SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California is poised to enhance protections for pregnant individuals in prison, prohibit legacy admissions at private colleges, and implement new requirements for colleges to effectively combat gender discrimination on campuses following crucial legislation passed by state lawmakers on Tuesday.
During the final week of session, the California Legislature, led by Democrats, is deliberating hundreds of bills to send to Governor Gavin Newsom before the Saturday deadline.
The governor has until September 30 to sign, veto or allow the measures to become law without his endorsement. Citing ongoing budget challenges, he has previously rejected legislation he might otherwise support.
Here are key highlights of the bills approved on Tuesday.
Every California State University and University of California campus would be mandated to establish an office dedicated to addressing sexual harassment complaints under Title IX, a federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in education. Additionally, a systemwide office would be required to oversee initiatives aimed at combating gender discrimination.
This legislation was introduced as part of a larger package aimed at tackling sexual misconduct and gender discrimination on college campuses, motivated by state auditor findings revealing mishandling of complaints within the UC and CSU systems.
The bill will now return to the Assembly for final approval within the Legislature.
The state Senate has also approved measures to bolster protections for incarcerated pregnant individuals. One proposed law would restrict placing pregnant individuals and those up to 12 weeks postpartum in solitary confinement, except in cases of credible, imminent threats to safety. Pregnant inmates would also receive daily access to clean bottled water and nutritious meals aligned with the state’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
Additionally, a bill mandates that pregnant individuals be referred to a social worker within a week of entering prison to discuss options for parenting classes. Mothers who give birth would be required to remain in a medical facility as deemed necessary by healthcare providers, ensuring bonding time with their infants and enabling them to pump breast milk for storage after returning to prison.
These proposals will need final Assembly approval before proceeding to the governor.
In another significant move, California lawmakers have forwarded a bill intended to slash the number of vacant state prison beds by 2030, framing it as a cost-saving strategy during challenging budgetary times. The legislation aims to facilitate the closure of certain prisons in the state.
Currently, there are approximately 15,000 unused prison beds statewide, incurring substantial costs. The initiative proposes to reduce this to 2,500 unoccupied beds within the next six years, potentially allowing for the closure of five state prisons.
California’s prison population has significantly decreased over the past decade due to federal court actions and the COVID-19 pandemic. Critics of the proposal, including some law enforcement officials, argue it could lead to overcrowding and diminish access to rehabilitation programs within state facilities.
Additionally, the Senate passed legislation that will prohibit private nonprofit colleges from giving preferential treatment in admissions to applicants connected to alumni or donors, set to take effect in September 2025.
The objective of this legislation is to ensure equitable access to higher education for all students, irrespective of their socioeconomic backgrounds.
Legacy admissions have come under intensified scrutiny since the U.S. Supreme Court dismantled affirmative action in college admissions last year.
If approved by the Assembly, this legislation will be sent to the governor for consideration.
