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<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2026-02-02</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:ActionDate>2026-03-09</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Assembly Member Pacheco</ns0:AuthorText>
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<ns0:Name>Pacheco</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Title>An act to add Section 66025.2 to the Education Code, relating to postsecondary education. </ns0:Title>
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<ns0:Subject>Student health: leaves of absence: mental health.</ns0:Subject>
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<html:p>The Donahoe Higher Education Act sets forth, among other things, the missions and functions of California’s public and independent segments of higher education and their respective institutions of higher education. The act requests the Regents of the University of California, and requires the Trustees of the California State University, to require each campus in their respective segments to grant students the right to reenroll in their baccalaureate degree program after withdrawing or stopping out, if the student was in good academic standing with the university.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill, commencing with the 2027–28 academic year, would require a campus of the University of California, the California State University, or the California Community Colleges, a private postsecondary educational institution, or an independent institution of higher education to (1) adopt a written policy to allow a student to take a voluntary medical leave of absence for a period to be determined by the postsecondary educational institution, or for a period of one academic year, whichever is longer, and (2) reasonably accommodate a student facing medical challenges so the student is able complete their courses of study and research. The bill would prohibit the leave of absence policy from, among other things, requiring a student who takes a leave of absence to withdraw from the postsecondary educational institution. The bill would require a
postsecondary educational institution to make the leave of absence policy available to faculty, staff, and employees in a required training and available to students at an orientation session. These provisions would apply to the University of California only to the extent that the regents, by appropriate resolution, make them applicable. By imposing additional duties on community college districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.</html:p>
<html:p>The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.</html:p>
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<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
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<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
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Section 66025.2 is added to the
<ns0:DocName>Education Code</ns0:DocName>
, to read:
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<ns0:Num>66025.2.</ns0:Num>
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(a)
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The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
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<html:p>
(1)
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Nearly one-half of college students endure mental health challenges.
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(2)
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These mental health challenges include struggles with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, substance use disorders, and other challenges.
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(3)
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Research indicates that poor mental health significantly affects a person’s day-to-day functioning and impedes academic performance.
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(4)
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Student mental and physical health are vital to a student’s educational success.
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(5)
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College students do not have easy access to appropriate tools or institutional support to manage these mental health challenges.
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(6)
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A leave of absence can allow a student facing medical or mental health challenges to address those challenges and return to school ready to complete their studies.
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(7)
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Students deserve a clear, equitable, and accessible pathway to focus on recovery and return without facing academic consequences or the need to reapply to the postsecondary educational institution.
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(b)
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Commencing with the 2027–28 academic year, a postsecondary educational institution shall do both of the following:
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(1)
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Adopt a written policy to allow a student to take a voluntary medical leave of absence for a period to be determined by the
postsecondary educational institution or for a period of one academic year, whichever is longer. The adopted policy shall adhere to all of the following requirements:
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(A)
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Not require a student who takes a leave of absence to withdraw from the institution.
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(B)
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Not deny a student readmission to the institution or a program of study upon returning from a leave of absence.
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(C)
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Allow an enrolled student in good academic standing who takes a leave of absence to return to the student’s program of study in good academic standing following the leave of absence.
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(D)
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Allow for a leave of absence to exceed the period allowed under the adopted policy if there is a medical necessity.
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(E)
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Include
procedures for students on how to take a leave of absence.
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(F)
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Consider whether a student who takes a leave of absence may be permitted on campus and may participate in campus activities during the leave of absence.
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(2)
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Reasonably accommodate a student facing medical challenges so the student is able complete their courses of study and research. Reasonable accommodations may include, but not be limited to, allowing the student to do any of the following:
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(A)
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Maintain involvement in campus activities, workplaces, and organizations.
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(B)
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Make up tests and assignments that are missed for medically related reasons.
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(C)
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Take a leave of absence pursuant to the leave of absence policy.
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<html:p>
(c)
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If a postsecondary educational institution has an existing leave of absence policy, the postsecondary educational institution shall ensure the policy adheres to the requirements of this section.
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(d)
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After a policy is adopted pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), the postsecondary educational institution shall do all of the following, as applicable:
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<html:p>
(1)
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Make the leave of absence policy available to faculty, staff, and employees in a required training and available to students at an orientation session.
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<html:p>
(2)
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Notify students of the protections provided by the leave of absence policy for their health and mental health by prominently posting the leave of absence policy on the postsecondary educational institution’s internet website.
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<html:p>
(3)
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For a postsecondary educational institution with an on-campus medical center, require the medical center to provide a copy of the leave of absence policy to a student who requests information regarding policies or protections for students facing health and mental health challenges and when otherwise appropriate.
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(e)
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For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
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<html:p>
(1)
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“Medical” includes health- and mental health-related issues, including, but not limited to, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and substance use disorders.
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(2)
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“Postsecondary educational institution” means a campus of the University of California, the California State University, or the California Community Colleges, a private postsecondary educational institution, as
defined in Section 94858, or an independent institution of higher education, as defined in Section 66010.
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 2.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.</html:p>
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