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AB 1202

Student loans: California Legislative Staff Education Loan Repayment Program.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Patrick Ahrens

Creates the California Legislative Staff Education Loan Repayment Program, offering up to $50,000 to eligible full-time legislative staff, paid over 20 years, contingent on funding

In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
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Bill Summary · AB 1202

AB 1202 — Student loans: California Legislative Staff Education Loan Repayment Program

Author: Ahrens
Status (as of record): In committee — set for first hearing; hearing canceled at author’s request. Introduced: February 21, 2025.

Purpose

AB 1202 would create a targeted student loan repayment program to encourage individuals to enter and remain employed as full‑time legislative staff in the California State Assembly and State Senate.

Key provisions

  • Establishes the California Legislative Staff Education Loan Repayment Program, administered by the California Student Aid Commission (the commission).
  • Provides up to $50,000 in student loan repayment per eligible employee, disbursed in equal monthly installments over 20 years (240 months).
  • Installment disbursements may be subject to applicable state and federal taxes.
  • Creates the California Legislative Staff Education Loan Repayment Fund to receive donations; moneys available upon legislative appropriation.
  • Limits administrative spending to no more than 5% of funds appropriated for the program.
  • Requires commission to develop and post program guidelines and materials online.
  • Commission must monitor for fraud, may deny applicants or pursue legal recovery if fraud is found.
  • Annual reporting to the Legislature (on or before Jan 1) on number of awardees, fund balances, estimates to sustain/grow the program, and optional improvement recommendations (complies with Government Code §9795).
  • Operation is contingent on appropriation in the annual Budget Act or another statute.

Eligibility and application rules

  • “Eligible employee”: full‑time legislative staffer for an Assembly or Senate member or committee.
  • “Full‑time employment” defined as 40 hours/week in a legislative capacity.
  • Applicants must have completed a minimum of 12 continuous months of full‑time employment and be employed for the month for which they apply.
  • After the initial 12 months, applicants may request retroactive installments for months 6–12 of their initial employment.
  • Applicants must provide proof of full‑time employment; applicant’s supervisor/manager must attest under penalty of perjury that the applicant is in good standing — the bill expands perjury exposure (creates a state‑mandated local program).
  • If an employee leaves before receiving the full $50,000, any remaining balance is forfeited.

Fiscal and legal notes / impacts

  • Program requires legislative appropriation; no immediate funding is authorized by the bill itself.
  • Potential recruitment/retention benefit for legislative offices; program cost depends on take‑up and appropriations.
  • Perjury attestation increases criminal exposure for supervisors who make false attestations; bill notes no state reimbursement required under Article XIII B due to creation/alteration of crimes.
  • Commission authorized to accept donations to support the program.

Procedural history

  • Introduced Feb 21, 2025; printed Feb 22; read first time Feb 24; amended and re‑referred to Higher Ed Committee (Mar 24); re‑referred Mar 25; set for committee hearing April 22, 2025, but hearing was canceled at the request of the author. Operation remains contingent on future appropriations.

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

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