Assembly BillFailedEducation
AB 335: The Designation of California Black-Serving Institutions Grant Program.
What AB 335 does, verified February 3, 2026
The bill establishes a competitive grant program to develop and implement new or expand existing academic resources and student support services for underserved students, including black and African American students. The program aims to recognize and support campuses that excel in providing these resources. A governing board will approve or deny grant applications. The California State University's statewide central office for the advancement of black excellence will manage the grant program, developing the application process and presenting applications to the governing board. The program will require an annual report to the department of finance, the governor, and the legislature on grant program activities. The bill also appropriates $75,000,000 from the general fund to support the program.
Bill journey
✓IntroducedComplete
2In CommitteeCurrent
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. (2026-02-02)Alert me
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions10 total · showing 5
| Feb. 02, 2026 | From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. |
| Jan. 31, 2026 | Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution. |
| May. 23, 2025 | In committee: Held under submission. |
| Apr. 09, 2025 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| Mar. 24, 2025 | Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
Latest bill textAmended version, March 20, 2025 · 2,839 words
| Amended IN Assembly March 20, 2025 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 335
| Introduced by Assembly Member Gipson (Coauthor: Assembly Member Muratsuchi) |
January 28, 2025 |
An act to amend Section 66076.1 of, and to add Sections 66076.5 and 66076.6 to, the Education Code, relating to postsecondary education, and making an appropriation therefor.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 335, as amended, Gipson. The Designation of California Black-Serving Institutions Grant Program.
Existing law establishes the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, the University of California, under the administration of the Regents of the University of California, the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, and independent institutions of higher education, as defined, as 4 segments of postsecondary education in the state.
Existing law establishes the Designation of California Black-Serving Institutions to recognize campuses of these segments that excel at providing academic resources to Black and African American students. Existing law establishes a governing board to approve or deny initial and renewal applications to receive this designation. Existing law designates the California State University Statewide Central Office for the Advancement of Black Excellence as the managing entity and requires it to act as a neutral administrative body tasked with, among other duties, developing the application processes and processing and presenting applications to the governing board.
This bill would establish the Designation of California Black-Serving Institutions Grant Program as a competitive grant program to provide academic support to underserved Black and African American students and other underserved students. develop and implement new, or expand existing, academic resources and student support services for underserved students, including, but not limited to, Black and African American students. The bill would require the governing board to approve or deny grant applications. The bill would designate the California State University Statewide Central Office for the Advancement of Black Excellence as the managing entity for the grant program and would require it to act as a neutral administrative body tasked with, among other duties, developing the grant application processes form and a process for grant applicants to apply for grants, and processing and presenting grant applications to the governing board. board, as specified. The bill would require the managing entity to submit an annual report to the Department of Finance, the Governor, and the Legislature on the grant program, as specified.
This bill would establish the Designation of California Black-Serving Institutions Grant Program Fund in the State Treasury, and would require the managing entity, upon appropriation by the Legislature, all moneys in the fund to be continuously appropriated to the managing entity to award allocate to grant applicants awarded grants pursuant to the provisions described above. The bill would appropriate $75,000,000 from the General Fund to the Designation of California Black-Serving Institutions Grant Program Fund for purposes of awarding grants to California State University campuses and community college districts that apply for grants, as specified.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
As used in this article, the following definitions apply:
(a)“Applicant” means an eligible college or university that applies for a designation pursuant to this article.
(b)“College or university” means a University of California, California State University, or California Community Colleges campus, or an independent institution of higher education.
(c)“Governing board” means the governing board established pursuant to this article.
(d)“Grant applicant” means a college or university that applies for a grant pursuant to this article.
(e)“Grant program” means the Designation of California Black-Serving Institutions Grant Program established pursuant to this article.
(f)“Managing entity” means the California State University Statewide Central Office for the Advancement of Black Excellence described in this article.
(g)“Normal time” means the time it would take a full-time student to complete the requirements for a degree or certificate offered by a college or university.
(h)“Recipient” means a college or university that receives a designation pursuant to this article.
SECTION 1.
Section 66076.1 of the Education Code is amended to read:66076.1.
As used in this article, the following definitions apply:(a) “Applicant” means an eligible college or university that applies for a designation pursuant to this article.
(b) “College or university” means a University of California, California State University, or California Community Colleges campus, or an independent institution of higher education. education, as defined in Section 66010.
(c) “Governing board” means the governing board established pursuant to this article.
(d) “Grant applicant” means a college or university that applies for a grant pursuant to this article.
