Existing law provides for various programs and services for students with disabilities in public postsecondary education. Existing law requires the California Community Colleges and the California State University, and authorizes the University of California, with respect to services provided for disabled students, to, at a minimum, conform to the level and quality of services provided by the Department of Rehabilitation to its clients, as provided.
If a campus of the California Community Colleges, the California State University, or the University of California requires verification of a student's disability before providing academic accommodations requested by the student, this bill, commencing September 1, 2027, would require that campus to accept, as verification of the student's disability, an individualized education program and a specified plan issued by a school district, county office of education, or charter school, and an individual program plan issued by a regional center that contracts with the State Department of Developmental Services that documents the student's disability. If a student requests academic accommodations due to a disability, the bill, commencing September 1, 2027, would prohibit a campus of the California Community Colleges, the California State University, or the University of California from requiring the student to obtain new or additional diagnostic evaluations, as provided, and would authorize the campus to require supplemental information to evaluate the student's request for academic accommodations and to determine the type of reasonable accommodations that are appropriate and best suited for the student's educational needs, as provided.