Summary
AB 1045 would add Section 66015.9 to the Education Code to create a voluntary framework for California State University and University of California campuses to support service learning partnerships with nonprofit organizations. A campus that chooses to participate could allocate funds to provide financial incentives to 501(c)(3) nonprofit partners, including stipends for supervising students during service-learning placements. The bill defines key terms such as “participating institution,” “nonprofit organization,” “service learning,” and “student,” and limits the program to undergraduate students.
The measure also allows participating campuses to use existing resources or seek outside funding, such as private donations or grants, to implement the program. The University of California would be covered only if the Regents choose to make the law applicable, consistent with the Donahoe Higher Education Act framework. The bill is framed as an authorization rather than a mandate, giving campuses discretion over whether to adopt the program and how to fund it.
Impact
If enacted, AB 1045 would amend the Education Code to expressly permit CSU and UC campuses to direct funds to nonprofit partners for service-learning programs and related student placements. It would not require all campuses to participate, but it would create a statutory basis for campuses that opt in to compensate community organizations for supervising undergraduate students. The bill could affect campus-community partnerships, nonprofit service providers, and student experiential learning programs, while leaving implementation details to each participating institution and, for UC, to the Regents.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have generally favorable support in committee and on the floor, with multiple do-pass votes and strong Assembly passage. At the same time, its later movement to suspense and the final note that it was held under submission suggest fiscal caution or unresolved budget concerns rather than policy opposition. Overall, the discussion history indicates broad interest in expanding service-learning opportunities, tempered by questions about cost and funding source.
Contention
The main point of contention appears to be fiscal rather than substantive: whether campuses should allocate scarce resources to pay nonprofit partners and how those incentives would be funded. The bill’s language allowing use of existing resources or private donations/grants suggests an attempt to address cost concerns. Another potential issue is the discretionary nature of the program, which may limit uniform adoption across campuses and could raise questions about equity or administrative burden, though the available record does not show organized opposition on policy grounds.
An act to add Article 4.95 (commencing with Section 66048) to Chapter 2 of Part 40 of Division 5 of Title 3 of the Education Code, relating to public postsecondary education.