(e) “Grant program” means the Designation of California Black-Serving Institutions Grant Program established pursuant to this article.
(d)
(f) “Managing entity” means the California State University Statewide Central Office for the Advancement of Black Excellence described in this article.
(e)
(g) “Normal time” means the time it would take a full-time student to complete the requirements for a degree or certificate offered by a college or university.
(f)
(h) “Recipient” means a college or university that receives a designation pursuant to this article.
SEC. 2.
Section 66076.5 is added to the Education Code, to read:66076.5.
(a) The Designation of California Black-Serving Institutions Grant Program is hereby established as a competitive grant program to(b)The funding for the grant program shall be awarded by the managing entity to recipients and other grant applicants.
(b) (1) The governing board shall award a base grant of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) to each grant applicant approved by the governing board to receive the base grant.
(2) In addition to the base grant described in paragraph (1), the governing board may award a supplemental grant to a grant applicant approved by the governing board to receive the supplemental grant. A supplemental grant shall be at least two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000), but shall not be more than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000), as determined by the governing board.
(c) A grant applicant is eligible to receive a grant pursuant to subdivision (b) if the grant applicant meets both of the following requirements:
(1) Is a recipient of the Designation of California Black-Serving Institution.
(2) Submits an application that complies with subdivision (d) to the managing entity on or before the application deadline established by the managing entity pursuant to subdivision (e).
(d) An application for a grant pursuant to subdivision (b) shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(1) A description of the grant applicant’s experience in providing academic resources and student support services to underserved students, including, but not limited to, Black and African American students.
(2) A plan for the use of the grant to develop and implement new, or expand existing, academic resources and student support services for underserved students, including, but not limited to, Black and African American students. The plan shall include how the applicant will use the grant to implement the college’s or university’s strategic plan provided pursuant to subparagraph (4) of subdivision (d) of, or paragraph (8) of subdivision (e) of, Section 66076.2, as applicable.
(3) A commitment by the grant applicant to allocate from its existing resources a match of twenty-five cents ($0.25) for every one dollar ($1) for a base grant awarded to the grant applicant pursuant to this section. The grant applicant shall demonstrate in its grant application how the college or university will allocate twenty-five cents ($0.25) for every one dollar ($1) awarded as a base grant under the program.
(4) Satisfaction of any other criteria established by the managing entity at the direction of the governing board.
(c)
(e) The managing entity shall act as a neutral administrative body for the grant program. The managing entity shall have all of the following duties under the grant program:
(1) Developing an application processes form and a process for grant applicants. applicants to apply for a grant pursuant to this section. This process shall include, but is not limited to, establishing an annual deadline for submission of a grant application on a date determined by the managing entity.
(2) Accepting applications from grant applicants. The managing entity shall set one application deadline for the grant program each year on a date determined by the managing entity.
(3) Processing and presenting each grant application received to the governing board each year on a date determined by the governing board.
(4)Upon the governing board’s approval or denial of a grant applicant’s application, informing the grant applicant of this outcome.
(d)The governing board shall award colleges and universities with a grant pursuant to this section based on applications presented by the managing entity pursuant to subdivision (c). The governing board shall complete both of the following actions:
(1)Convene to vote on the approval or denial of grant applications.
(2)Approve or deny each grant application presented by the managing entity pursuant to subdivision (c).
(4) Informing each grant applicant of the outcome of the applicant’s grant application.
(5) Allocating, upon approval by the governing board, the funding affiliated with a base grant to each grant applicant approved by the governing board to receive the base grant.
(6) Allocating, upon approval by the governing board, the funding affiliated with a supplemental grant to each grant applicant approved by the governing board to receive the supplemental grant.
(f) The governing board shall determine which grant applicants shall be awarded a supplemental grant pursuant to this section. The grant applications shall be presented to the governing board by the managing entity on a date determined by the governing board after the application deadline established pursuant to subdivision (e). The governing board shall complete both of the following actions:
(1) Convene once a year to vote on awarding supplemental grants to grant applicants.
(2) The governing board shall approve or deny a supplemental grant to grant applicants with experience in providing academic resources and student support services to underserved students, including, but not limited to, Black and African American students.
(g) The governing board shall be subject to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).
(e)
(h) Colleges and universities in receipt of a grant pursuant to this section shall comply with both all of the following: following, as applicable:
(1)Expend 100 percent of the grant to provide academic resources and support to underserved Black and African American students and other underserved students.
