Community colleges: baccalaureate degree program: Cerritos Community College District.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Bob Archuleta and 1 co-sponsor

Allows Cerritos College to offer up to three applied baccalaureate programs (public safety management, paralegal studies, automotive technology) aligned with regional demand and se

Referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.

#cerritoscommunitycollegedistrict #communitycolleges #baccalaureatedegreeprogram

Purpose and intent

AB 2136 would authorize the Cerritos Community College District to offer up to three applied baccalaureate degree programs, addressing regional workforce needs in southeast Los Angeles County.

The bill establishes a special statute tailored to Cerritos College, arguing that a general statute cannot accommodate its unique regional partnerships, labor integration, and demonstrated economic mobility outcomes.

Key provisions

Field limited to three applied baccalaureate programs: 1) Public safety management 2) Paralegal studies 3) Automotive technology

Each program must:

Be designed to meet documented regional workforce demand.
Be developed in consultation with employers, labor organizations, and workforce development partners.
Be built upon an existing Cerritos associate degree or career education pathway.
Maintain an active employer advisory committee including industry and labor representatives.
Demonstrate labor market demand and wage mobility outcomes for graduates.
Include work-based learning, applied instruction, or industry-aligned experiential learning.
Align with regional economic development strategies and workforce plans.
Be self-supporting and funded through existing apportionment, fee authority, and other available funding sources.

Oversight and reporting:

The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges would monitor these programs and may report outcomes to the Legislature, including enrollment, completion, employment placement, and wage outcomes.

Parties affected

Cerritos Community College District (and its students) would gain authority to offer up to three applied baccalaureate degrees locally.

Employers, labor organizations, and workforce development partners in the region would have opportunities to participate in program design and advisory processes.

The state’s California Community Colleges system would oversee monitoring and potential reporting on program outcomes.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Legislative status:

Introduced February 18, 2026; referred to the Assembly Committee on Higher Education (as of action history).
No appropriations are required or proposed in the bill (noted as “Appropriation: NO” in the digest).

Special statute rationale:

Section 3 states a special statute is necessary to address Cerritos District’s unique regional context.

Potential impact

Access and equity: Local, affordable access to baccalaureate-level education for residents of Cerritos District, reducing the need to commute out of the district for a four-year degree.

Workforce alignment: Programs designed around regional demand in public safety, legal services, and automotive technology may improve job placement and wage outcomes.

Economic mobility: By linking programs to employer partnerships and work-based learning, the bill aims to enhance regional economic development and individual advancement.

Fiscal aspects: Programs would be self-supporting through existing funding mechanisms, avoiding new state funding commitments.

This summary covers the bill’s core aims, the specific programs and requirements, who is affected, and the key procedural notes shaping its consideration.

Bill