An act to add and repeal Article 3.1 (commencing with Section 78044) of Chapter 1 of Part 48 of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code, relating to community colleges.
AB 2053 would authorize the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to approve Coast Community College District to offer a workforce-aligned cybersecurity baccalaureate degree program at Coastline College, notwithstanding existing statutory provisions governing community college baccalaureate programs. The bill is narrowly tailored to one district and one field, and it requires the district to submit a proposal showing regional labor-market demand, limited availability of the program at nearby public universities, collaboration with regional public universities to avoid duplication, and any needed accreditation approval.
The bill also establishes a review and sunset structure. The Legislative Analyst’s Office would be required to produce an interim evaluation by July 1, 2030, and a final evaluation by July 1, 2034, assessing enrollment, completion, workforce outcomes, collaboration with other institutions, and effects on underserved and underprepared students. The authorization would expire on January 1, 2035, and the bill includes a legislative finding that a special statute is needed because regional employers need a cybersecurity workforce.
AB 2053 would create a temporary, district-specific exception in the Education Code allowing Coast Community College District to operate a bachelor’s degree program in cybersecurity at Coastline College. It would also require that students in the program be included in the existing community college baccalaureate funding and fee framework under Section 78042, while imposing reporting obligations on the district and the Chancellor to support LAO evaluation. The bill would not broadly expand community college baccalaureate authority statewide, but instead would add a special statute for one local program and then repeal it in 2035.
The available voting history suggests the bill had some support in committee but not unanimous backing. On April 21, 2026, it received a 3-2 do pass vote to move forward to Appropriations, and a separate reconsideration vote passed 10-0, indicating procedural support for keeping the measure alive. Because no committee transcript is provided, there is no direct record of debate, but the bill’s structure suggests generally favorable sentiment toward expanding cybersecurity training while maintaining oversight and limits.
The main point of contention is likely whether a special, district-specific authorization is necessary when existing community college baccalaureate pathways already exist. The bill anticipates this concern by requiring proof of regional labor demand, evidence that nearby public universities do not already meet that demand, and collaboration to avoid unnecessary duplication. Another likely issue is the policy question of whether community colleges should offer a cybersecurity bachelor’s degree at all, especially in relation to the California State University and University of California systems, though the bill tries to address that by limiting the program, requiring evaluation, and setting a sunset date.