§ 66280.5. — 66280.5. (Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 67, Sec. 63.)

California § 66280.5.

• Jurisdiction: California
• Code EDC: Education Code - EDC
• Div.: 5.
• Title 3.: DIVISION 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS
• Part 40.: PART 40. DONAHOE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT
• Ch. 4.5.: CHAPTER 4.5. Equity in Higher Education Act
• Art. 4.: ARTICLE 4. Sex Equity in Education

Text

(a)
Notwithstanding any other law, in order to be in compliance with Section 66270, the University of California shall do both of the following on or before July 1, 2026:
(1)
Designate a systemwide Office of Civil Rights for the purpose of ensuring campus programs and activities are free from sex discrimination. The office shall be led by the systemwide civil rights officer designated pursuant to paragraph (2), who shall report on a periodic basis to the President of the University of California and the Regents of the University of California about the status of the implementation of the systemwide nondiscrimination policies pursuant to this section. The systemwide civil rights officer shall be responsible for coordinating the system’s implementation of and
compliance with the systemwide nondiscrimination policies established pursuant to this section.
(2)
Establish the position of, and designate a staff person as, the systemwide civil rights officer to monitor the system’s compliance with Section 66292.2. The systemwide civil rights officer shall have the experience, training, and expertise necessary to coordinate and carry out the requirements of the systemwide Office of Civil Rights pursuant to this section, and to, if necessary, recruit, hire, and train personnel to carry out the requirements of this section.
(b)
The systemwide Office of Civil Rights established pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) shall do all of the following:
(1)
Identify and maintain a single, systemwide nondiscrimination policy for the entire system. The policy shall incorporate state
and federal law pertaining to the prevention of sex discrimination, including, but not limited to, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1681, et seq.) and Sections 66281.4, 66281.5, 66281.8, 67385, 67385.7, and 67386.
(2)
In accordance with the policy identified and maintained pursuant to paragraph (1), develop and implement a grievance procedure for prompt and equitable processing, adjudication, and resolution of all complaints of sex discrimination filed by students, faculty, or staff in which the respondent is any of the following:
(A)
A campus chancellor.
(B)
A campus Title IX coordinator.
(C)
An employee of the office of the President of the University of California.
(D)
A member of the Regents of the University of California.
(E)
The President of the University of California.
(3)
Oversee the adjudication of any complaints described in paragraph (2) in accordance with the systemwide nondiscrimination policy identified and maintained pursuant to paragraph (1).
(4)
Oversee the annual training for personnel in Title IX offices on a campus of the University of California.
(5)
Establish and serve as a resource for the implementation of best practices guidance for the prevention of sex discrimination and the adjudication of complaints of sex discrimination as required by the systemwide nondiscrimination policy identified and maintained pursuant to paragraph (1).
(6)
(A)
Conduct a compliance review, at least once every five years, of each campus of the University of California to determine whether they are complying with the systemwide nondiscrimination policy identified and maintained pursuant to paragraph (1) and the best practices established pursuant to paragraph (5).
(B)
The compliance reviews conducted pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be presented during a public session of the Regents of the University of California in the year the review is completed and shall be made public on the internet website of the regents and on the campus internet website.
(7)
Establish a range of disciplinary sanctions for respondents who are students, faculty, or staff of the system and who are found to have violated the system’s nondiscrimination policy.
(8)
Annually assess whether the systemwide Office of Civil Rights requires additional staffing or resources to comply with this section, and, if required, make a request for the additional staffing or resources in compliance with the policies established by the system for making budgetary requests.
(c)
Notwithstanding Section 67400, this section shall apply to the University of California.

Legislative History

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 67, Sec. 63. (AB 1170) Effective January 1, 2026.