California Community Colleges Access and Continuity for Deported Students Act.

Assembly Member Fong's California Community Colleges Access and Continuity for Deported Students Act establishes tuition exemptions and online education pathways for community college students who face deportation. The legislation creates mechanisms for affected students to continue their education remotely while maintaining their resident tuition status.

Under the bill's provisions, students who were enrolled in a California community college at the time of deportation may continue their studies through online programs without paying nonresident tuition. To qualify, students must provide documentation of their deportation status and enroll in an approved distance learning program. The exemption remains in effect until the student completes an associate degree or equivalent certification. If students later reenter the United States legally, they retain their resident status for tuition purposes and remain eligible for financial aid upon resuming in-person classes.

The Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges must implement regulations by July 2026 to verify eligibility, protect student privacy, establish grading protocols for mid-semester deportations, and set timeframes for reenrollment applications. The bill designates these requirements as a state-mandated local program, making community college districts eligible for cost reimbursement through existing statutory mechanisms.