Public postsecondary education: student employment.

Assembly Member Solache's legislation aims to modify hiring practices across California's public higher education systems by preventing institutions from requiring federal work authorization documentation from student job applicants, except when mandated by federal law or grant requirements.

The bill establishes that the University of California, California State University, and California Community Colleges must treat federal prohibitions on hiring undocumented individuals as inapplicable, citing the provision's exemption for state government entities. For cases where student employment constitutes a "benefit" under federal statute, the legislation explicitly authorizes providing that benefit within federal parameters. These changes would take effect by January 2026 across all three systems, though the University of California maintains discretion over implementing the provisions through its Board of Regents.

The measure includes fiscal provisions addressing potential costs to local agencies, particularly community college districts. If the Commission on State Mandates determines the bill creates state-mandated expenses, affected entities would receive reimbursement through established government procedures. This maintains the existing framework for managing fiscal impacts of state requirements on local educational institutions.