Education Code section 66023.9
(a)
For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:(1)
“Basic needs” has the same meaning as described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 66023.4.(2)
“Homeless” and “housing insecure” mean students who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, or who are at imminent risk of losing housing. This includes students who are any of the following:(A)
Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason.(B)
Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations.(C)
Living in emergency or transitional shelters.(D)
Living in a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.(E)
Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings.(3)
“Mental health” means services and resources to address the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges. Depending on student age and developmental level, this may include, but is not limited to, conditions such as depression, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, substance use conditions, eating disorders, and anxiety, including post-traumatic stress disorder.(b)
It is the intent of the Legislature that funding appropriated to the University of California and the California State University specifically for rapid rehousing, basic needs, and student mental health be used for the purposes described in this subdivision, including, but not limited to, for all of the following:(1)
Funds appropriated to the University of California and the California State University in the annual Budget Act specifically for purposes of this section for rapid rehousing may be used to support efforts to assist homeless and housing insecure students, including, but not limited to, all of the following purposes:(A)
For campuses to establish ongoing partnerships with community organizations that have a tradition of helping populations experiencing homelessness to provide wraparound services and rental subsidies for students.(B)
To connect students with community case managers who have knowledge and expertise in accessing safety net resources.(C)
To establish ongoing emergency housing procedures, including on-campus and off-campus resources.(D)
To provide emergency grants necessary to secure housing, to prevent the imminent loss of housing, or to stabilize housing for students at risk of homelessness.(2)
Funds appropriated to the University of California and the California State University in the annual Budget Act specifically for purposes of this section for basic needs are used to support, but are not limited to supporting, meal donation programs, food pantries serving students, CalFresh enrollment, and other means of directly providing nutrition assistance to students, and may be used, but are not limited to being used, for all of the following purposes:(A)
To assist homeless and housing insecure students in securing and maintaining stable housing.(B)
To supply students with personal hygiene products.(C)
To establish Basic Needs Centers as a centralized location on campus where students experiencing basic needs insecurity can be identified, supported, and linked to on-campus and off-campus resources to support timely program completion. Basic Needs Centers may use funds described in this paragraph for its operations.(D)
To designate or hire dedicated Basic Needs Coordinators for the Basic Needs Centers who will serve as a single point of contact for students.(3)
Funds appropriated to the University of California and the California State University in the annual Budget Act specifically for purposes of this section for student mental health are used to increase mental health resources for students, including, but not limited to, the expansion, continuation, and support of existing campus-based mental health programs and services.(c)
Funds appropriated in the annual Budget Act specifically for purposes of this section that are to be provided to students shall be distributed to the student by the campus financial aid office. Funds appropriated in the annual Budget Act specifically for purposes of this section shall be allocated to University of California and California State University campuses based on demonstrated need.(d)
The University of California and the California State University shall each report annually on or before February 1 on the use of funds appropriated in the annual Budget Act specifically for purposes of this section for the two preceding fiscal years. Reporting on the use of all funds appropriated specifically for purposes of this section may be included in a single report if all data elements required pursuant to this section are separately identifiable. A report described in this subdivision shall be submitted to the Director of Finance and the Legislature in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code, and shall include all of the following:(1)
For funds appropriated for rapid rehousing, the University of California and the California State University shall report information that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:(A)
The number of professional staff and full-time employees that assist students with rapid rehousing.(B)
The number of students served by campus.(C)
The allocation of funds by campus.(D)
A description of the types of programs funded.(E)
Whether students receiving rapid rehousing support remained enrolled at the university or graduated.(F)
Other relevant outcomes.(2)
For funds appropriated for basic needs and student mental health, the University of California and the California State University shall report information that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:(A)
The amount of funds allocated to each campus.(B)
For each campus that was allocated funds, a programmatic budget summarizing how the funds were spent. The programmatic budget shall include any other funding used to supplement the funds appropriated in the annual Budget Act specifically for purposes of this section.(C)
A description of the types of programs in which each campus spent the funds.(D)
A list of campuses that accept, or plan to accept, electronic benefits transfer.(E)
A list of campuses that participate, or plan to participate, in the CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program.(F)
The number of students who first started receiving CalFresh benefits in the preceding fiscal year and the total number of students in the preceding fiscal year that received CalFresh benefits.(G)
A list of campuses that have a data sharing agreement with the relevant county operating the CalFresh program to identify new, continuing, and returning students who are potentially eligible for CalFresh benefits, and a list of campuses with ongoing efforts to enter into such an agreement.(H)
A list of campuses that offer or plan to offer emergency housing or assistance with long-term housing.(I)
The number of students receiving mental health services on campus, disaggregated by race and ethnicity, gender, age group, and type of service received.(J)
The average wait time for initial routine mental health counseling appointments.(K)
The average number of campus mental health counseling appointments per student.(L)
The number of students referred to off-campus providers for mental health services.(M)
The number of student mental health staff by provider type and the counselor-to-student ratio.(N)
Total spending on student mental health services, by fund source, including spending covered by insurance providers.(3)
A description of how campuses leveraged or coordinated with other state or local resources to address housing insecurity, food insecurity, and student mental health.(4)
An analysis describing how funds appropriated specifically for purposes of this section reduced food insecurity and homelessness among students, increased student mental health, and, if feasible, impacted student outcomes such as persistence or completion.(5)
Other findings and best practices implemented by campuses.
Source:
Section 66023.9, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=EDC§ionNum=66023.9. (updated Jul. 13, 2026; accessed Jul. 20, 2026).