(2)On or before June 30 of the year after the grant is awarded, and each June 30 thereafter until the grant is completely expended, submit a detailed accounting of how the grant was expended for the previous fiscal year to the managing entity.
(1) Expend 100 percent of the base grant and, if awarded, the supplemental grant on developing and implementing new, or expanding existing, academic resources and student support services for underserved students, including, but not limited to, Black and African American students. These academic resources and student support services may include, but are not limited to, providing for any of the following:
(A) Academic and student support learning communities.
(B) Advising and counseling services.
(C) Mental health counseling and awareness services.
(D) Career development, career readiness, and employment services.
(E) Supplemental instruction and tutoring.
(F) Ethnic studies courses and curriculum development.
(G) Student basic needs.
(H) Workplace development, apprenticeships, internships, and employment opportunities.
(I) Leadership development, internships, and mentorships.
(J) Mentorships.
(K) Creation, implementation, and evaluation of concurrent supports or support services to increase the academic success of underserved students, including, but not limited to, Black and African American students.
(L) Culturally relevant professional development for the college’s or university’s faculty and staff.
(2) Expend 20 percent of the commitment to match twenty-five cents ($0.25) for every one dollar ($1) required by paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) on administrative costs associated with developing and implementing new, or expanding existing, academic resources and student support services to underserved students, including, but not limited to, Black and African American students. The remaining 80 percent of the match of twenty-five cents ($0.25) for every one dollar ($1) shall be expended on academic resources and student support services pursuant to this section.
(3) On or before June 30 of the year immediately after receiving a grant pursuant to this section, and each June 30 thereafter, submit a report to the managing entity. Each report shall include, for the reporting year, all of the following:
(A) The amount of grant funding received.
(B) The amount of grant funding spent.
(C) A description of the academic resources and student support services provided to underserved students, including, but not limited to, Black and African American students.
(D) The number of underserved students, including, but not limited to, Black and African American students, served.
(E) The number of underserved students, including, but not limited to, Black and African American students, served who meet any, or any combination, of the following, if applicable:
(i) Completed certifications.
(ii) Attained associate degrees.
(iii) Attained associate degrees for transfer.
(iv) Transferred to a four-year university.
(v) Attained a baccalaureate degree.
(f)
(i)
(1) On or before September 15, 2027, and each September 15 thereafter, the managing entity shall submit a report on the grant program to the Department of Finance, the Governor, and the Legislature.(2) A report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include an update on the grant program, including all of the following for the previous fiscal year:
(A) The total amount awarded.
(B) Each college and university that received a grant. base grant and, if applicable, a supplemental grant pursuant to this section, and the total amount of grant funding received by each college and university pursuant to this section.
(C)A summary of how each college and university expended the grant based on information received pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (e).
(C) A copy of each report provided to the managing entity pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (h).
(D) The amount of funds used by the managing entity in the previous year on administrative costs pursuant to Section 66076.6.
(3) A report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted pursuant to Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(j) This section shall not prohibit a college or university from applying for a base grant and supplemental grant each year. A college or university may apply for and be awarded a base grant and supplemental grant annually if approved by the governing board.
(a)The Designation of California Black-Serving Institutions Grant Program Fund is hereby established in the State Treasury. Moneys in the fund shall be allocated by the managing entity, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to award grants pursuant to Section 66076.5.
(b)The fund may receive donations and contributions from public and private entities, partnerships between public and private entities, fees, cash advances, and transfers from the General Fund as may be specified by law.
(c)The managing entity may, upon appropriation by the Legislature, expend up to 3 percent of the moneys in the fund for administrative costs associated with the grant program.
SEC. 3.
Section 66076.6 is added to the Education Code, to read:66076.6.
(a) The Designation of California Black-Serving Institutions Grant Program Fund is hereby established in the State Treasury. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, all moneys in the fund are continuously appropriated to the managing entity for allocation, without regard to fiscal year, for the purposes of awarding base and supplemental grants to colleges and universities pursuant to Section 66076.5.(b) The fund may receive moneys from federal, state, local, and private sources.
(c) The managing entity may expend up to 3 percent of the moneys in the fund for administrative costs associated with the grant program.
SEC. 4.
(1)
(a) Twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) to campuses of the California State University.
(2)
(b) Fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) to community college districts.
(b)The funds described in subdivision (a) shall be available for expenditure or encumbrance from the 2026–27 fiscal year to the 2031–32 fiscal year, inclusive.
Text of AB 335 as amended, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions