Bill > SB550

This bill establishes a legal education pilot program that would allow California State University, San Jose (SJSU) to partner with an independent, state-accredited nonprofit law school to create a unique legal education initiative. The program would enable SJSU to incorporate the law school as a constituent academic unit and jointly award juris doctor degrees and undergraduate legal certificates, but only after meeting specific conditions such as obtaining approval from the California State University Trustees and the law school's governing board, and ensuring the law school has been continuously accredited for at least five years. The pilot program would operate for six academic years, starting no earlier than January 1, 2027, and requires the law school to operate under SJSU's policies, governance, and budget. To ensure transparency and effectiveness, the Legislative Analyst's Office will conduct both an interim evaluation after three years and a final evaluation after the program concludes, examining factors like program costs, workforce needs, student outcomes, and impact on underserved students. The bill aims to expand affordable legal education pathways, particularly in the Silicon Valley region, and is specifically designed to address the current lack of a law school within the California State University system. The pilot program will automatically become inoperative on July 1, 2041, and be fully repealed on January 1, 2042.

Budget and Finance, Education, Justice, Labor and Employment

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB550