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AB 2504

Community colleges: artificial intelligence: pilot program.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Rebecca Bauer-Kahan and 3 co-sponsors

Creates a pilot program at California Community Colleges to upskill workers displaced by AI, with a targeted creatives track and outcome-driven evaluation.

Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
#communitycolleges #artificialintelligence #pilotprogram
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Bill Summary · AB 2504

Overview

AB 2504, introduced by Assembly Member Bauer-Kahan (Coauthor: Sharp-Collins) in the 2025-2026 California Legislature, would establish a pilot program within the California Community Colleges to address employment dislocations related to artificial intelligence, with a separate targeted initiative for upskilling creatives. The bill creates new Education Code provisions to implement and later repeal the pilot, and it would require reporting on program effectiveness. A companion program focused on the creative industries would be implemented if an appropriation is provided.

Main purpose and intent

  • Create a pilot program to address employment disruption caused by artificial intelligence (AI) at California Community Colleges.
  • When funding allows, implement a targeted AI Upskilling Creatives – Future of Creative Industries Pilot Program to upskill workers in California’s creative and entertainment sectors (e.g., film, TV, music, touring, live events).
  • Ensure partnerships with labor unions representing creative workers and with industry representatives to align curricula with real-world tools, conditions, and career pathways.
  • Develop a scalable, outcomes-driven model that can be replicated across sectors facing AI-driven disruption.

Key provisions and changes

  • Establishment of the Artificial Intelligence Upskilling Creatives Pilot Program (Article 1.7, Section 78026 and related sections).
    • Goals include:
    • Supporting workers displaced or at risk of displacement by generative AI (e.g., sound engineers, voice actors, concept artists, entry-level staff) through structured reskilling and upskilling.
    • Requiring participating community college districts to design and implement programs in meaningful partnership with labor unions and industry representatives.
    • Creating a coordinated model that can be replicated across sectors facing AI-related disruption.
  • Eligibility and participation:
    • By June 30, 2027, the chancellor’s office must establish eligibility criteria for community colleges to apply.
    • The pilot program is limited to up to 10 community college districts statewide, with an emphasis on equitable access across Northern, Central, and Southern regions.
  • Implementation timeline:
    • Implementation to commence on or before July 1, 2027.
  • Evaluation and reporting:
    • By January 1, 2032, the chancellor’s office must submit a report evaluating the pilot program’s effectiveness, including:
    • Number of participants, disaggregated by demographics.
    • Certificates or degrees awarded and job placement outcomes.
    • Legislative recommendations, with data disaggregated by demographics.
    • Reports must comply with Government Code section 9795.
  • Operative and sunset clauses:
    • The creative industries pilot program requires an appropriation to become operative.
    • The article and related provisions remain in effect only until January 1, 2033, at which point they would be repealed.
  • Senate/assembly action timeline:
    • The bill passed through multiple committees and chambers, with final action recorded in May 2026 (read third time, moved to the Senate).

Who would be affected

  • California Community Colleges and their districts (up to 10 districts initially) would implement the pilot programs.
  • Targeted workforce segments:
    • Creative and entertainment industries workers vulnerable to AI disruption, including but not limited to sound engineers, voice actors, concept artists, and entry-level staff.
  • Labor unions representing creative workers and industry representatives would participate in designing and approving curricula and training pathways.
  • Students and non-student participants enrolled in pilot programs, with outcomes tracked for demographics, certificates/degrees earned, and job placement.

Procedural and timeline details

  • Authorization and scope:
    • Article 1.7 added to Education Code to create the pilot program, with cross-references to a future related program (Future of Creative Industries Pilot Program).
  • Eligibility and selection:
    • Eligibility criteria to be established by June 30, 2027.
    • Up to 10 districts selected; regional equity encouraged.
  • Reporting:
    • Initial evaluation due by January 1, 2032; comprehensive outcome data and recommendations included.
  • Sunset:
    • Both the article and the program are set to sunset (be repealed) on January 1, 2033, unless extended or reauthorized.
  • Funding dependency:
    • Operative status for the creative industries pilot program hinges on appropriation.

Fiscal and policy notes

  • No automatic appropriation is included for the core pilot; authorization is contingent on funding in the Budget Act or another statute.
  • The bill emphasizes data-driven evaluation and transparency through formal reporting to the Legislature.

This summary captures the bill’s aims to pilot AI-related upskilling for both general creative-industry workers and, potentially, a broader creative sector cohort, with strong emphasis on labor/industry partnerships, measurable outcomes, and a defined sunset timeline.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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