An act to amend Section 66076.1 of, and to add Sections 66076.5 and 66076.6 to, the Education Code, relating to postsecondary education, and making an appropriation therefor.
AB 335 establishes the Designation of California Black-Serving Institutions Grant Program as a competitive grant program within the Education Code. The program is intended to help eligible California State University and California Community Colleges campuses that already hold the Black-Serving Institution designation develop new or expand existing academic resources and student support services for underserved Black and African American students and other underserved students. The bill ties grant eligibility to an approved designation, an application submitted to the managing entity, and a plan showing how the funds will be used to improve student support and align with the institution’s strategic plan.
The bill provides for two tiers of funding: a base grant of $250,000 for approved applicants and a supplemental grant of between $250,000 and $500,000, at the governing board’s discretion. Grant recipients must spend the funds on specified student-support activities such as advising, tutoring, mental health services, career development, ethnic studies, basic needs, mentorship, internships, and culturally relevant professional development. Recipients must also provide annual accounting and outcome reports, including student counts and completion-related metrics, while the managing entity must report annually to the Department of Finance, the Governor, and the Legislature.
AB 335 would add new Education Code sections and revise existing definitions to formally create a state grant program linked to the Black-Serving Institutions designation. It would establish a continuously appropriated fund in the State Treasury, authorize the managing entity to administer grants and use up to 3 percent for administrative costs, and appropriate $75 million from the General Fund for the program, with legislative intent to distribute $25 million to CSU campuses and $50 million to community college districts. The bill would therefore create a new ongoing funding mechanism and reporting structure for targeted student-support investments at eligible public postsecondary institutions.
The available vote history suggests generally favorable committee sentiment. On March 18, 2025, the bill passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee on a 8-2 vote with a do pass recommendation and re-referral to Appropriations, indicating majority support but not unanimity. No committee transcript was provided, so there is no recorded floor or committee debate to show broader public or member commentary. The bill’s progress to the Chief Clerk under Joint Rule 56 indicates it was still moving through the Assembly process at the time of the last action.
The main points of potential contention are fiscal and administrative. The bill makes a large $75 million General Fund appropriation and creates a continuously appropriated fund, which can draw scrutiny from members concerned about ongoing spending commitments and reduced annual budget oversight. There may also be questions about the grant structure, including the requirement that applicants already hold the Black-Serving Institutions designation, the 25-cent match for base grants, and the allocation of funds only to CSU campuses and community college districts. Supporters are likely focused on targeted equity investments for Black and African American students, while any opposition would likely center on cost, eligibility design, and whether the program should be expanded or structured differently.