Student health: leaves of absence: mental health.

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. 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. 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. 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.