An act to add Section 67312.3 to the Education Code, relating to public postsecondary education.
Summary
AB 1713 makes two separate changes to the Education Code. First, it creates a new rule for California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California requiring campuses that ask for disability verification before granting academic accommodations to accept an existing K-12 individualized education program (IEP) or Section 504 plan as proof of disability. Beginning September 1, 2027, campuses could not require a student to obtain a new or additional diagnostic evaluation solely to re-prove a disability already documented in those plans, though they could still request limited supplemental information to determine the most appropriate accommodations.
Second, the bill makes nonsubstantive changes to existing California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System provisions related to quarterly attendance data, chronic absenteeism, and early warning reports for students at risk of dropping out. Those provisions remain contingent on federal funding and continue to support local educational agencies in identifying and assisting at-promise pupils.
Impact
The bill would add Section 67312.3 to the Education Code and directly affect disability accommodation procedures at California’s public postsecondary institutions, including the University of California. It would standardize acceptance of IEPs and 504 plans from school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools as sufficient disability verification, limiting duplicative documentation requirements for students transitioning from K-12 to college. The attendance-data portion of the bill does not appear to change substantive law; it preserves existing CLPAS reporting and early-warning-system provisions with only nonsubstantive edits.
Sentiment
The available vote history suggests broad support: the bill passed committee 9-0 on April 14, 2026, and was later ordered to third reading. No committee transcript was provided, so there is no recorded debate to indicate opposition or amendments in discussion. Overall, the measure appears to have been received favorably as a student-support and administrative-streamlining bill.
Contention
The main policy issue is whether colleges should be required to accept K-12 disability documentation instead of insisting on fresh evaluations. Supporters would likely view the bill as reducing barriers, costs, and delays for students with disabilities, especially those entering college from special education or 504 plans. Potential concerns, though not reflected in recorded debate here, could center on institutional flexibility, whether K-12 documentation is always sufficient for postsecondary accommodation decisions, and how to balance verification with the need to determine appropriate accommodations without reopening the underlying disability determination.
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.