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AB 642

Relating to: legal action against certain private postsecondary schools.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Margaret Arney and 10 co-sponsors

Expands catastrophic leave to charter schools and Governor-declared disasters; lets donors give leave for employees unable to work due to disasters, with rules on donation and use.

Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
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Bill Summary · AB 642

AB 642 (Muratsuchi) — Summary (Chapter 83, Statutes of 2025)

Status: Enacted — Approved by the Governor July 30, 2025; urgency statute (effective immediately).
Introduced: February 13, 2025. Author: Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi.

Purpose / Intent

AB 642 expands and clarifies catastrophic leave programs for K–12 public school employees by (1) extending existing donation-based catastrophic leave authority to charter school governing bodies, and (2) allowing donated leave to be used when an employee is directly impacted by a Governor‑proclaimed state of emergency. The measure is intended to give schools an expedited mechanism to assist employees who lose paid time due to emergencies or disasters.

Key provisions

  • Amends Education Code section 44043.5 to:

    • Explicitly permit school district and county office of education catastrophic leave programs to be established and administered by school district, county, or charter school governing boards/bodies.
    • Continue existing definitions and conditions for catastrophic illness or injury (incapacitation causing extended leave and financial hardship after exhaustion of paid leave).
    • Require verification of catastrophic illness/injury, a governing board determination that the employee is unable to work, and exhaustion of the employee’s accrued paid leave before donated leave may be used.
    • Set donor rules: minimum donation of 8 hours and donations in one‑hour increments; transfers are irrevocable.
    • Require local rules for administration, including a cap on donated leave use (not to exceed 12 consecutive months) and verification procedures.
    • Require a recipient to use any leave they continue to accrue monthly before using donated leave.
    • Allow inclusion of catastrophic leave program terms in collective bargaining agreements.

  • Adds Education Code section 44043.6 to:

    • Authorize catastrophic leave donations specifically when an employee is impacted by a “state of emergency” proclaimed by the Governor (as defined by Government Code Chapter 7, §8550 et seq.).
    • Mirror the donation, verification, administration, minimum donation, irrevocability, 12‑month cap, and bargaining provisions described above, but applied to emergency impacts rather than medical catastrophes.

Who is affected

  • Employees of school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools (both donors and recipients).
  • Governing boards/bodies of school districts, county offices, and charter schools (responsible for adopting and administering programs and verification rules).
  • Exclusive employee bargaining representatives (may negotiate program provisions).

Procedural / timeline notes

  • AB 642 passed both houses with the urgency clause adopted (2/3 vote required) and was chaptered by the Secretary of State as Chapter 83, Statutes of 2025 on July 30, 2025, making it effective immediately upon signing.
  • Because it is an urgency statute, the law took effect immediately rather than on the usual January 1 following enactment.

Fiscal/administrative impact

  • The Legislative Digest notes no state appropriation or fiscal committee referral. Implementation primarily imposes administrative duties on local governing bodies to establish program rules, verify claims, and process leave transfers.

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

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