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AB 713

Public postsecondary education: student employment.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Sabrina Cervantes and 1 co-sponsor

AB 713 allows California public colleges to hire students who cannot prove federal work authorization for on-campus jobs, except where law or grant requires proof; may affect UC.

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (June 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
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Bill Summary · AB 713

AB 713 — Public postsecondary education: student employment (Solache) — Summary

Status: Re‑referred to Assembly Committee on Higher Education (3/27/2025)
Introduced: 2/14/2025 — Amended and re‑referred to Higher Ed (3/26/2025)

Purpose

AB 713 would change hiring rules for student employment at California’s public higher education segments (California Community Colleges, California State University, and University of California) to reduce barriers for students who cannot demonstrate federal work authorization. The bill also expresses legislative intent to create small business disaster relief (including an employee disaster relief program) for areas affected by the 2025 Los Angeles and Ventura wildfires and declares the measure an urgency statute.

Key provisions — student employment (Education Code, new Article 3.8, §66029)

  • Prohibits the UC, CSU, or California Community Colleges from disqualifying a student applicant for an employment position solely because the student fails to provide proof of federal work authorization, except when:
    1. Proof is required by federal law; or
    2. Proof is required as a condition of a grant that funds the specific position.
  • Directs the three systems to treat 8 U.S.C. §1324a(a) (a federal prohibition on hiring undocumented noncitizens) as inapplicable to state government branches for the purpose of student hiring.
  • States that if student employment is a “benefit” under federal law, this statute constitutes authorization to provide that benefit under 8 U.S.C. §1621(d).
  • Requires implementation of the article by January 6, 2026.
  • Applicability to the University of California: provisions apply to UC only to the extent the Regents make them applicable, or if a legal finding determines the provision is inapplicable to UC.

Key provisions — disaster / small business intent and urgency

  • Declares legislative intent to enact small business disaster relief legislation, including an employee disaster relief program.
  • Makes specific findings that a special statute is necessary for Los Angeles and Ventura Counties due to extreme wildfires beginning January 2025.
  • Declares the bill an urgency statute to take effect immediately.

Who is affected

  • Students seeking on‑campus or system‑employed positions at CCCs, CSU, and potentially UC (depending on Regents’ action and legal applicability), including undocumented students.
  • Public college and university hiring offices, human resources, and departments administering grant‑funded positions.
  • Community college districts (new duties create a state‑mandated local program).
  • Small businesses and employees in Los Angeles and Ventura counties (intent language — no program details in current text).

Fiscal and legal notes

  • The bill may impose reimbursable state mandates on community college districts; if the Commission on State Mandates finds costs mandated by the state, reimbursement procedures in state law apply.
  • The bill asserts federal preemption/interpretation (treating 8 U.S.C. §1324a(a) as inapplicable to state branches and authorizing benefits under 8 U.S.C. §1621(d)); practical effect could prompt legal review regarding federal immigration and employment law compliance.

Implementation & timeline

  • Institutions must implement the student employment provisions by January 6, 2026.
  • Urgency clause means the bill would take effect immediately if enacted.

Current legislative status / actions

  • Read first time 2/14/2025; printed 2/15/2025.
  • Referred to Higher Education Committee 3/24/2025; amended and re‑referred 3/26/2025; re‑referred 3/27/2025.

Notes: The bill’s disaster relief component presently contains intent, findings, and an urgency declaration but does not yet create a concrete small business or employee disaster relief program in the text provided.

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

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