Public postsecondary education: student behavior: drug and alcohol use: rehabilitation programs.

Assembly Member Haney frames a policy reorientation for California’s public universities, anchoring student conduct alongside personal health by directing the University of California, California State University, and community college districts to elevate health, safety, and well-being in rulemaking while creating rehabilitation pathways for students who receive medical treatment for personal drug or alcohol use. The proposal applies broadly to the public postsecondary system and requires institutions to address how medical treatment and campus rules intersect, including the option of a rehabilitation-based pathway in lieu of disciplinary action for qualifying cases.

At the core, the measure directs campuses to adopt rules that (1) bar disciplinary action for a student who receives medical treatment for personal drug or alcohol use if the student completes an appropriate rehabilitation program, and (2) obligate offering an appropriate rehabilitation program to students who seek medical treatment for such use and violate campus rules. The exemption from discipline is limited to once per academic term, and subsequent violations within the same term may proceed through the institution’s disciplinary process. The bill defines an “appropriate rehabilitation program” broadly to include counseling, treatment, rehabilitation, or other diversion options, such as meetings with a counselor or attendance at drug-education groups, and requires completion within a timeframe set by the campus administrator overseeing disciplinary actions. If the program is not completed, disciplinary action may be pursued under the campus rules. Institutions may record rehabilitation completion and the exemption in the student’s administrative file, and the measure invites restorative justice practices where appropriate.

The authors connect these changes to the broader framework governing student conduct in California’s public higher education system, noting federal law’s allowance for rehabilitation as a sanction and emphasizing a policy focus on health and safety. The implementation timeline calls for new rules to be adopted by July 1, 2026, with a phased approach that includes policy development, formal adoption, and subsequent operationalization across campuses. While the bill does not specify new funding, campuses may incur costs related to program development, staff training, and coordination with counseling or rehabilitation providers. The proposal thus sits at the intersection of student conduct, health services, and restorative practices, aligning with existing regulatory requirements while preserving the option to discipline for repeated offenses within a term.